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Volumescope 2 SEM

3D SEM for large volume samples with serial block face imaging and multi energy deconvolution

 

The Thermo Scientific Volumescope 2 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is our state-of-the-art serial block-face imaging system. Keep control of experiments with easy to use technology and protect a wide range of possible samples with tried and tested solutions for every acquisition step.

Block face imaging
Understanding the complex 3D architecture of cells and tissues in their natural state is essential for correlating structure and function in biological systems and soft materials. Serial block-face SEM (SBF-SEM) integrates in situ sectioning and imaging of plastic-embedded tissue blocks within the SEM vacuum chamber, enabling automated 3D reconstruction of large tissue volumes. While axial resolution was previously constrained by section thickness, the introduction of multi-energy deconvolution now enables truly isotropic resolution.

3D SEM
After in situ sectioning of the block face using a diamond knife, the freshly exposed tissue is imaged multiple times at increasing accelerating voltages. These images are processed through a deconvolution algorithm to reveal several optical subsurface layers, creating a 3D subset. By repeating this process, the Volumescope 2 SEM generates isotropic datasets with a Z-resolution of 10 nm.

Polymer microstructures
High-resolution 3D imaging is crucial for understanding the microstructure and properties of polymer materials. The Volumescope 2 SEM offers fully automated in situ sectioning and imaging of polymers within the SEM vacuum chamber, enabling large-volume reconstructions with truly isotropic 3D resolution. Visualizing such large volumes at high resolution is essential for identifying how different microstructures impact the material’s overall properties. For instance, the Volumescope 2 SEM can reconstruct a large, representative volume of a filtration membrane, providing accurate transport property data, which can enhance performance predictions for new filter designs.

Polymer microstructures
High-resolution 3D imaging is crucial for understanding the microstructure and properties of polymer materials. The Volumescope 2 SEM offers fully automated in situ sectioning and imaging of polymers within the SEM vacuum chamber, enabling large-volume reconstructions with truly isotropic 3D resolution. Visualizing such large volumes at high resolution is essential for identifying how different microstructures impact the material’s overall properties. For instance, the Volumescope 2 SEM can reconstruct a large, representative volume of a filtration membrane, providing accurate transport property data, which can enhance performance predictions for new filter designs.

Polymer microstructures
High-resolution 3D imaging is crucial for understanding the microstructure and properties of polymer materials. The Volumescope 2 SEM offers fully automated in situ sectioning and imaging of polymers within the SEM vacuum chamber, enabling large-volume reconstructions with truly isotropic 3D resolution. Visualizing such large volumes at high resolution is essential for identifying how different microstructures impact the material’s overall properties. For instance, the Volumescope 2 SEM can reconstruct a large, representative volume of a filtration membrane, providing accurate transport property data, which can enhance performance predictions for new filter designs.

Features

Easy to use technology

Keep control of experiments with easy to use technology. Reuse jobs and system settings and select multiple regions of interest during job acquisition.

Visualize and navigate during acquisition

Visualize and navigate during acquisition with Thermo Scientific Amira Live Tracker Software to optimize/control your outcome/Automate large 3D volume acquisitions as well as reconstructions.

Protect valuable samples

Protect valuable samples with tested solutions at every acquisition step: debris trap and swipe features ensure sample quality; low vacuum detector enables imaging of highly charged samples.

Easy and fast mounting microtome exchange

Easy and fast mounting microtome exchangefor normal SEM operation or automated array tomography with the addition of Thermo Scientific Maps Software.

                 

Specifications

Electron optics

• High-resolution field emission SEM column

    • High-stability Schottky field emission gun
    • Compound final lens: a combined electrostatic, field-free magnetic and immersion magnetic objective lens

• Dual objective lens combining electromagnetic and electrostatic lenses

 

Automation

• Auto bakeout

•  Auto start

•  No mechanical alignments

•  Automated heated apertures

•  User guidance and column presets

Electron beam

• Continuous beam current control and optimized aperture

•Beam current range: 1 pA to 400 nA

    • In serial block-face imaging SEM: 50 pA – 3.2 nA

•Landing energy range: 20 eV – 30 keV

• Accelerating voltage range: 200 V – 30 kV

    • In serial block-face imaging SEM: 500 V – 6 kV

•Resolution at optimum working distance and routine SEM high-vacuum imaging

      • 0.8 nm at 30 keV STEM
      • 0.7 nm at 15 keV
      • 1.0 nm at 1 keV
Detectors

• Serial block-face imaging detectors

    • T1 segmented lower in-lens detector
    • VS-DBS: LoVac lens-mounted BSED

• T2 in-lens detector

• Everhart-Thornley SE detector (ETD)

• IR-CCD

• Low-vacuum SE detector

• STEM 3+ – Retractable segmented detector

• Additional detectors available

Vaccum system

• Complete oil-free vacuum system

• 1 × 220 l/s TMP

• 1 × PVP-scroll

• 2 × IGP

• Chamber vacuum (high-vacuum) <6.3 × 10-6 mbar (after 72 hours pumping)

• Low-vacuum mode up to 50 Pa for charge compensation of non-conductive samples

• Evacuation time: ≤3.5 minutes

Manufacturer

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