SEM:
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of electron microscope that produces images
of a sample by scanning the surface with a focused beam of electrons.
Scanning electron microscopy, or SEM, produces detailed, magnified images of an object by
scanning its surface to create a high resolution image.
SEM does this using a focused beam of electrons.
What Happens During SEM?
Scanning electron microscopy works by scanning a sample with electron beams. An electron gun
fires these beams, which then accelerate down the column of the scanning electron microscope.
During this action, the electron beams pass through a series of lenses and apertures, which act to
focus it.
This occurs under vacuum conditions, which prevents and molecules or atoms already present in
the microscope column from interacting with the electron beam.
This ensures a high quality of imaging.
The vacuum also protects the electron source from vibrations and noise.
The electron beams scan the sample in a raster pattern, scanning the surface area in lines from
side to side, top to bottom.
The electrons interact with atoms on the surface of the sample. This interaction creates signals in
the form of secondary electrons, backscattered electrons and rays that are characteristic of the
sample.
Detectors in the microscope pick up these signals and create high-resolution images displayed on
a computer screen.
How Does a Scanning Electron Microscope Work?
The instrument used for SEM includes these components:
Electron source
Anode
Condenser lens
Scanning coils
Objective lens.
The electron source generates electrons at the top of the microscope’s column.
The anode plate has a positive charge, which attracts the electrons to form a beam.
The condenser lens controls the size of the beam, and determines the number of electrons in the
beam. The size of the beam will define the resolution of the image.
Apertures can also be used to control the size of the beam.
The scanning coils deflect the beam along x and y axes, to ensure it scans in a raster fashion over
the surface of the sample.
The objective lens is the last lens in the sequence of lenses that create the electron beam. As the
lens closest to the sample, it focuses the beam to a very small spot on the sample.
Electrons cannot pass through glass, so SEM lenses are electromagnetic. They are made up of a
coil of wires inside metal poles.
When a current passes through these coils they generate a magnetic field.
Electrons are highly sensitive to these magnetic fields, which therefore enables the lenses in the
microscope to control them.
What Creates the Electrons Used in SEM?
There are three ways of generating the electrons that SEM instruments use:
Field emission gun – this generates a powerful electric field, which pulls electrons away
from their atoms and generates high resolution images. It uses a vacuum design.
Thermionic filament – inside the microscope, this tungsten heats up at white hot
temperatures, until it emits electrons. Under intense heat conditions, its lifetime is about
100 hours.
Cerium hexaboride cathode – at ten times the brightness of tungsten, this electron source
provides an improved signal-to-noise ratio, a better ratio, and has a lifetime of over 1,500
hours.
What Are the Advantages of SEM?
Scanning electron microscopy has a broad range of research and practical applications.
It provides detailed, topographical images, providing versatile data.
Given proper training, SEM equipment is straightforward to operate, and specialist but user-
friendly software supports it. Modern SEM data comes in digital form.
It is a rapid process, and instruments can complete analysis in under five minutes.
There is a degree of sample preparation necessary, but usually this is minimal.
Which Industries and Sectors Use SEM?
The adaptability of scanning electron microscopes makes them ideal for a broad range of
scientific, research, industrial and commercial applications.
SEM images provide information on:
Topography
Composition
Morphology
Topography is the distribution of features or parts on a surface of a sample.
Composition is what a sample is made of.
Morphology is the form, shape or structure of a sample.