WDS

A fusion of excellence: the thrilling synergy of Gatan and EDAX in our merged company, advancing science in Central and Eastern Europe

Rudolf Krentik, Direct Sales and Distributor Manager CEE, Gatan/EDAX

In electron microscopy, precision and insight are the bedrock of scientific discovery. When Gatan, a company specializing in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and EDAX, a leader in analytical scanning electron microscopy techniques, including energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) decided to merge, it created a unique and exciting environment. This is the story of how the merger of these two renowned companies changed the game, particularly how it transformed the landscape for scientists in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where I took a role as sales manager.

A symphony of expertise

Gatan brought its unparalleled knowledge of high-resolution TEM imaging, allowing scientists to scrutinize samples at the atomic level. On the other hand, EDAX excelled in SEM, capturing fine details while analyzing elemental composition. The merger was a meeting of minds and machines, combining the best of both worlds.

The power of integration

The fusion of Gatan and EDAX under one roof unleashed a wave of possibilities for scientists in CEE. Researchers, scientists, and engineers now have access to an unprecedented range of imaging and analytical capabilities. From exploring the innermost structure of nanomaterials with TEM to revealing the intricate topography of surfaces with SEM and conducting precise elemental analysis with EDS-WDS, the comprehensive suite of tools is a game-changer for those pushing the boundaries of science and technology in the region.

A new playground for discovery in CEE

The exciting environment that emerged from the merger has created a palpable synergy, which is especially beneficial to scientists in CEE. It’s not just about the advanced hardware but the convergence of ideas, collaboration, and innovation. Scientists in CEE are now working on projects that seamlessly transition between TEM, SEM, and EDS, gaining holistic insights that were previously unimaginable.

Whether it’s delving into the intricate lattice structures of advanced materials, meticulously examining the surface features of biological specimens, or identifying the elemental composition of a sample, the combined expertise and equipment offer the ideal platform for exploration. It’s no longer about choosing between TEM and SEM; it’s about having the best of both worlds for comprehensive analysis.

The impact on research and industry in CEE

The implications of this merger extend beyond the lab and profoundly affect research and industry in CEE. The seamless integration of TEM, SEM, and EDS accelerates research, product development, and quality control across various sectors.

One example is from the automotive industry. The fast-growing electronic vehicle market brought new challenges in analyzing lithium content in lithium batteries. Lithium is unstable when exposed to air and, hence, almost impossible to analyze in SEM. However, with the combination of a backscatter electron detector with very high dynamic range from Gatan and an EDAX EDS detector with extreme sensitivity for low energies, lithium can be mapped to see where it is and can be quantified with a high accuracy of 1 wt%.

(left) Map of the Li content in NMC 811 particles and (right) re-scaled Ni, Mn, Co, and O elemental maps after accounting for the Li content. Note that the grey color in the lithium map corresponds to regions of the sample that were not suitable for analysis by Cipher due to the significant fraction of H in the epoxy.

Figure 1. (left) Map of the Li content in NMC 811 particles and (right) re-scaled Ni, Mn, Co, and O elemental maps after accounting for the Li content. Note that the grey color in the lithium map corresponds to regions of the sample that were not suitable for analysis by Cipher due to the significant fraction of H in the epoxy.

Providing cutting-edge technology in CEE

The merger has had a transformative impact on me, who is responsible for Central and Eastern Europe. It has allowed me to provide cutting-edge technology to scientists in the region, enabling them to make groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in their respective fields. The dynamic combination of our scientific products delivers the tools needed to push the boundaries of science in CEE.

Unveiling the power of EBSD in SEM

Furthermore, the EBSD technology provided by EDAX offers complete material characterization within the SEM. This addition has expanded the capabilities, providing scientists with a comprehensive solution for studying the microstructure and crystallography of materials. The latest development at EDAX provides the fastest EBSD cameras on the market and a solution for sensitive materials requiring low kV and low current conditions in SEM. All this is addressed by the first and only direct detection EBSD system, Clarity. Seeing the customer’s enthusiasm when you show them something that wasn’t possible until recently is great.

Figure 2. The EDAX Clarity EBSD Detector Series.

Enthusiastically looking to the future

Our entire European team is honored to be part of this incredible journey. We eagerly look forward to unforeseen developments in electron microscopy, materials analysis, and the world of science in Central and Eastern Europe. The possibilities are limitless, and as we continue to pioneer breakthroughs, the future looks even more thrilling. The journey has just begun, and the world of science and industry is the ultimate beneficiary of this exciting union.

