Ancillary Equipment

Sputter coating, thermal evaporation, and glow discharge surface modification. Current sputter targets include Cr and AuPd (80/20), Carbon-rod thermal evaporation. Additional targets can be accepted when provided by the client and vetted by the staff. Film thickness monitor available.

Broad Ion Beam for cross-section milling along a vertical edge and final surface polishing of a flat sample. Nominal milling length is approximately 1 mm. Polishing can be targeted to approximately a 2mm area.

This is the large chamber AutoSamdri automatic critical point dryer by Tousimis. It will hold full sized microscope slides in addition to many other types of sample holders. It has standard and stasis modes for automatic critical point drying as well as a manual mode. We use liquid CO2 for the transition fluid and typically use ethanol or acetone for the intermediate fluid.

Computer controlled automated freeze substitution machine for cryo electron microscopy sample preparation. The machine uses liquid nitrogen with a thermal induction system to maintain samples at the desired temperature for the desired time. The large primary dewar can be refilled during a run if necessary.

The RMC MTX ultramicrotome uses either a glass or diamond knife to cut semi-thin (~1 micrometer) or ultra-thin (80 to 100 nanometer) resin embedded biological samples. It can also be used for cutting other similar materials. Cryo-sectioning is not currently an option with this instrument.

The BYU Electron Microscopy Facility has wet lab facilities for performing biological and materials sample preparation. Please contact the lab personnel to discuss your specific needs if you would like to utilize this part of our facility.