The Keck Center is currently located in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (ISE) Laboratory on the UD campus. It houses a field emission transmission electron microscope JEM-2010F FasTEM, a Tecnai G² 12 Twin transmission electron microscope, two scanning electron microscopes (JSM-7400F and AURIGA_TM 60 CrossBeam_TM, with the AURIGA_TM 60 being a FIB-SEM dual beam instrument), and two scanning probe microscopes (Multimode NanoScope V and Dimension 3100 V).

The JEM-2010F FasTEM provides 1.9 Å point resolution and 1.0 Å lattice resolution with an information limit of 0.75 Å. A few peripheral attachments further enhance its analytical capabilities; these include the scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) for both bright field (STEM-BF) imaging and high angle annular dark field (STEM-HAADF) imaging, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy filtered imaging, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS). In addition, this instrument allows remote access and remote control through internet connection.

In addition to conventional imaging and diffraction, the Tecnai G² 12 Twin TEM is facilitated with cryo-TEM and low dose imaging capabilities.

The JSM-7400F field emission scanning electron microscope has a 1 nm resolution at 15 kV and a 1.5 nm resolution at 1 kV. It allows operation in a wide range of beam energies from 0.1 keV to 30 keV, and affords various operation modes, including secondary electron imaging (SEI), backscattered electron imaging, gentle beam mode, and imaging with energy filters. An ultrathin window energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XEDS) detector identifies elements of an atomic number greater than four, and offers a 130 eV spectral resolution. This SEM also allows remote control via the internet.

The AURIGA_TM 60 Crossbeam_TM FIB-SEM provides high resolution solutions for nano-tomography, 3-D imaging and analysis, lamellar and thin foil preparation, and nano-patterning. In conjunction with an Axio Imager M2 light microscope, a “Shuttle & Find” correlative microscopy scheme allows the visible light contrasts and information about feature color, size, and morphology obtained by the light microscope to be combined with advanced analytical methods of the AURIGA_TM 60 electron and ion optics for the discovery of new structural and elemental information. Additionally, the view-and-slicing capability of the FIB-SEM extends the opportunities to correlative tomography. The high resolution FIB optics of AURIGA_TM 60, together with its high precision stage, also enables nano-scale patterning or fiducial mark preparation, which can further facilitate other correlative analyses, such as those offered by vibrational spectroscopy.

The Keck Center has over 12 different TEM sample holders, including routine single and double tilt holders, low-background analytical holders, liquid nitrogen cryo-holders and cryo-transfer holders, a double tilt liquid helium holder, and a double tilt heating holder allowing studies at temperatures for up to 1270 K. We have a variety of sample preparation equipment, including 3 ultra-microtomes with cryo-microtomy capabilities, 2 Vitrobot^® stations for TEM sample vitrification and cryo-transfer, dimple devices, ion mills (including a PIPS), sputter coaters, carbon coaters, and a low speed diamond saw.

In addition, the facility houses two scanning probe microscopes (SPM) with atomic force microscopy (AFM) systems: a general purpose NanoScope V AFM and a Dimension SPM system. The Dimension SPM includes 1) NanoMan-VS Nanolithography Software and User Interface that enables manipulation and lithography at the nanometer and molecular scale, 2) TUNA module for electric measurement, and 3) Real-time HarmoniX that measures variations in material properties during Tapping-Mode Imaging to provide independent nanometer scale images of peak force, adhesion, stiffness, dissipation, and average force.

The laboratory staff and associated faculty are knowledgeable in SEM, TEM, and SPM, in addition to their applications in a wide range of materials research. We work with users on campus and other organizations in many areas of advanced microscopy, including research, research training, and consultation.