Applications

At Ningbo University’s Institute of Intelligent Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, researchers are tackling real-world medical challenges by merging materials science, biology, medicine, information technology, and engineering. The Institute has quickly become a hub for wearable and remote healthcare innovations, advanced medical imaging, and intelligent analysis, intending to turn lab breakthroughs into real clinical impact. Pushing the Frontiers of Bioprinting with CIQTEK SEM Recently, Dr. Lei Shao, Executive Vice Dean of the Institute, shared highlights of his research journey and how CIQTEK's cutting-edge SEM is fueling his team’s discoveries. CIQTEK SEM at Ningbo University’s Institute of Intelligent Medicine and Biomedical Engineering Printing the Future: From Miniature Hearts to Vascular Networks Since 2016, Dr. Shao has been pioneering biomanufacturing and 3D bioprinting, with the goal of engineering living, functional tissues outside the human body. His team’s work spans from 3D-printed miniature hearts to complex vascularized structures, with applications in drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. A 3D-printed miniature heart   Backed by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and local research agencies, his lab has introduced several breakthroughs: Smart bioprinting strategies: Using fluid rope-coiling effects with coaxial bioprinting to fabricate microfibers with controlled morphology, enabling the creation of vascular organoids. Cryopreservable cell microfibers: Developing standardized, scalable, and cryopreservable cellular microfibers through coaxial bioprinting, with high potential for 3D cell culture, organoid fabrication, drug screening, and transplantation. Sacrificial bioinks: Printing mesoscopic porous networks using sacrificial microgel bioinks, building nutrient pathways for effective oxygen/nutrient delivery. Complex vascular systems: Constructing complex vascular networks with coaxial bioprinting while inducing in-situ endothelial cell deposition, solving challenges in vascularization of complex structures. Anisotropic tissues: Creating anisotropic tissues using shear-oriented bioinks and pre-shearing printing methods. High-cell-density constructs: Proposing an original liquid-particle support bath printing technique for high-cell-density bioinks, achieving lifelike bioactive tissues while overcoming the long-standing trade-off between printability and cell viability in extrusion-based bioprinting. These advances are paving the way toward functional, transplantable tissues, and potentially even engineered organs.   Accelerating Discovery with CIQTEK SEM With science advancing rapidly, biomedical research stands at the forefront of innovation. Higher efficiency often leads to greater breakthroughs. According to Dr. Shao, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is one of the most indispensable scientific instruments at the Institute. Since adopt...

Recently, a team led by Dr. Wang Haomin from the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences made significant progress in studying the magnetism of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (zGNRs) using a CIQTEK Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope (SNVM).   Building on previous research, the team pre-etched hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with metal particles to create oriented atomic trenches and used a vapor-phase catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to controllably prepare chiral graphene nanoribbons in the trenches, obtaining ~9 nm wide zGNRs samples embedded in the hBN lattice. By combining SNVM and magnetic transport measurements, the team directly confirmed its intrinsic magnetism in experiments. This groundbreaking discovery lays a solid foundation for the development of graphene-based spin electronic devices. The related research findings, titled "Signatures of magnetism in zigzag graphene nanoribbons embedded in a hexagonal boron nitride lattice," have been published in the prestigious academic journal "Nature Materials".     Graphene, as a unique two-dimensional material, exhibits magnetic properties of p-orbital electrons that are fundamentally different from the localized magnetic properties of d/f orbital electrons in traditional magnetic materials, opening up new research directions for exploring pure carbon-based magnetism. Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (zGNRs), potentially possessing unique magnetic electronic states near the Fermi level, are believed to hold great potential in the field of spin electronics devices. However, detecting the magnetism of zGNRs through electrical transport methods faces multiple challenges. For instance, nanoribbons assembled from the bottom up are often too short in length to reliably fabricate devices. Additionally, the high chemical reactivity of zGNR edges can lead to instability or uneven doping. Furthermore, in narrower zGNRs, the strong antiferromagnetic coupling of edge states can make it difficult to detect their magnetic signals electrically. These factors hinder direct detection of the magnetism in zGNRs.   ZGNRs embedded in the hBN lattice exhibit higher edge stability and feature an inherent electric field, creating ideal conditions for detecting the magnetism of zGNRs. In the study, the team used CIQTEK's Room-Temperature SNVM to observe the magnetic signals of zGNRs directly at room temperature.   Figure 1: Magnetic measurement of zGNR embedded in a hexagonal boron nitride lattice using Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope   In electrical transport measurements, the fabricated approximately 9-nanometer-wide zGNR transistors demonstrated high conductivity and ballistic transport characteristics. Under the influence of a magnetic field, the device exhibited significant anisotropic magnetoresistance, with a magnetoresistance change of approximately 175 Ω at 4 K, a magnetoresistance ratio of about...

