Electron Microprobe Laboratory

University of Oklahoma
http://ors.ou.edu/Microprobe/OUEMPLhome.asp

Contact Information

Dr. George B. Morgan VI

405 325 2642

gmorgan@ou.edu

Norman

OKLAHOMA

Instrument Type

Electron Microbeam: SEM scanning electron microscope
Electron Microbeam: EDS energy dispersive spectrometer
Electron Microbeam: CL cathodoluminescence detector +/- spectrometer
Electron Microbeam: EMPA electron microprobe; wavelength dispersive spectrometer

Cameca SX50

Application:

  • Surface analysis
  • Whole-rock analysis (major and trace element)
  • Micro-imaging

Typical Use:

Wavelength-dispersive diffraction spectrometry of all elements heavier than Be (beryllium). Spatial resolution typical of tungsten filament sources. High-performance cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrophotometer.

Conditions for Use:

  • Submitted samples will be analyzed on a contract basis (i.e. lab personnel will do the work)
  • Visitors are invited to work in the lab to work with lab personnel
  • All analyses are performed by George Morgan except for OU personnel who have completed Dr. Morgan's microprobe training course.

User Fees:

US$40/hr or US$400/day (24 hr) for non-OU academic users and Federal or state governments.

US$100/hr or US$1000/day (24 hr) for all others.

Prep time charged as commensurate with time and materials used

Instrument Priorities:

Work is scheduled as requested on a first-available basis

Remote Use:

no

Sample Preparation:

We accommodate standard 1" rounds, standard 0.25" dia brass mounts, standard 22x44mm thin sections, and other samples as shuttles permit.

Standard Collections/Lab Blanks:

The laboratory maintains a broad suite of commercial and in-house standards including metals, minerals, and glasses.

Software:

On-line data acquisition through SAMx IDFIX PC-based automation providing complete integration with WDS analytical and digital imaging systems.

Images for all signal types (BSEI, SEI, CL, ABS, XR-EDXA, XR-WDS) are acquired digitally with SAMx software that supports storage in a large variety of file formats that includes 8 to 24-bit TIF, JPG, GIF, Bitmap, and WMF among others. Image areas ≤ 1.6 x 1.6 mm are acquired by beam-scanning, and the acquisition software permits multiple sweeps/passes of the beam on each image, multiple reads of each pixel on each sweep, and a user-selectable dwell time between pixels (useful for allowing decay of emission between pixels for cathodoluminescence imaging). Larger area imaging/mapping can be performed by scanning the stage under a fixed beam, or by mosaic of smaller areas acquired by beam scanning.

Off-line image analysis through IMAGEPRO PLUS, data analysis via MS Excel for PC

Educational Use:

  • Class demonstrations are available for undergraduates
  • Undergraduate student research projects are invited
  • Graduate student research projects are invited


Support provided by:

The Electron Microprobe Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma was established by U.S. Department of Energy grant DE-FG22-87FE1146, with continuing support from the Office of the Vice President of Research at the University of Oklahoma, and through National Science Foundation Grants EAR-9404658, EAR-9906029, and EAR-0649001.