ASU SoLS: EM Laboratory

The instrumentation in the laboratory includes a Philips CM 12 Scanning Transmission EM with an EDAX 9800 plus energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer. The CM12S was fitted with a Gatan model 789 wide angle multi scan CCD camera for direct digital image acquisition in TEM mode in 2001. In addition, a Philips EM 201 TEM was installed in 1977. The electron microscopes are supported by a Bal-Tec HPM 010 High Pressure freezer for cryofixation for ultrastructural studies, a Bal-Tec FSU 010 freeze substitution unit, both new in 1994, Balzers model 400D freeze fracture system, acquired in 1982, an RMC MT 6000 ultramicrotome with FC 2000 cryosectioning attachment, new in 1988, a Leica Ultracut R ultramicrotome on loan from Bioengineering, an AO Reichert Ultracut E and two Dupont-Sorvall MT2-B ultramicrotomes for student use. Other support equipment includes a Technics Hummer II sputter coater, a Balzers CO₂ critical point dryer, a Ted Pella Inc. Microwave specimen preparation system (new in 1997), plus all necessary instrumentation and equipment such as ovens, microfuge, pH meter, etc. We are in the process of installing and learning the operation of a Leica Cambridge Stereoscan 360FE field emission scanning electron microscope, a gift from the Motorola Corp. This instrument has been fitted with an IXRF digital imaging system and will be used for teaching, research, and K-12 outreach as we begin to activate its many capabilities.

Facilities and Equipment

The Laboratory suite is purpose built for electron microscopy, with approximately 1400 square feet of floor space. There are two darkrooms, one for printing and one for processing of film. The printing darkroom is equipped with a floor standing Durst Model S-45 EM enlarger fitted with a point light source and capable of printing all formats 4"x5" or smaller plus developing tanks for processing sheet film, large sink for tray development of prints to 16" x 20" and an Ilford 1050 infrared print dryer. The film only darkroom has facilities for processing all formats of film from 4"x 5" down and includes a nitrogen burst agitation system for sheet film as well as film desiccators for TEM films and a film dryer. The preparation laboratory is equipped with a fume hood, the ultramicrotomy rooms with both dissecting and compound microscopes and fiber optic light sources, and the printing darkroom with a Thomas Super Safelight. There is also a room dedicated to high pressure freezing and graphics preparation.

Equipment Sign-Up Calendar

Qualified users of the LSEMF can reserve time on instruments or reserve darkroom time by going to the LSEMF Calendar at http://calendar.yahoo.com/. The password for the calendar can be obtained from Bill Sharp at wsharp@asu.edu. At the Yahoo site, type in the ID "ASULSEMF" and the password.

The user should include their name, the instrument they wish to use, and their desired beginning and ending times on the day they are requesting to use the facility. If someone is already signed up in the time slot for a DIFFERENT instrument, the user can sign up in the same time slot for another instrument and the calendar will make room for their request. It is considered bad manners to erase a sign up posted by another user. Please confine sign ups for any particular instrument to no more than three half day sessions per week.