“CIQTEK field emission scanning electron microscope meets world-leading standards in all major specifications, offers a long warranty, and provides highly responsive after-sales support. After two years of use, we are confident that the system delivers lasting scientific value and performance at a highly competitive cost.”— Dr. Zhencheng Su, Senior Engineer and head of the Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences In Shenyang, Liaoning Province, stands a prestigious research institute with a history dating back to 1954. Over the past 70 years, it has grown into a national powerhouse in ecological research — the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The institute focuses on forest ecology, soil ecology, and pollution ecology, making significant contributions to the national ecological civilization. In 2023, as the institute approached a critical phase of equipment upgrades, it made a strategic decision that would not only reshape its research workflow but also establish a model case for the application of CIQTEK scanning electron microscopes (SEM) in the field of biology. IAE CAS: Advancing Ecological Civilization with Science IAE CAS operates three major research centers in forestry, agriculture, and environmental studies. Dr. Su recalls the development of the institute's shared technical service platforms. Established in 2002, the Molecular Biology Laboratory is a core facility within IAE's Public Technology Center. Over the past two decades, the lab has acquired more than 100 sets of large-scale general-purpose instruments, valued at over 7 million USD. It supports internal research needs and also serves the public by offering testing services, including isotopic and tracer analysis, biological structure identification, trace element ecological analysis, and molecular biology services.   Affordable Brilliance: CIQTEK SEMs Deliver Beyond Expectations For biological research, scanning electron microscopy is indispensable. “Our electron microscopy lab handles a wide range of biological samples, including plant and animal tissues, microbial cells, fungal spores, and viruses, as well as material samples like mineral particles, microplastics, and biochar,” Dr. Su explained. The FE-SEM is capable of producing highly detailed 3D surface structures of solid-state samples. With a scanning transmission detector, it can also reveal internal structures of thin samples. In addition, the built-in high-performance EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) enables qualitative and semi-quantitative elemental analysis on sample surfaces. By 2023, their previous SEMs (an environmental SEM and a benchtop SEM) could no longer meet the growing demand for higher resolution and imaging precision. A new FE-SEM became necessary. “After comprehensive evaluation and expert reviews, CIQTEK SEM5000 Series was selected through a competi...

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are attracting attention as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, thanks to the abundant sodium content in Earth’s crust (2.6% vs. 0.0065% for lithium). Despite this, SIBs still lag in energy density, highlighting the need for high-capacity electrode materials. Hard carbon is a strong candidate for SIB anodes due to its low sodium storage potential and high capacity. However, factors like graphite microdomain distribution, closed pores, and defect concentration significantly impact initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and stability. Modification strategies face limits. Heteroatom doping can raise capacity but reduce ICE. Traditional CVD helps form closed pores but suffers from slow methane decomposition, long cycles, and defect buildup. Professor Yan Yu’s team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) utilized the CIQTEK Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to investigate the morphology of various hard carbon materials. The team developed a catalyst-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to promote CH₄ decomposition and regulate the microstructure of hard carbon. Transition metal catalysts such as Fe, Co, and Ni effectively lowered the energy barrier for CH₄ decomposition, thereby improving efficiency and reducing deposition time. However, Co and Ni tended to cause excessive graphitization of the deposited carbon, forming elongated graphite-like structures in both lateral and thickness directions, which hindered sodium-ion storage and transport. In contrast, Fe facilitated appropriate carbon rearrangement, resulting in an optimized microstructure with fewer defects and well-developed graphite domains. This optimization reduced irreversible sodium storage, enhanced initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), and increased the availability of reversible Na⁺ storage sites. As a result, the optimized hard carbon sample (HC-2) achieved an impressive reversible capacity of 457 mAh g⁻¹ and a high ICE of 90.6%. Moreover, in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in-situ Raman spectroscopy confirmed a sodium storage mechanism based on adsorption, intercalation, and pore filling. The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials under the title:Catalyst-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineering of Hard Carbon with Abundant Closed Pores for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.     As illustrated in Figure 1a, the hard carbon was synthesized via a catalyst-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using commercial porous carbon as the precursor and methane (CH₄) as the feed gas. Figure 1d shows the adsorption energies of CH₄ and its dehydrogenated intermediates on metal catalysts (Fe, Co, Ni) and porous carbon surfaces, indicating that the introduction of metal catalysts lowers the energy barrier for CH₄ decomposition, with Fe being the most effective in promoting the breakdown of CH₄ and its intermediates. High-resolution TEM (HRTEM) images under differ...

