title: Wet-STEM tomography: principles, potentialities and limitations.
abstract: The characterization of biological and inorganic materials by determining their three-dimensional structure in conditions closer to their native state is a major challenge of technological research. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) provides access to the observation of hydrated samples in water environments. Here, we present a specific device for ESEM in the scanning transmission electron microscopy mode, allowing the acquisition of tilt-series suitable for tomographic reconstructions. The resolution which can be obtained with this device is first determined. Then, we demonstrate the feasibility of tomography on wet materials. The example studied here is hydrophilic mesoporous silica (MCM-41). Finally, the minimum thickness of water which can be detected is calculated from Monte Carlo simulations and compared with the resolution expected in the tomograms.
authors.affiliation: 1 Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masenelli-Varlot
authors.affiliation: 1 Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malchère
authors.affiliation: 1 Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: 2 EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidari Mezerji
authors.affiliation: 2 EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bals
authors.affiliation: 3 Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Centre Universitaire d'Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messaoudi
authors.affiliation: 3 Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Centre Universitaire d'Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marco Garrido