1

Training courses

2018

ELECTRON

MICROSCOPY

Phone: 0044 01908 858192

Email: emsuite@open.ac.uk

The Open University

Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

Electron Microscopy Suite

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

2

OU Electron Microscopy Training Courses

Our training services are organized on an individual basis. All courses contain theoretical

overview, teaching you how to use microscopes or techniques and finally, supervised time

when you can apply your new knowledge and skills by performing various exercises.

The samples may involve variety of biological materials, nanoparticles, metals or rocks.

Quotations are available for groups and organizations. Certificate of attendance will be

provided.

Lunch and coffee will be provided on all courses. Therefore, the final total time including the

breaks will be about 1 h 40 min in addition to the time stated in the course tables.

Sample preparation for imaging on a TEM

This course will teach you how to prepare a biological sample for imaging on a transmissional

electron microscope. You will learn using cell culture samples or tissues according to your

needs.

This course will take 3 days and you will learn how to:

• Fix biological samples to preserve ultrastructure

• Process the samples to embed them in a resin

• Section and microsection them

• Counter stain them for imaging.

activity

Sample selection and various approaches

Fixation (glutaraldehyde and osmium)

dehydration

Embedding demonstration (resin prep, 2 changes to infiltrate, placing into a mould)

Preparing sample block (with razor blade, glass knife)

Practice preparing a block

Microsectioning

Practice of microsectioning

Grid preparation - Support films

Staining of final slots

Preparation of nanoparticles for TEM (drying on grids)

Negative staining demonstration +practice

Total time 17 h, i.e. 3 days (~5 h/day)

Course fee £936

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

3

If you are interested in preparing samples for 3D reconstruction using TEM, we offer 1 day of

extra training where you will learn all the necessary steps of preparation of a resin block for

microsectioning and you will practise serial sectioning. The prerequisite for this course are the

skills taught in “Sample preparation for imaging on a TEM”.

Basics of TEM imaging

In this 1-day course, you will learn and practise operating a high-contrast microscope that will

allow you to be able to image biological samples or nanoparticles independently.

Training on JEOL 1010 or JEOL 1400

activity

Description of the design & function of a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Sample loading. Sample holder maintenance.

Routine and advanced alignment of TEM.

Imaging – digital TEM camera (AMT digital CCD TEM camera) and software operation.

Supervised practice of inserting a sample, aligning, taking images. There will be exercises to choose from.

Troubleshooting.

Setting up a new filament.

Supervised practice of setting up new filament.

Changing filament demonstration.

Total time 6 h 10 min

Course fee £1,043.40

Electron microscopy for 3D reconstructions – image

and post-image processing

This 2-day course will teach you how to perform 3D reconstruction of a series of TEM images

acquired with a standard TEM. The skills you will learn include:

• Image acquisition,

• Montaging and alignment

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

4

• Reconstruction

activity

Alignment necessary for serial imaging

Image acquisition on serial sections, operating and setting up SerialEM software.

Practise of setting up SerialEM software for imaging

Handling images – 8-bit transform, aberration correction, montaging, alignment + practise on another set of images

3D reconstruction

Total time (split in 2 days) 10 h

Course fee £982.20

Basics of operating a high-resolution microscope

This 1-day course will teach you exchange of samples, alignment and imaging. No prior

knowledge of TEM operation is necessary.

Activity

Sample loading. Sample holder maintenance.

Description of the design & function of a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Alignment of TEM.

Imaging – digital TEM camera (Gatan Orius SC1000 CCD TEM camera) and software operation.

Supervised practice of inserting a sample, aligning, taking images. There will be given an exercise.

Troubleshooting.

Setting up a new filament.

Supervised practice of setting up new filament.

Changing filament demonstration on JEM1010 TEM.

Total time 6 h 10 min

Course fee £1,043.40

Advanced operation of a high-resolution TEM

microscope

In this 1- or 2-day course, advanced techniques are taught such as EDS (elemental analysis),

STEM (scanning TEM), dark-field imaging, high-resolution TEM and diffraction. The

prerequisite for these courses is a good working knowledge of basic operation of TEM.

