Scientists of the Glenn Research Center at NASA in Ohio have just acquired a TESCAN MAIA3, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with the Triglav™ ultra-high resolution (UHR) SEM column. The researchers will use the TESCAN MAIA3 microscope to analyse porous nanoscale structures of aerogels in clear detail. Aerogels are a class of lightweight materials typically made from silica and alumina with a sponge-like structure with pores of 10 to 50 nm wide. The outstanding resolution of 1 nm at 1 keV and variable pressure capabilities are key features to image (at low kV) and characterise pores in aerogels and also nano-sized particles without damaging the samples.
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- Laura Evans, electron optics lead at NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s analytical science group, loads a sample into Glenn’s new TESCAN MAIA3 microscope.