HT BSE detector

Imaging and measurement of surfaces in-situ and at high temperatures

Electrode-based detectors are specially designed for in-situ High Temperature experiments where conventional detectors cannot be used. This is, because light and thermal electrons emitted by the hot sample easily saturate the electronics, and because the unavoidable contamination from the in-situ conditions limits the lifetime of delicate sensors.

In this new design of the point electronic HT BSE Detektors, BackScattered Electrons (BSE) are absorbed in robust electrodes (metal plates) placed at the detection plane, the resultant absorbed current is preamplifier in-situ, and then amplified and mixed further ex-situ. Secondary and thermal electrons are repelled away, as a bias voltage is applied to the electrodes through the detector galvanic isolation. Light, either emitted from the hot sample, or scattered from a laser heater, does not produce signal in such technology, the detector is inherently light-blind.

Electrodes can be coated in various materials to optimise absorption efficiency at particular energy ranges, e.g. Carbon coating for higher acceleration voltages, and can be easily disassembled, cleaned and recoated.

Of course, four quadrant electrodes are used to enable 3D surface analysis when combined with our calibrated SEM scan controller (DISS6) and Topographic reconstruction software.

> learn more about the specifications

Port-mounted motorized BSE detector

Carefully selected segmented sensors are perfectly balanced with bespoke electronics and mechanics in a fully self-contained detector designed for ultimate performance and ease-of-use.

1. Robust high-temperature sensor: New technology with light-blind metal electrodes in quadrant geometry with built-in 4x preamplifiers and adjustable bias voltage

2. XY alignment: High-precision lateral alignment with optional motorized repositioning

3. Built-in motorized insertion: Port-mounted and bellow-sealed with motorized insertion/retraction, and touch alarm

4. Standard interfaces: Control over USB 2.0 and analog video signals output on RJ45 connectors

5. Built-in amplifier and mixer: Two-stage amplification for each of the four channels, with independent and calibrated controls for brightness and contrast

Open control with full access to all detector parameters

Engineered for performance

Designed for fast and intuitive control, to cover every advanced signal control and automation feature, and to give the best experience even for challenging BSE experiments.

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  Versatile experiments

  Segmented sensors in quadrant geometries
  Each segment with own brightness and contrast controls
  Size and geometry optimized for materials science

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  Flexible output

  Output directly all four individual channels

  Combine to a single output with built-in compositional or topographic mix

  Route any channel to a single output

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  Intuitive, fast and ergonomic

  Heavy-duty hardware control panel for fast access and easy adjustments
  Touch display for status and automated control
  Rotary knobs for very-fine manual control

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  Quantitative measurements

  Electronic gains, offsets and bias are factory calibrated
  Electron current into the sensor can be calculated from voltage at the output of the detector
  Material properties can be determined from quantified input signal

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  Software Development toolKit (SDK)

  Control libraries for positioning and amplification

  Application Programming Interfaces with simplified functions and physical parameters

  Demo code in Python and other programming languages

  After-sale remote support for developers

Unique, robust and light-blind detector for in-situ/in-operando SEM

In-situ heating

Image hot surfaces without interference from emitted light

Filter low-energy thermal electrons with the built-in detector bias voltage

Combine with electrical or laser heaters

Water cooling

Monitor operating temperature with build in thermal sensor

Keep your detector safe with optional water cooling, even at 1,200°C

Connect in series to existing heater water cooling hoses

Robust and easy to clean

Push your experiments with a detector designed to withstand contamination

Handle with confidence, in and out of the microscope

Replace, clean and modify your electrode sensors without returning to factory

Quantitative BSE

• map density with high-spatial resolution, even at high temperatures
• characterise phase transformation across a wide temperature range
• observe nucleation and growth of nano-materials

BSE Topography

• Analyse 3D surfaces and complex surfaces
• Monitor in-situ reactions, including high-temperature
• Distinguish between shape and density transformations

• HT BSE Detektor with LIMA-Arm retraction mechanism

  
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• Easy to clean and disassemble

  

• LIMA Arm retraction mechanism

  
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• Flexible channel output

  

• Quantitative measurements

  

• BSE topography showing Cu catalyst during hydrogen oxidation