Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope with Cryo-Setup

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We request funds to support acquisition of a new field emission, scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to be housed in the Institute of Geosciences at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. This instrument will be equipped with detectors for energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), cathodoluminescence (CL), and a cryogenic stage for working with frozen samples. The combination of state-of-the-art fundamental and additional components will allow this instrument to be used for a diverse suite of analyses, such as examination of cryo-preserved biological/biogenic material, hydrated/water-containing labile materials such as hydrogels or clay minerals, fast and accurate mapping of the distribution of light elements, chemical quantification, orientation mapping, and various types of imaging at high resolution. The instrument will also be capable of operating at „low vacuum“ or „environmental“ conditions, so the samples we examine should not need conductive coatings, optimizing workflows and minimizing the chance that we will make them unsuitable for latter analses. Because of its wide-ranging capabilities, the instrument will be of interest to, and regularly used by, a number of different working groups throughout Universität Mainz, such as three members of the Institute of Geology, including two early career (tenure track) Professors, and researchers in both Chemistry and Physics. We are excited at the potential to bring such analytical capabilities to Mainz, where we expect its use and management by dynamic scientists with substantial experience in the afforementioned techniques to stimulate novel, and innovative research.