Hydrocarbon contamination remains a persistent challenge in SEM and TEM imaging, with carbon residues obscuring fine structures, distorting results, and consuming time, regardless of whether they stem from preparation or build up during imaging.
Hitachi ZoneSEM II and ZoneTEM II UV-based Sample Cleaners offer a chemical-free, effective, and safe method of eliminating this contamination. These small gadgets can be used on the lab bench, and gently clean your samples using low-energy UV light and activated oxygen without causing any damage to fragile structures or changing the surface characteristics.
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- Cleaning with UV light without the use of chemicals or gas supplies
- Dual function: clean and store samples in one device
- Vacuum-controlled cleaning to accommodate a variety of sample types
- Fast, damage-free elimination of hydrocarbon contamination
- Recipe memory in a touchscreen interface for convenience and consistency
Features and Benefits
Gentle, Chemical-Free Cleaning
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The ZoneSEM II and ZoneTEM II cleaners employ UV lamps to break down hydrocarbon bonds. In the presence of oxygen, the wavelengths used trigger the production of ozone and reactive oxygen species, which oxidize hydrocarbons to volatile compounds like CO2 and H2O. This allows them to be safely removed without the need for solvents, reagents, or gas supplies.
Vacuum-Controlled Process for Sample Safety
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The integrated pump provides an adjustable vacuum, allowing users to customize the level of cleaning. Thus, based on the sample, users can improve the method.
Easy to Use, Easy to Repeat
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An intuitive touchscreen interface makes choosing and executing cleaning processes easy. Recipe memory allows users to save and retrieve process parameters, making it perfect for laboratories with several users or regular processes.
Cleaning and Storage in One
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The ZoneSEM II and ZoneTEM II are sample cleaners and storage devices that reduce sample outgassing prior to imaging and help avoid recontamination. The ZoneSEM II is targeted at Hitachi holders.
Compact, Lab-Friendly Design
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ZONE sample cleaners are simple to include in any lab setting because of their small desktop footprint, silent operation, and lack of gas hookups or chemical waste management requirements.
Applications
SEM Imaging
ITO thin film on glass printed circuit board before and after ZoneSEM II cleaning. Image Credit: Hitachi High-Tech Europe
TEM/STEM Preparation
CdSe quantum dot imaged before and after ZoneTEM II cleaning. Image Credit: Hitachi High-Tech Europe
EDS Mapping
EDS mapping image of Au particles on carbon before and after ZoneSEM II cleaning. Image Credit: Hitachi High-Tech Europe