ENVIRONMENTAL SEM laboratory

Room 107, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research,
University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4

Head: Christopher Weisener,
Assistant Professor EMMG;
email: weisener@uwindsor.ca,
Phone:519 253-3000 ext. 3753

Technician:  Sharon Lackie, Room 109
Phone:  (519) 253-3000 Ext. 4850 (office), Ext. 4932 (SEM Lab)
Fax:  (519) 971-3616
e-mail:  sharonl@uwindsor.ca

Hours of Operation:  9:00 -4:30

The Environmental SEM facility offers an Environmental (Variable Pressure) Scanning Electron Microscope for users from all fields of research.  The Environmental SEM is extremely versatile, and allows users to image the most challenging samples.  The SEM at GLIER excels at High Resolution Imaging, capable of resolutions down to nanometers, excellent backscatter images, elemental analysis with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, elemental mapping, and cathodoluminescence of trace elements.  This SEM can image wet, dirty, oily or outgassing samples using the Low Vacuum or Environmental Mode.

THE MICROSCOPE

The FEI Quanta 200 FEG microscope was purchased in 2005, and is a first class, high resolution SEM with the following equipment and specifications:

• Field Emission Gun (filament) for highest resolution
• ET Secondary Electron Detector
• Solid State Backscatter Detector
• Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) X-Ray Detector
• Gaseous Secondary Electron Detector
• Cathodoluminescence Detector

Other Equipment available at the SEM facility at GLIER:

• Carbon Coater
• Scandium imaging software for measuring and image enhancement
  
• EDAX Genesis Software for EDS
  
• Adobe Photoshop
  
• Remote Genesis EDS software
• BET surface area analyser

THE FACILITY

The Environmental SEM facility is run by a full time technician, Sharon Lackie, who is available to train new users, provide assistance with the running of the microscope and the EDS equipment, and offer advice on preparation methods or imaging parameters.  Dr. Christopher Weisener is the faculty advisor who oversees the facility.

BOOKING TIME ON THE MICROSCOPE

Time can be booked on the microscope for a few hours, half a day or a whole day.  Charges are per hour of microscope time.

USER FEES

User fees are charged in order to generate funds to maintain the equipment.  Fees are charged on an hourly basis, and vary based on whether the technician operates the SEM for the user, or it is user-operated.  There is a fee for training, after which the trained user is charged a lower rate.  This fee incorporates the hourly rate, plus a fee for technician time. 

Internal Hourly Rates (persons within the University of Windsor Community)

Trained User (once trained by the technician):  $35
With Operator (technician):  $45
Training Session:  $95
Elemental Maps:  $50

External Hourly Rates (persons outside the University of Windsor Community)

Trained User:   $45
With Operator:   $55
Training Session:  $95
Elemental Maps:  $50

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