What is electron microprobe analysis?
Electron microprobe analysis is the quantitative detection of the electron-bombardment-induced emission of characteristic X-rays. This allows for the rapid, nondestructive determination of the chemical composition of regions smaller than 1 µm in a planar, well-polished sample that is stable under high vacuum (elements B to U for the JXA-8530F).
The JEOL JXA-8530F electron microprobe is an electron microscope that has a nominal imaging resolution of 3 nm with six spectrometers for non-destructive X-ray microanalysis and imaging of solid samples up to 10 cm in size.
The Schottky field-emission electron gun yields probe diameters that are only 1/5 to 1/10 the size of those produced in conventional electron microprobe instruments with tungsten filament or LaB6 tips, allowing for sub-micron analytical spatial resolution. Even at low acceleration and large currents, small probe diameters are obtained that allow high X-ray spatial resolution.
The instrument has 5 wavelength-dispersive spectrometers (WDS) that permit the measurement of elements from B through U, and is set up for conventional microanalysis as well as trace-element analysis. In addition, this instrument is equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer, which is capable of X-ray count rates in excess of 200k cps and has high-speed X-ray mapping and quantitative microanalytical capabilities that rival the WDS. It is also equipped with a panchromatic cathodoluminescence system that allows the detection of cathodoluminescence in the wavelength range between 200‒900 nm. For instrument control, we can utilize the customized JEOL system software and the PC-based Probe for Windows software.
Applications
- Mineralogy
- Geology
- Meteorites
- Semiconductors
- Metals
- Catalyzers
Key Analytical Advantages
- 3 nm secondary electron resolution
- Large crystal spectrometers for high detection sensitivity for trace element concentrations
- Increased count rate without sacrificing energy resolution and P/B ratio
- High accuracy of quantitative analysis
- High resolving power (resolution) for adjacent x-rays
- 2 WDS spectrometers dedicated to the quantitative analysis of light elements (B to O)
- Dual TMP system for clean sample environment
- Combined WDS / EDS
Techniques
- Quantitative WDS of elements from B to U
- Semi-quantitative EDS of elements from Be to U
- Panchromatic CL imaging
- BSE imaging
- SE imaging
- X-ray intensity mapping
Contact
Axel Wittmann
Associate Research Scientist
Axel.Wittmann@asu.edu
480.727.8732
- SEM
- Quantitative X-ray analysis
Cost for ASU Internal | Cost for ASU Internal with Staff Assistance | Cost for Other Academic/Non-Profit | Cost for Other Academic/Non-Profit with Staff Assistance |
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$49.30/h
|
$90.30/h
|
$91.00/h
|
$183.00/h
|