The Centre for Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (CESEM) was set u to facilitate state-of-the-art research within the Institute of Petroleum Engineering (IPE) and Heriot-Watt University. An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) is specifically designed to be able to examine microstructural and ultrastructural details of samples, within an SEM chamber, in their uncoated natural state. An ESEM is able to examine wet, oily and outgassing samples, without any form of preparation, and is able to maintain specimens within their natural state for prolonged periods within the ESEM viewing chamber. The ESEM works at low vacuum (typically 2 - 6 Torr), and utilizes a chamber gas (H2O) for imaging, charge surpression and sample humidity.

1. Centre for Environmental Scanning
Electron Microscopy (CESEM)

2. Scales and hairs on an ant; full ESEM wet mode.

3. Garnet schist (metamorphic rock), from a thin section. BSE
image taken in high vacuum mode, showing contrast between
different mineral phases; composite of stitched images with a
horizontal field of view of approximately 8mm.

4. Parasite from fish gut; full ESEM wet mode. Visible is
slime/mucus clinging to hooks.

5. STEM image in HAADF mode, showing holey carbon
grid, with silver nanoparticles (see bottom right).

6. Water droplets condensed on the outer surface of a
phosphatic brachiopod.

7. Contact
Dr Jim Buckman
ESEM Manager
Heriot-Watt University
Institute of Petroleum Engineering
Jim.Buckman@pet.hw.ac.uk