460: Introduction to TEM

Description

The primary focus of this course is to provide both the fundamental theory as well as hands on practice with the use of transmission electron microscopy to study the structure of solids. Please note that there will be no coverage of scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

There are no prerequisites for this class beyond a basic knowledge of solid structures and typical defects. If you are not a Materials Science major, and have not had any prior exposure, I would strongly suggest that you borrow from the library an introductory text on materials science which explains about dislocations, grains, and a little about crystal structure.

TAs:
Carolin Wahl email: CarolinWahl2024@u.northwestern.edu
Emily Greenstein email: EmilyGreenstein@u.northwestern.edu

Office Hours: Mondays 1-2PM in Catalysis B19

Course Outline

Reference Text: Transmission Electron Microscopy by David B. Williams and C. Barry Carter

Notes for lectures

  1. Practical TEM and Safety
  2. Sample Prep
  3. Partial coherence notes
  4. Kinematical: More Rigorous Version and Less Rigorous.
  5. Imaging: doc
  6. High Resolution PPTX
  7. STEM PDF, & Z-Contrast
  8. 2-beam & Channeling
  9. Dynamical
  10. EELS
  11. EDX
  • A set of visualizations and simulations for TEM and SEM
  • Some introductory information about applying TEM to biological samples
  • Links to some material on Fourier Transforms and FFT (Fast Fourier Transforms, the numerical form)

    Examples images shown in class:
    Diffraction, Conventional Images
    The CTF explorer program can be found here.

    Lab Outline | Lab Schedule

    The labs are 2 hours per week, hands on use of the TEM. You have to take the labs if you want a grade. If you are auditing the class, you will have to either get your advisor to pay for the cost of the labs (about $1200) or your Department. The schedule for the labs will be determined in class. The first lab will be a general safety tour and introduction which will take about 1 hr, and we will meet in the EPIC facility in Tech.

    Notes for Lab Reports.

    Lab reports are due Friday at 5 PM the week after you do the lab by email to the TA.

    Lab #1 Safety Lab: Week of Jan 9
    Please attend one of two sessions:
    Thursday, Jan 12 3:30 PM (after class)
    Meet in class
    Friday, Jan 13 10:30 AM
    Meet in Tech J Wing

    Lab #2 Week of Jan 16 (no lab report)
    Lab #3 Week of Jan 23
    Lab #4 Week of Jan 30
    Lab #5 Week of Feb 6
    Lab #6 Week of Feb 13 (combined EDX/EELS)
    Lab #7 Week of Feb 13 (combined EDX/EELS)
    Lab #8 Week of Feb 27 (no lab report)

    Here are some condensed operation guides for the JEM2100F, HD2300

    Homework

    Homework is due Thursdays at 5 PM. Digital (typed) format is preferred by email, or paper may be turned in to TA . (Dates may change as we go through the course.)

    HW #1, due Thursday, Jan 12
    HW #2, due Thursday, Jan 19
    HW #3, due Thursday, Feb 2
    HW #4, due Thursday, Feb 9
    HW #5, due Thursday, March 2
    HW #6, due Thursday, March 9


    Term Paper Presentations: Finals Week, March 16 12-2 (provisional). See Projects


    Last Update: Jan 23 2023 - epg