2023 Introduction to scanning electron microscopy microanalysis techniques

29 November – 1 December, 2023, Empa Thun

REGISTRATION DEADLINE FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER, 2023

Objectives

Modern Scanning Electron Microscopes, when combined with focused ion beams (Dual beam FIBs), provide a larger number of multi-modal imaging and different analytical methods. The course format consists of introductory lectures, lectures on advanced techniques and practical work. This course may be validated for 1 ECTS credit in the doctoral programs of EPFL and ETH Zurich, after acceptance by the corresponding institution. In this case, students will need to attend every lecture and pass a final written examination.

Topics

  • Basics of the scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam instruments (construction principles, signals, interaction with the sample)
  • Advanced imaging modes: STEM, low tension microscopy, high vacuum, ion channeling
  • Advanced microstructure investigation with EBSD and transmission EBSD orientation mapping (EBSD strain and stress analyses with cross correlation technique)
  • Chemical analyses with EDS, WDS and μ-XRF
  • Chemical depth profile with FIB-TOF-SIMS
  • Raman spectrometry for phase and strain/stress analyses

Registration and participation fees

This course is open to participants with a basic background in materials science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, micro-technology or physics. It is taught in English and is limited to a maximum of 16 participants.

The fee is CHF150 for doctoral students from EPFL and Empa, CHF350 for doctoral students from other academic institutions and CHF600 for other academic researchers. The registration fee for all other participants is CHF1500.  Please note that payment is required upon registration via the PayOnline system through this link.  Please do not register until you are ready to make the payment via credit card, Paypal or Twint. EPFL students may request to have the invoice sent directly to their labs.

Please click here to register online for this course. The deadline for registration is Friday, 17 November, 2023.

Location

Empa, Thun

Lecturers

Dr. Xavier Maeder

Xavier Maeder is the group leader for research in microstructure at the Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures at Empa. He studied geoscience at the University of Lausanne and earned his PhD in 2007 at the University of Mainz in Germany, where he worked on the physics of de-formation of rocks and minerals. In 2007-2008 he did one year post-doc at the department of Earth Sciences at the University of Utrecht, where he studied the microstructure and deformation mechanism of highly deformed limestone. He joined Empa in 2008, where he did three years post-doc working mainly on the microstructure and mechanical properties of thin films and coatings. In 2011, he took a first assistant position at the University of Lausanne, working on the deformation mechanism and mi-crostructure in shear zones. He moved back to materials science in 2012 as a post-doc at CSEM in Neuchâtel, where he conducted several applied project on microsystems and coatings using advanced X-ray diffraction techniques. Maeder is an expert in electron backscattered and X-ray diffraction techniques.

Prof. Johann Michler

Johann Michler is head of the Laboratory of Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures at Empa. He received his diploma in Materials Science at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany in 1995 and a PhD degree in Materials Science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland in 2000. He has been a lecturer at EPFL since 2005. At Empa, he started his activities as staff scientist in mechanical properties of thin films in 2000. His current research interest focuses on scale dependent mechanical properties of materials. His research efforts include the development of in-situ SEM, Raman, AFM mechanical testing methods and novel synthesis methods for metals and semiconductors like electrochemical or physical vapor deposition. He is the author or co-author of more than 300 publications, organized several international conferences, and is co-founder of two start-ups.

Accommodation

Travel and accommodation should be reserved and paid for directly by the participants.