(Cryo)-FIB-SEM

We are delighted to introduce our Cryo FIB-SEM facility, which is available to all researchers across the university. We also welcome external users from other universities and industry. This Zeiss Crossbeam 550 FIB-SEM with cryogenic attachment from Quorum Technologies is one of only a few such instruments in the UK and offers a multitude of powerful techniques to extract as much information as possible from a large range of samples. The microscope offers resolution down to ~1nm, elemental contrast and identification, fast and accurate milling and patterning using the focussed ion beam (FIB), nanoscale tomography, TEM sample preparation and the ability to work on liquids, gels, polymers, biological matter and many other materials using the optional cryo mode.

Technical specifications

• Resolution of 0.9nm at 15kV and 1.6nm at 1kV using the FEG electron column
• FIB imaging and milling, using Ga ions, with 3nm resolution at 30kV
• Automated serial slice and imaging for destructive nanotomography
• Automated stitching of images to give high field of few, high resolution images

Detectors

• In-lens (Secondary Electron (SE) detector)
• Secondary Electron Secondary Ion (SESI) (SE detector)
• Energy Selective Backscatter (ESB) (Backscatter electron (BSE) detector)
• BSD4 backscatter detector (retractable BSE detector)
• Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy detector (retractable STEM detector)

Analytical Detectors

• Oxford Instruments X-Max 150 (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) detector)

Other Equipment

• Quorum Technologies  PP3010T Cryo-SEM preparation system
• Oxford Instruments Omniprobe 200 micromanipulator
• Gas insertion system (GIS) for deposition of Platinum, Carbon and Insulator material, or for gas assisted etching using Water (for carbon based materials) and XeF₂ (for silicon materials)
• Charge compensator (for samples charging under the electron beam)
• Flood gun (used to compensate for sample charging under the Ion beam)
• Plasma cleaner

Sample preparation equipment available to users

• Quorum Q150 TES plus metal and carbon coater
• Leica ASF2 Freeze Substitution unit
• Dedicated data PC with Avizo software

Available techniques

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• Focused Ion Beam (FIB) microscopy
• Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX)
• Serial Section Tomography
• Low kV STEM
• Large Area Mapping
• Gas Injection System
• Thin section TEM liftout
• Nanofabrication

For further information on capabilities, feasibilities, fees, training, access and more please contact Fraser Laidlaw (fraser.laidlaw [at] ed.ac.uk). 

Example images are available in the gallery at the bottom of the page.

Recent publications using the Cryo FIB-SEM

• Tadi, R., Richards, J. A., Laidlaw, F. H. J., Green, B., Curwen, T., Schofield, A. B., Thijssen, J. H. J., & Clegg, P. S. (2025). Using Contactless Interfacial Rheology to Probe Interfacial Mechanics for Compositional Ripening. Langmuir, A-J. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c04622
• Larsen, T., Christiansen, J. de C., Royer, J. R., Laidlaw, F. H. J., Poon, W. C. K., Larsen, T., & Andreasen, S. J. (2024). Decoupling elasticity and electrical conductivity of carbon-black gels filled with insulating non-Brownian grains. Physical Review Applied, 22(3), 034023. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.22.034023
• Larsen, T., Royer, J. R., Laidlaw, F. H. J., Poon, W. C. K., Larsen, T., Andreasen, S. J., & Christiansen, J. de C. (2024). Controlling the rheo-electric properties of graphite/carbon black suspensions by ‘flow switching.’ Rheologica Acta. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-024-01439-x
• Triccas, A., Laidlaw, F., Singleton, M. R., & Nudelman, F. (2024). Control of crystal growth during coccolith formation by the coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa oceanica. Journal of Structural Biology, 216(1), 108066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsb.2024.108066
• Si, Y., Laidlaw, F., Li, T. & Clegg, P., Using cryo-SEM and EDS to investigate the stabilisation of oil-water interfaces in mixed aqueous-and-oil foams. Soft Matter, (2024), DOI: 10.1039/D3SM01699D https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SM01699D
• Graziani, G., Ghezzi, D., Nudelman, F., Sassoni, E., Laidlaw, F., Cappelletti, M., Boi, M., Borciani, G., Milita, S., Bianchi, M., Baldini, N., & Falini, G. (2024). A natural biogenic fluorapatite as a new biomaterial for orthopedics and dentistry: antibacterial activity of lingula seashell and its use for nanostructured biomimetic coatings. Journal of Materials Chemistry B. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TB02454G
• Rey, M., Kolker, J., Richards, J.A. et al. Interactions between interfaces dictate stimuli-responsive emulsion behaviour. Nat Commun 14, 6723 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42379-z