Publication detail

Methods for Additive Hydration Allowing Observation of Fully Hydrated State of Wet Samples in Environmental SEM

NEDĚLA, V.

Original Title

Methods for Additive Hydration Allowing Observation of Fully Hydrated State of Wet Samples in Environmental SEM

Type

journal article - other

Language

English

Original Abstract

The observation of samples containing water in a scanning electron microscope in vacuum is not possible, because the sample dries very fast and information about its natural surface microstructure is lost. In "environmental" scanning electron microscopes the partial pressure of water vapor is kept in the order of a percent of atmospheric pressure, but even then it is necessary to supply continuously water vapor in the vicinity of the sample to sustain thermodynamic equilibrium. The methods of additive hydration utilize with success the properties of agar tightly surrounding the sample as an additive hydration medium. In addition, good thermal conductivity of agar allows minimizing the temperature difference between the sample and the cooled sample holder and allows optimizing the conditions in the sample chamber in such a way that long-term observation of water containing samples is possible. The use of agar for additional hydration and the utilization of its good thermal properties are basis of a new original method for observing hydrated samples in a scanning electron microscope.

Keywords

VP SEM, agar, biological specimens

Authors

NEDĚLA, V.

Released

14. 2. 2007

Publisher

Wiley-Lis

Location

UK

ISBN

1059-910X

Periodical

Microscopy research and technique

Year of study

70

Number

2

State

United States of America

Pages from

95

Pages to

100

Pages count

6

BibTex

@article{BUT44169,
  author="Vilém {Neděla}",
  title="Methods for Additive Hydration Allowing Observation of Fully Hydrated State of Wet Samples in Environmental SEM",
  journal="Microscopy research and technique",
  year="2007",
  volume="70",
  number="2",
  pages="95--100",
  issn="1059-910X"
}