Overview
This course will introduce BEX, a new analytical technique for scanning electron microscopes. The content will explore how the technique combines data from two imaging techniques to give topographic, crystallographic, atomic number and elemental information. Research case studies will provide examples of successful BEX application in the identification and characterisation of materials, demonstrating potential novel uses of the technique to participants.
This course will act as a forum for early adopters of the technology to share their experiences, discuss potential applications, and share best practice. It will also highlight routes through which researchers, small businesses and industry scientists can access the BEX equipment through Royce’s access schemes.
Participants will have the opportunity to speak with Oxford Instruments R&D scientists and engineers during the course, observe the equipment, and discuss their own research questions and technical challenges with the company.
There is an opportunity for participants to bring along suitable material samples along for basic analysis. Please contact us directly via training@royce.ac.uk for more information.
Attending this course will cost £25.
Background and motivation
BEX combines backscattered electron imaging and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) simultaneously in a single technique to observe details that would be tricky to decern by either alone. The detector geometry allows far greater acquisition speeds than can be achieved with traditional SEM chemical mapping so large samples can be rapidly scanned. This is of particular use when trying to locate low frequency events, such as inclusions in welds or contaminates in powders. In addition, the location of the sensors on the detector eliminates shadowing effects from sample topography that would otherwise affect EDS, allowing imaging of traditionally different samples such as fracture surfaces, or within porosity.
This course will raise awareness of this new technique and technology across the UK materials science research community.
The Henry Royce Institute is the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation. Royce provides an extensive range of equipment and facilities for use by the materials community, including one of the first Unity detectors for BEX analysis in the UK.
Oxford Instruments provide leading-edge tools that enable materials characterisation and sample manipulation at the nanometre scale. Oxford Instruments launched the Unity, the world’s first BEX detector, in summer 2023, with the first installations taking place earlier this year.
Audience
This course is suitable for researchers from across the UK materials science community who have an interest in characterisation techniques, and is specifically aimed at those interested in chemical distribution mapping of samples. The content is suitable for PhD students and researchers encountering this technique for the first time, or those wanting to develop their knowledge. SME and industry scientists and leaders are also most welcome, especially in relation to potential projects suitable for Royce support.
Learning Outcomes
Following the course participants should be able to:
- Explain the core principles of BEX imaging and the Unity detector
- Relate the detector’s use to their own research and samples
- Submit BEX equipment access requests to Royce
- Engage and network with the new BEX community in the UK
Programme
Organisers
- Andrea Izquierdo – Royce
- Ed Pickering – Royce
- Jack Donoghue – Royce
- Teruo Hashimoto – University of Manchester
- Paul Edwards – Oxford Instruments
Speakers
- Jack Donoghue – Royce
- Teruo Hashimoto – University of Manchester
- Jim Buckman – Heriot Watt University
- Haithem Mansour – Oxford Instruments Nanoanalysis
