• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study
    • Courses and subjects
    • Find a course
    • A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Academic departments
    • Visiting the university
    • Explore: get to know us
    • Upcoming events
    • Virtual tours
    • Chat to our students and staff
    • Open days
    • Applicant days
    • Order a prospectus
    • Ask a question
    • Studying here
    • Accommodation and locations
    • Applying
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Transferring from another university
    • The Student Contract
    • Clearing 2022
    • International students
    • Fees and finance
    • Advice and help
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and teachers
    • Managing your application
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Apprenticeships
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Image and Analysis Unit
Business and employers
  • Support for SMEs
  • Work with students
  • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
  • Degree apprenticeships
  • Events
  • News
  • Consultancy
    • Consultancy
  • Image and Analysis Unit

Image and Analysis Unit

Our Image and Analysis Unit is equipped with some of the most advanced microscopes in the south-east, including state-of-the-art high-resolution scanning electron microscopes (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).

We have an excellent track record of delivering a wide range of consultancy projects to a diverse portfolio of industrial partners and clients, talk to us to find out more. 

Talk to us

If you are interested in accessing any of the services mentioned here, contact Dr Jonathan Salvage at J.P.Salvage@brighton.ac.uk or +44(0)1273 642 430.

 

Our expertise and capabilities

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

The SEM can image sample materials at up to one million times magnification with a potential resolution of two nanometres.

Using SEM and EDS we can deliver high quality nanoscale level resolution imaging and elemental analysis of your samples.

We have two SEM available:

Zeiss Sigma Field Emission Gun SEM (FEG-SEM) equipped secondary electron, backscattered electron, scanning transmission electron, and X-ray detectors.

The FEG-SEM is used for Nano-resolution imaging of dry samples.

Zeiss EVO LS-15 Environmental SEM (ESEM) equipped with secondary electron, backscattered electron, and X-ray detectors.

The ESEM allows moisture-containing samples to be examined in their native state using a variable pressure environmental chamber.

KEY FEATURES

  •  Field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM)

  • Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM)

  • Secondary electron imaging (SE)

  • Backscattered electron imaging (BSE)

  • Scanning transmission electron imaging (STEM)

  • Oxford Instruments X-max Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)

Output signals 

The SEM generates a high energy incident beam of electrons which is used to illuminate the sample surface and produces three principle output signals:

1 - Secondary electrons:

These are low energy electrons generated by the interaction of the incident beam with the sample material and provide surface morphology images, to visualise the sample shape and size.

Secondary Electron

2 - Backscattered electrons:

These are high energy electrons within the incident beam that are reflected back by the sample material.

The intensity of backscatter is relative to the atomic weight of the sample and provides elemental phase images, to visualise the presence of differing chemical elements within a sample.

3 - X-rays:

These are liberated from the sample material during the process of secondary electron generation. They can be used to identify and quantify the chemical elements within a sample via EDS and produce spot analysis spectra and element maps. 

EDS spot analysis

EDS spot analysis map

Additional equipment available 

We also have access to the following microscopes:  

  • Leica TCS SP5 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

  • Digital Instruments Multimode and Dimension Atomic Force Microscopes

  • Nikon Eclipse TE2000-U Light-Fluorescence Microscope

  • X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) is available to complement the EDS analysis

If you would like more information, please get in touch. 

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents