This document provides an overview of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM uses a beam of electrons rather than light to image specimens. It has much higher resolution than light microscopes. The main components include an electron gun, condenser system, sample, image formation lenses, and projection system. Samples must be very thin and require careful preparation. TEMs provide information on structure at the molecular level and have applications in medicine, nanotechnology, materials science, and more.

2. POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION 4102
Transmission
Electron Microscope
Presented by
Faizan Alam 18-NTU-1005
M Qasim 18-NTU-1021
Presented to
Dr. Zakariya Zubair

3. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Principal
• Parts
• Sample preparation
• Working
• Application
• Advantage & Disadvantage

4. INTRODUCTION
• Transmission electron microscopy is a major analytical method in the
physical, chemical and biological sciences. The first TEM was
demonstrated by Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska in 1931, with this
group developing the first TEM with resolution greater than that of
light in 1933 and the first commercial TEM in 1939.
• This is much like a slide projector but the basic difference is light
microscope uses beam of light whereases TEM uses beam of
electrons.

5. WHAT IS TEM
• TEM is microscopy technique
in which a beam of electrons
is transmitted through an ultra
thin specimen, interacting
with the specimen as it passes
through.

6. PRINCIPLE
• The TEM operates on the same basic principles as the light microscope
but uses electrons instead of light. Because the wavelength of electrons is
much smaller than that of light, the optimal resolution attainable for TEM
images is many orders of magnitude better than that from a light
microscope.
Microscope Resolution Magnification
Optical 200nm 1000x
TEM 0.2nm 500000x

7. MAIN COMPONENTS OF TEM
• The Gun – which produces electron.
• The condenser system – which perform the probe
• The sample – sample preparation is important, and time consuming.
• Image formation – use of image plane or back focal plane.
• Intermediate lens – transmitting and magnifying the first enlarged diffraction or
image pattern to projector lens.
• Projection of the image viewing and recording.

8. MAIN COMPONENTS OF TEM

9. WORKING
• In a TEM the electron beam is focused on the sample using the condenser
lens system.
• This produces an image which is focused by the objective lens to a point.
• This image is then magnified by a series of projector lenses to vary the size
of the image on a fluorescent screen.
• Changing the current of an electromagnetic lens alters its focal length altering
magnification.

10. DIAGRAM TO PRESENT TEM WORKING

11. SAMPLE PREPARATION
The process of specimen preparation in TEM involves many steps:
• Fixation
• Rinsing
• Secondary fixation
• Dehydration
• Infiltration

13. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEM AND TEM

14. DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SEM AND
TEM

15. RESULTS
• TEMs provide topographical,
morphological, compositional and
crystalline information. The
images allow researchers to view
samples on a molecular level,
making it possible to analyze
structure and texture. This
information is useful in the study of
crystals and metals, but also has
industrial applications.
•

16. GRAPH

17. APPLICATIONS
• Medical
• Life sciences
• Nanotechnology
• Forensic analysis
• Biological and material research
• Gemology and metallurgy
• Industry and education

18. ADVANTAGE
• TEMs offer the most powerful magnification, potentially over one million times
or more.
• TEMs have a wide-range of applications and can be utilized in a variety of
different scientific, educational and industrial fields.
• TEMs provide information on element and compound structure.
• Images are high-quality and detailed.
• TEMs are able to yield information of surface features, shape, size and structure.
• They are easy to operate with proper training.

19. DISADVANTAGE
• TEMs are large and very expensive
• Laborious sample preparation
• Operation and analysis requires special training
• TEMs require special housing and maintenance
• Images are black and white