Embracing the return

Dr. Shangshang Mu, Application Scientist, Gatan/EDAX

Over the past year, I’ve rekindled my enjoyment of traveling as I visited customers in the Americas, Asia, and across Europe. During my return journey, I was deeply touched by an airline billboard at the Munich, Germany airport that read, “We all live under one sun. Let’s see it again.” Indeed, it is genuinely nice to see the world once more since reemerging from the pandemic.

While flying over Hudson Bay, an inland marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, I saw numerous ice caps floating on the water from the aircraft’s belly camera view. To me, these were very reminiscent of the counts per second (CPS) map (Figure 1) in one of the wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS) datasets I shared with customers during these trips. Although they were orders of magnitude larger than the micron-scale sample, the resemblance was striking.

Figure 1. Ice caps in Hudson Bay (left) resemble the CPS map of a Si-W-Ta sample (right).

Throughout these journeys, our EDAX Lambda WDS system was one of the hot topics drawing customers’ attention. This parallel beam spectrometer features a compact design compatible with almost every scanning electron microscope (SEM). The improved energy resolution and sensitivity and lower limits of detection make it an excellent supplement to your energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) detectors. The CPS map I referred to was captured from a Si-W-Ta sample. The energy peaks of Si K, W M, and Ta M are heavily overlapped, with only approximately 30 eV energy difference between each other. Lambda WDS systems provide up to 15x better energy resolution than typical EDS systems, effectively resolving the ambiguity in analysis.

Figure 2. Overlay of EDS (red outline) and WDS (cyan color) spectra from the central area of the Si-W-Ta sample.

The overlay of EDS/WDS spectra from the central area of the map shows that the Lambda WDS system intrinsically resolves the overlapping EDS peaks (red outline), as depicted by the cyan color WDS spectrum (Figure 2). The shortcoming of EDS in resolving these overlapping peaks results in the distributions of the three elements appearing identical in EDS maps. However, the WDS maps provide clear and distinct visualizations of the individual distributions of the three elements (Figure 3).

Figure 3. EDS (top) and WDS (bottom) maps of the Si-W-Ta sample. The WDS maps resolve the artifacts due to Ta M, Si K, and W M peak overlaps in the EDS maps.

This year’s M&M meeting is just around the corner. If you are traveling to this entirely in-person event, stop by our booth (#504) to check out our integrated EDS-WDS SEM solutions and many other products that will capture your interest.

APEX, now with WDS!

Dr. Shangshang Mu, Applications Engineer, Gatan/EDAX

The new APEX™ 3.0 is the ultimate materials characterization software, integrating Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), and Wavelength Dispersive Spectrometry (WDS) to deliver previously unattainable solutions. This optimized configuration offers the uncompromised performance of each technique and allows users to combine them for the ultimate materials insight. All three techniques seamlessly operate within the APEX, blending powerful elemental and crystallographic analysis routines through an intuitive interface to deliver outstanding data collection, faster analysis, and flexible reporting for users of all levels.

What does APEX WDS look like?

WDS functionalities are implemented seamlessly with the EDS graphical user interface. The user can quickly adapt to the new functionalities and employ WDS when and where EDS reaches the limit. With one-click from start to finish, Auto WDS allows fully automated WDS scan list generation, optimum sample height determination, and spectrum collection. It simultaneously collects EDS and WDS spectra and displays them side-by-side or overlaid for easy data visualization and interpretation (Figure 1), with no overlapping or overloading of windows.

Figure 1. Simultaneous EDS-WDS spectrum acquisition user interface.

APEX allows you to set an intermediate position for the EDS detector to ensure optimal count rates for both techniques.

Figure 2. Simultaneous EDS-WDS mapping user interface.

Sets of combined EDS-WDS spectrum, linescan, and mapping data at different stage positions can be done via automated batch collection routines (Figure 2) to streamline SEM experiments. EDS and WDS data collection settings are managed in one user-friendly batch scan list (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Combined EDS-WDS batch list.

The quantitative elemental analysis supports individual technique or combined EDS-WDS standards. You can easily switch between EDS and WDS standards for each element by clicking on the icon in front of the element (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Quantitative results with combined EDS-WDS standards.

With the addition of WDS capabilities, APEX 3.0 now includes EDS, EBSD, and WDS. Each characterization tool can operate independently to utilize EDAX’s technological advancements or integrates data to provide solutions that were once unachievable.