MICROSCOPY Vol.46▶No.3 2011
â– Feature Articles: New Trends and Prospects in High Voltage Electron Microscopy

High Voltage Electron Microscopy in Biology

Kazuyoshi Murata and Ryuichi Shigemoto

Abstract: The electron microscopy in biological materials mainly requests three conditions of 1) electron transparency in thick sample, 2) high resolving power, and 3) low damage to the specimen. Almost of these conditions are achieved by high-voltage electron microscope. In this article, we describe the specifications required in the electron microscopes in biological materials. Image examples obtained with q high voltage electron microscope are also introduced. Finally, based on recent technological innovation in electron microscopy, we survey a future direction of the high voltage electron microscope in biology.

Key words: high-voltage electron microscope, sample thickness, electron transparency, resolving power, radiation damage