MicroStructural Studies Unit
Overview
The MicroStructural Studies Unit (MSSU), the electron microscopy facility of the University of Surrey, was established in 1970 to support a wide range of research activities across the university and to offer electron microscopy services to industry. After 40 years of continuous development, the unit employs experienced microscopists and houses a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) and sample preparation equipment. The MSSU is essential for a wide range of ongoing research projects and makes a significant contribution to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Research activities are numerous but presently include nanoparticles and nanocomposites (all material types), opto-electronic materials, advanced metallurgical structures, metal to polymer interfacial studies, etc.
With regard to our commercial service, in the past few years the MSSU has undertaken work for over 50 different clients. The MSSU has worked to develop links with the local community and we are proud to offer electron microscopy services to many technological businesses and research organisations in the South East of England. Our portfolio of clients encompasses both the public and private sector and their custom is highly valued. MSSU offer competitive rates for SEM, STEM and TEM analytical work.
The MSSU works in close collaboration with The Surface Analysis Laboratory at the University of Surrey. A combination of state-of-the-art instrumentation, expertise in data interpretation and materials knowledge enables experienced academics and technical staff to select the right combination of techniques for undertaking materials related R&D or solving technical problems. Such work includes product development, failure analysis, process problems, surface contaminants, verification of material composition and so forth.
Instrumentation
Hitachi HD2300A STEM
The HD2300A STEM is a high performance FEG-STEM with a point resolution of 0.2 nm. The instrument is equipped with X-ray analysis (EDX) and parallel EELS (low atomic number and chemical state) spectroscopy and imaging facilities.
Philips CM200 TEM
The Philips CM200 transmission electron microscope (TEM) operating at up to 200 kV is a very versatile microscope. The computer controlled eucentric sample holder can tilt from -45º to +45º along the A axis and -30º to +30º along the B axis making it ideal for diffraction work. The CM200 can also achieve a line resolution of 0.14nm with the same holder, as good as a dedicated HRTEM. Furthermore the attached ultra-thin window EDX detector and Electron Energy Loss Spectrometer (EELS) make the CM200 a true analytical microscope.
Hitachi S4000 SEM
The Hitachi S4000 SEM is a high resolution microscope with a cold cathode field emission electron source (FESEM). This SEM also has a solid state backscattered electron detector for atomic contrast imaging. It's ease of use and high resolution makes this a very versatile instrument for many users’ applications, complimenting the other microscopes available in the MSSU.
Hitachi S3200N SEM
The HITACHI S3200N is our most versatile instrument. It has a large specimen chamber, a back scattered electron detector and a variable pressure mode (VP-SEM) allowing the examination of non-conducting and ‘wet’ samples with no special sample preparation. Combined with an ultra-thin window Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) detector for qualitative/ quantitative elemental analysis, this SEM is a workhorse for investigating all manner of problematic samples, helping our clients find solutions to their problems and enabling students to produce high quality results in all fields of science and technology.