Electron microscopy is a set of electron probe methods that allow to study the microstructure of solids, as well as their local composition and microfield.
With this research method, special devices are used - microscopes, in which the image is enlarged due to the presence of electron beams.
Electron microscopy has two main areas:
• Transmission - carried out with the help of transmissive electron microscopes, in which objects are illuminated by an electron beam with an energy of 50 to 200 keV. Electrons that pass through the object under study fall on special magnetic lenses. These lenses form an image of all the internal structures of the object on a special screen or film. It must be said that transmission electron microscopy makes it possible to obtain an increase of almost 1.5106 times. It makes it possible to judge the crystal structure of objects, therefore it is considered the main method for studying the ultrafine structures of various solids.
• Scanning(scanning) electron microscopy - is carried out using special microscopes, in which an electron beam is collected into a thin probe using magnetic lenses. It scans the surface of the object under study, while secondary radiation occurs, which is recorded by various detectors and converted into the corresponding video signals.
It is worth noting that electron microscopy has a number of advantages over traditional methods of X-ray spectral microanalysis. That is why it is becoming more widespread and can be called an important achievement of modern nanotechnology.
In addition, electron microscopy causes intensive development of computer morphometry, the essence of which is the use of computer technology for more thorough and complete processing of electronic images.
To date, hardware-software systems have been developed that are capable of storing the obtained images and carrying out their statistical processing, adjusting their contrast and brightness, and highlighting individual details of the microstructures under study.
Modern electron microscopes are equipped with special processors that reduce the likelihood of damage to samples of the material under study, as well as increase the reliability of data related to the analysis of the microstructure of objects, which greatly facilitates the work of researchers.
The achievements of electron microanalysis are actively used to understand atomic interactions, which allows you to create material withnew properties, and advanced 3D modeling allows biologists to explore important molecular mechanisms that underlie all biological processes. In addition, thanks to the use of electron microscopy, it is possible to conduct a number of dynamic experiments and obtain the necessary basis for creating new nanostructures.
