Omni Nano
Omni Nano develops interactive educational materials and resources to introduce nanotechnology courses into existing science curricula. By updating STEM education, we can inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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*The limit is about 200-250 nm, which is 1/2 the wavelength of visible light. However, new optical techniques are pushing the resolution of these microscopes to less than 100nm.
Visualization and imaging range: The optical resolution limit of the human eye is about 40 µm. The chart shows the range of electron microscopes, light microscopes, and unaided eye.
Pentacene: C22H14
Resolution is as low as 5 Å (Ångström = 0.1 nm)!!
8-hydroxyquinoline (8-hq) molecular assemblies on a Cu substrate.
You can take photos of your reagents and reaction products as they form!
Direct Imaging of DNA Fibers: The Visage of Double Helix
Nano Lett., 2012, 12 (12), pp 6453–6458; November 22, 2012
Optical microscopes
Biology microscope
Confocal microscope
Probe microscopes
Electron microscopes
Atomic Force Microscope (AMF)
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Choose the optimal microscopy technique based on:
Note: Besides resolution, you must consider sample preparation when choosing a microscope technique (Can it be dried? Can it go under vacuum? Can it be sliced? Is it conductive?).
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Probe microscopes
Electron microscopes
Atomic Force Microscope (AMF)
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
TEM is a electron microscopy technique where:
It is possible to image biological entities by TEM.
However, these are “dead” or “become inactive” as they are placed under vacuum and illuminated with high energy electrons.
Unless you are told the microscopy technique and what is imaged, it is not easy to say that these are TEM images.
Electron microscopy recently in the news!
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Probe microscopes
Electron microscopes
Atomic Force Microscope (AMF)
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
SEM is an electron microscopy technique where:
Bright areas indicate surfaces that reflect electrons very well, typically metallic/conductive surfaces. Dark area mean non-conductive surfaces.
Example:
Note: Do not compare the brightness of two items if they are not on the same image!
Images taken with the sample tilted at an angle
SEM
SEM
TEM
TEM
Works similarly to a blind person reading the Braille alphabet. A probe tip “reads” the surface by “feeling” it, similarly to a Braille pattern.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM)
Probe microscopes
Electron microscopes
Atomic Force Microscope (AMF)
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
It’s possible to move around atoms and small molecules on a copper surface using an STM.
That’s how this was made…
moving CO molecules around!
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
Probe microscopes
Electron microscopes
Atomic Force Microscope (AMF)
Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
AFM cantilever tip
Nanotechnology made it possible!
Major advancements in microscopy were facilitated by nanotechnology.
To learn more about nanotechnology, visit omninano.org
By Omni Nano
Investigating and imaging Nanomaterials
Omni Nano develops interactive educational materials and resources to introduce nanotechnology courses into existing science curricula. By updating STEM education, we can inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.