The Aquarius “Liquid” Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Starter Kit from FLowVIEW Tek

Aquarius was the first to use e-beam technology to test original fluids and liquid samples. Coating materials in their original form, particularly in the liquid state, are both tested and monitored by Aquarius.

Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

The chip and liquid sample holder offer versatile functions (a quick assembly model for electrode testing, an inline model for process monitoring, and a disposable model for slurry testing) and high-resolution inspection at the same time.

The system can display the images of a liquid-state sample under original conditions and offer analysis results, like particle size distribution, uniformity, dispersity, composition, shape, and concentration needed for research and development and production.

Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

The MFC system is integrated with the liquid sample holder that can be adapted for use with different types of preparation tools (like membrane filter for identifying liquid defects, centrifuge for observing bio-sample morphology, and powder disperser for analyzing powder size distribution) for static inspection in many different applications.

The sample present in the holder can be shifted to a variety of inspection platforms to achieve the correlative data and make comprehensive and versatile sample analysis.

Scientific Principles

Ultra-Thin Sample Adaptive Chips

The membrane was designed using a combination of surface treatment and semiconductor manufacturing process, and it can be made hydrophilic, hydrophobic, or bifunctional for a wide range of applications. This enables the samples being tested to automatically conform to the observation window for optimum image resolution.

To guarantee image quality, the thickness of the membrane has been developed to be less than 30 nm, but it is also made sturdy by modifying the shape and size of the window to ensure the pressure variation between the atmosphere and vacuum.

Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

Liquid Sample Holder

Combined with microfluidics as well as a high-precision pogo pin with a leak-free sealing design, the liquid sample holder can control and track the micro-environment. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to optimize the microfluidics designs to obtain the perfect transportation model for the samples.

Furthermore, the liquid sample holder features an exclusive mechanical design to increase the operation efficiency and can load the sample in less than a minute. It is also possible to transmit the electrical charging and discharging to the control system and within the microfluidics through the pogo pin design.

Moreover, users can circulate the heat exchange fluid in one of the flow channels and thus accomplish the functions of monitoring fluid properties and temperature control. This allows in-situ testing of samples at the nanoscale and under their original activity.

FlowVIEW Image Analysis Software

The FlowVIEW Image Analysis software is available with the FlowVIEW Starter Kit.

Automation—a single button enables complete automation analysis

Multi-functional—functions comprise particle size distribution, shape, and dispersion analysis

Fast—liquid image analysis can be completed in less than a minute

Simple—thanks to the user-friendly design of the software interface, the system can be started easily

Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

The FlowVIEW Aquarius “Liquid” SEM Starter Kit includes the following components:

A total of 24 tips

A total of 24 micro-channel substrates

A total of 24 microscopic fluid chips

One adapter

One gasket

One O-ring

Pipette

Tweezer

An acrylic case with holder

Features

Customized—the system can be placed with the biochip substrate and silicon wafer for in-situ visualization

Simple—the liquid sample holder has a unique mechanical design to increase the operation efficiency and can load the samples in less than 0.5 minute

High compatibility—highly compatible with different types of models (JEOL, FEI, ZEISS, Hitachi, TSCAN, Phenom, etc.). It can serve as a shuttle between a fluorescence microscope or optical microscope for in-situ visualization

High resolution—objects measuring smaller than 10 nm can be effortlessly visualized

Performance

Aggregation after dry out. Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

Liquid sample in original state. Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

Supplementary Packs

After buying a starter kit, subsequent materials can be ordered in additional packs that contain both microscopic fluid chips and micro-channel substrates.

Supplementary packs include the following:

A total of 12 micro-channel substrates

A total of 12 microscopic fluid chips

Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

Buttermilk under SEM (1 µm)Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek

Cigarette under SEM (1 µm)Image Credit: FlowVIEW Tek