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

5

Day 1 of advanced course – dark field imaging, high-resolution TEM, selected area diffraction,

elemental analysis with EDS

activity time

Overview of the techniques, their application and limitations

Dark field imaging

Practice of dark filed imaging

High resolution TEM

Practice of high resolution TEM

Selected area diffraction

Practice of selected area diffraction

Elemental analysis with EDAX

Practice of elemental analysis with EDAX

Total time 6 h 40 min

Course fee £1,128.00

ably. If only certain techniques interest you, please discuss your requirements with us.

Day 2 of advanced course – scanning TEM, EDS mapping

activity time

Overview of the techniques, their application and limitations

Setting up scanning TEM

EDS mapping

Supervised practice of scanning TEM and EDS mapping

Total time 6 h 40 min

Course fee £1,128.00

Basics of imaging on a scanning electron microscope

In this 1-day course, you will learn the basics of operating a field-emission gun scanning

electron microscope (FEGSEM). During this 1-day course, you will learn about the various

imaging types available, and practise operating a FEGSEM in order to be able to image a

variety of samples, including metallic, non-metallic, and biological materials.

Where necessary, the training will include the requirements for preparation of non-conductive

samples, including such techniques as sputter-coating, carbon-coating etc.

Additional sample preparation course for SEM

activity time

Sample selection and various approaches

Fixation (glutaraldehyde and osmium) and dehydration

Freeze-fracture

Critical point drying

Total time 3 h

Course fee £240

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

6

Training on Zeiss Supra 55VP SEM

Activity

Description of the design & function of a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Brief introduction to Variable Pressure (VPSE) mode for uncoated samples.

Sample mounting, preparation & loading.

Routine and advanced alignment of SEM, includes accelerating voltage selection

Description & demo of imaging modes e.g. Secondary Electron (SE), In-Lens SE, VPSE, Backscattered Electron (BSE) imaging.

Imaging – set up & capture images

Supervised practice of inserting a sample, aligning, taking images. There will be given exercises to choose from.

Troubleshooting.

Total time 5 h 45 min

Course fee £972.90

Training on FIB-SEM FEI Quanta 3D

Activity

Description of the design & function of a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Sample preparation requirements. Carbon coating sample preparation.

Sample loading and general operational settings.

Imaging modes (secondary electrons, back scattered electrons).

Supervised practice of loading a sample, setting microscope, taking images. There will be given exercises to choose from.

Troubleshooting.

Total time 6 h

Course fee £1,015.20

Advanced operation of the scanning electron

microscope

In this 1- or 2-day course, analytical techniques which are available on the FEGSEM are

taught, such as Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy EDS (elemental analysis) and Electron

Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD).

The training is divided into 1 day of EDS and 1 day of EBSD, however, if only certain

techniques interest you, please discuss your requirements with us.

Please note, that specimen preparation for EBSD is not covered in detail during this training

course due to the varied requirements and difficulty of preparing some materials for EBSD

which may be time-consuming. Please discuss your requirements with us (see No. 6 above).

7 February 2018

www9.open.ac.uk/emsuite

7

1-day of EDS on Zeiss Supra 55VP SEM or FIB-SEM FEI Quanta 3D

Activity

Overview of EDS.

Demonstration of line scans and mapping

Supervised practice of point and line scans and mapping. There will be given exercises to choose from.

Troubleshooting.

Total time 5 h

Course fee £846.00

1-day of EBSD on Zeiss Supra 55VP SEM

Activity

Theoretical background on elements of crystallography and on the EBSD technique

Sample preparation and sample mounting on SEM stage

SEM setup and EBSD settings for acquisition

Troubleshooting

Supervised practice of preparing and loading the sample, setting the microscope and acquiring an EBSD map.

Processing (data cleaning routine) and presentation of results

Total time 6 h

Course fee £1,015.20

Use of our instruments

On request, we are also happy to provide a space for your additional practice of TEM

techniques with our instruments.

Or if you need a place to perform analysis of your samples for electron microscopy, we can

provide our instruments.

Booking

If you are interested in booking any of the courses or need more information, please email us

on emsuite@open.ac.uk or call 0044 01908 858192.

1

Electron Microscopy Suite

The Open University

All rights reserved. 2018