Professor Lai Yuekun’s team from Fuzhou University has conducted innovative research addressing the urgent demand for strong adhesive hydrogels in fields such as wearable sensors, soft robotics, tissue engineering, and wound dressings. Currently, interface adhesive materials face two major technical challenges: firstly, difficulty in achieving rapid and reversible switching between adhesive and non-adhesive states; secondly, poor adhesion performance in multi-liquid environments. Recently, the team conducted in-depth studies using the CIQTEK scanning electron microscope.   The PANC/T hydrogel was synthesized from acrylamide (AAm), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), a micellar solution composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate/methyl octadecyl methacrylate/sodium chloride (SDS/OMA/NaCl), and phosphotungstic acid (PTA). Dynamic interactions between PNIPAM chains and SDS enabled on-demand adhesion and separation. Further soaking in Fe³⁺ solution produced the PANC/T-Fe hydrogel, which achieves strong adhesion in various wet environments. This resulted in the development of an intelligent interface adhesive hydrogel with rapid responsiveness, capable of controlled adhesion and separation under different humidity conditions. The research was published in Advanced Functional Materials under the title "Temperature-Mediated Controllable Adhesive Hydrogels with Remarkable Wet Adhesion Properties Based on Dynamic Interchain Interactions."     Synthesis and Structural Characteristics of Controllable Adhesive Hydrogel PANC/T-Fe hydrogel is synthesized by copolymerization of hydrophilic AAm, amphiphilic NIPAM, and hydrophobic OMA. PTA acts as a crosslinker, forming hydrogen bonds with amino groups on polymer chains to establish a stable network. The team discovered that interactions between NIPAM and SDS are critical to the hydrogel’s temperature-sensitive adhesion. At lower temperatures, SDS crystallizes and adheres to PNIPAM chains, hindering adhesive functional groups from interacting with substrates and reducing adhesion. As temperature rises, SDS crystals melt, improving contact between adhesive groups and substrates and significantly increasing adhesion. PTA enhances adhesion at higher temperatures by physically interacting with polymer amino groups; this interaction weakens upon heating, softening the hydrogel and generating more adhesive sites. The dynamic regulation between polymer chains enables reversible, on-demand adhesion.   Figure 1. Hydrogel synthesis and mechanism of reversible wet adhesion.   Temperature Regulation Mechanism of Adhesion Performance Through comparative experiments, the team confirmed that the synergistic effect of NIPAM and the micellar solution is key to the hydrogel’s temperature-sensitive adhesion. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) results indicate the temperature response is unrelated to NIPAM’s Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST), but influenced by NIPAM-SDS int...

A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is a powerful microscope that uses a high-energy electron beam to scan the surface of a specimen, capturing signals emitted or scattered by electrons to generate high-resolution images of the specimen surface. SEM can magnify images by thousands to tens of thousands of times, revealing a microscopic world that is imperceptible to the naked eye.   Under the CIQTEK Scanning Electron Microscope, we can observe the fine textile structure of lizard skin cells, which allows for a visual examination of the structural characteristics of crystalline plates in the skin, such as their size, length, and arrangement. These images not only provide a visual feast but also offer crucial clues for scientists to interpret material properties, disease mechanisms, and biological tissue functions. Figures1. Ultrastructure of lizard skin/30 kV/STEM In the field of electron science, SEM helps engineers examine tiny solder joints and conductors on circuit boards in detail to ensure the precision and reliability of technology. In materials science, SEM can be used to analyze fracture surfaces of metal alloys, optimizing industrial design and processing technology. In biological applications, SEM can display the surface structure of bacteria and even observe interactions between viruses and host cells.   Figures2. SEM3200/Ordinary chip2/10 kV/ETD SEM is not just a machine; it is more like a meticulous detective that helps us uncover the microscopic secrets in nature and man-made objects, providing strong support for scientific research and technological innovation. Through SEM, scientists can better understand the nature of materials, the structure of biological tissues, and the essence of various complex phenomena, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge forward.   Common Misconceptions about SEM:   1. Are SEM images in true colors?   SEM produces black and white images because they result from the interaction of electrons with the specimen, not from light waves. The colored SEM images typically seen are post-processed using digital coloring techniques to distinguish different structures or enhance visual effects.   2. Is higher magnification always better?   While SEM can provide extremely high magnification, not all research requires maximum magnification. Excessive magnification beyond the specimen's feature scale not only increases scanning time but may also lead to an increase in irrelevant information.   3. Can SEM see atoms?   Although SEM offers high resolution, it often cannot reach the level of observing individual atoms. To observe structures at the atomic scale, transmission electron microscopes (TEM) or scanning tunneling microscopes (STM) are typically needed.   4. Is SEM only suitable for solid and lifeless specimens?   While SEM was initially designed for solid materials, modern techniques allow observation of biological specimens as w...

