Electron Probe Instrumentation Center (EPIC)

EPIC is part of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at Northwestern University, housing one of the most complete arsenals of routine and state-of-the-art electron microscopes in the world. EPIC also receives some support from the Institute for Nanotechnology's NSF-sponsored Nanoscale Science & Engineering Center (NSEC) at Northwestern University, as well as from the State of IL and NU.

EPIC houses the following instruments for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), focused-ion beam (FIB) and specimen preparation facility (SPF).  EPIC jointly collaborates with the Quantitative Bioelemental Imaging Center core facility as well.

Scanning electron microscopes offer the opportunity to obtain detailed information about surface morphology, size/shape analysis, local chemistry, and crystallography/texture. EPIC's SEM facility contains several instruments such as the LEO Gemini 1525 sFEG SEM, Hitachi S-3400N-II SEM, FEI Quanta sFEG environmental SEM, and a Hitachi S-4800-II cFEG SEM. Click here to learn more about EPIC's SEM facility.

Transmission electron microscopes offer the opportunity to probe the crystal structure, defects, local chemistry, electronic structure and related information at a nanometer-or-less length scale. This allows one to view individual atoms to identify grain boundaries and other imperfections in a specimen. The EPIC facility houses three advanced transmission electron microscopes, along with a complete array of specimen preparation tools. The TEM facility includes a Hitachi HD2300A analytical STEM, a JEOL JEM-2100F FEG FasTEM, a Hitachi H-8100 TEM, and a specimen preparation facility (SPF). Click here to learn more about EPIC's TEM facility.

 

The FEI Helios Nanolab Dual Beam SEM/FIB allows simultaneous FIB milling and SEM imaging and is equipped with a STEM detector, Bruker Quantax SDD EDS detector, Omniprobe AutoProbe and Kleindiek  nanomanipulation system. Click here to learn more about EPIC's FIB facility.

The specimen preparation facility includes a complete array of instruments for both SEM and TEM sample preparation. Click here to learn more about EPIC's SPF facility.

The primary objective of our mission is to enhance the education, collaboration, research, and outreach - related to all aspects of electron probe instrumentation, techniques, and applications.

Our facility is wholly multi-user and multi-departmental, with all equipment available for use by qualified individuals. Four highly qualified microscopists manage the EPIC facility, directed by Prof. Vinayak P. Dravid. Regular training sessions and short courses are offered as part of EPIC's educational programs.