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Advanced Methods in Scanning

Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)

Teaching staff

  • Nigel D. Browning
  • B. Layla Mehdi
  • Mounib Bahri
  • Daniel Nicholls
  • Felipe Tontini-Schnaider

Lecture course

The object of this course is to provide students with the advanced theory and practical application of high-resolution and analytical STEM methods. This includes all the practical training necessary for independent operation of an advanced aberration corrected STEM. To achieve this goal, the lecture course will cover:

  • The main types of imaging and analytical methods in STEM – Z contrast imaging
  • Phase contrast imaging
  • Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry
  • Electron energy loss spectroscopy
  • In addition to the use of the aberration corrector and compressed sensing, and it’s application for in-situ experiments.

A significant part of the practical course involves the calibration, acquisition and interpretation of experimental images and spectra.

This class will be taught through 5 recorded lectures plus 3, 1 hour Zoom tutorials to discuss the lecture material. The recorded lectures will be available from May 1st and will cover the following:

  • Lecture 1: Review of Basic microscopy concepts introduced for SEM/TEM
  • Lecture 2: STEM Imaging
  • Lecture 3: Analytical Electron Microscopy
  • Lecture 4: Methods for Low-Dose Imaging
  • Lecture 5: In-situ/Operando Methods.

Practical laboratories

The laboratory work in this course will permit a degree of specialisation, as each student can select a material related to their research and follow through the set of experiments on that sample. After finishing lab reports, students can practice the methods for the remainder of the semester by booking extra time before taking the “drivers test”, which must be taken in the same semester as the classes. The lab sessions are organised by appointment only and will start on April 1st.

  • Lab 1:  Basic Principles of STEM Alignment (2 hrs x 2)
  • Lab 2: Calibration of Apertures/Detectors for Atomic Resolution (2 hrs x 2)
  • Lab 3: Low-dose Imaging, Compressive Sensing and Image Analytics (2 hrs x 2)
  • Lab 4: Analytical Microscopy - EDS & EELS (2 hrs x 2).

Reference books

  • Williams & Carter, Transmission Electron Microscopy
  • Pennycook & Nellist, Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

In addition to these experimental laboratories, a further 3 in-situ/operando laboratories can be arranged: Open Cell, Liquid Cell and Gas Cell. To be eligible for training on these stages, students must pass the drivers test above and have 6 months of independent use experience.

Complete the form below to register your interest. Please note space is limited to 16 PhDs/PDRAs.

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