Professor Yan Yu's team at USTC utilized the CIQTEK Scanning Electron Microscope SEM3200 to study the post-cycling morphology. It developed amorphous carbon with controllable defects as a candidate material for an artificial interface layer balancing potassiophilicity and catalytic activity.     The research team prepared a series of carbon materials with different degrees of defects (designated as SC-X, where X represents the carbonization temperature) by regulating the carbonization temperature. The study found that SC-800 with excessive defects caused substantial electrolyte decomposition, resulting in an uneven SEI film and shortened cycle life. SC-2300, with the fewest defects, had insufficient affinity for potassium and easily induced potassium dendritic growth. SC-1600, which possessed a locally ordered carbon layer, exhibited an optimized defect structure, achieving the best balance between potassiophilicity and catalytic activity. It could regulate the electrolyte decomposition and form a dense and uniform SEI film.   The experimental results demonstrated that SC-1600@K exhibited long-term cycle stability for up to 2000 hours under a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2 and a capacity of 0.5 mAh cm-2. Even under higher current density (1 mA cm-2) and capacity (1 mAh cm-2), it maintained excellent electrochemical performance with stable cycles exceeding 1300 hours. In full-cell testing, when paired with a PTCDA positive electrode, it maintained 78% capacity retention after 1500 cycles at a current density of 1 A/g, demonstrating outstanding cycle stability.   This research, titled "Balancing Potassiophilicity and Catalytic Activity of Artificial Interface Layer for Dendrite-Free Sodium/Potassium Metal Batteries," was published in Advanced Materials.     Figure 1: The microstructure analysis results of carbon samples (SC-800, SC-1600, and SC-2300) prepared at different carbonization temperatures are presented. Through techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), the crystal structure, defect level, and oxygen and nitrogen doping of these samples were analyzed. The results showed that as the carbonization temperature increased, the defects in the carbon materials gradually decreased, and the crystal structure became more orderly.     Figure 2: The current density distribution during potassium metal growth on different composite negative electrodes was analyzed using finite element simulation. The simulation results showed that the SC-1600@K composite electrode exhibited a uniform current distribution during potassium deposition, which effectively suppressed dendritic growth. Additionally, the Young's modulus of the SEI layer was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the results showed that the SEI layer on the SC-1600@K electrode had a higher modulus, indicating its stronger firmness and inhib...

Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) is a widely used microscopy technique in material science. It analyzes the angles and phase differences of the backscattered electrons produced when a sample interacts with a high-energy electron beam to determine key characteristics such as crystal structure and grain orientation. Compared to a traditional Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), EBSD provides higher spatial resolution and can obtain crystallographic data at the sub-micrometer level, offering unprecedented details for analyzing material microstructures.   Characteristics of the EBSD Technique   EBSD combines the microanalysis capabilities of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and the large-area statistical analysis capabilities of X-ray diffraction. EBSD is known for its high-precision crystal structure analysis, fast data processing, simple sample preparation process, and the ability to combine crystallographic information with microstructural morphology in material science research. SEM equipped with an EBSD system not only provides micro-morphology and composition information but also enables microscopic orientation analysis, greatly facilitating the work of researchers.   Application of EBSD in SEM   In SEM, when an electron beam interacts with the sample, various effects are generated, including the diffraction of electrons on regularly arranged crystal lattice planes. These diffractions form a "Kikuchi pattern," which not only contains information about the symmetry of the crystal system but also directly corresponds to the angle between crystal planes and crystallographic axes, with a direct relationship to the crystal system type and lattice parameters. This data can be used to identify crystal phases using the EBSD technique, and for known crystal phases, the orientation of the Kikuchi pattern directly corresponds to the orientation of the crystal.   EBSD System Components   To perform EBSD analysis, a set of equipment including a Scanning Electron Microscope and an EBSD system is required. The core of the system is the SEM, which produces a high-energy electron beam and focuses it on the sample surface. The hardware part of the EBSD system usually includes a sensitive CCD camera and an image processing system. The CCD camera is used to capture the backscattered electron images, and the image processing system is used to perform pattern averaging and background subtraction to extract clear Kikuchi patterns.   Operation of the EBSD Detector   Obtaining EBSD Kikuchi patterns in SEM is relatively simple. The sample is tilted at a high angle relative to the incident electron beam to enhance the backscattered signal, which is then received by a fluorescent screen connected to a CCD camera. The EBSD can be observed directly or after amplification and storage of the images. Software programs can calibrate the patterns to obtain crystallographic information. Modern EBSD systems can achieve ...