Low-Voltage Electron Microscopy Improves Access for Undergraduates to Nanoscale Imaging

Delong Instruments’ Low-Voltage Electron Microscopes (LVEM) provide an accessible and affordable solution for teaching electron microscopy at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions.

Delong Instruments’ Low-Voltage Electron Microscopes (LVEM) are furthering undergraduate nanoscience education by offering a compact and cost-effective solution for teaching electron microscopy. A recent publication by Kate Plass et al. (2024) highlights the challenges primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) face in advancing nanomaterials research and teaching, including limited funding, small departments, heavy teaching loads, minimal infrastructure, and access to equipment. The introduction of the benchtop LVEM 5 and compact LVEM 25E electron microscopes provide these institutions with access to advanced imaging techniques previously out of reach.

Traditionally, the prohibitive costs and fragility of High Voltage Transmission Electron Microscopes have restricted their use in undergraduate labs. LVEMs overcome these barriers with economical and robust designs that require minimal space and no specialized facilities, making advanced imaging techniques feasible for use with students. The instruments’ versatility, operating in TEM, SEM, and STEM modes with integrated spectroscopy capabilities (EDS), supports diverse teaching applications and prepares students for future careers in nanoscience.

Undergraduate students using LVEMs gain hands-on experience in particle sizing, morphological characterization, and composition analysis. One of the major advantages of the LVEM is its user-friendly interface, which minimizes the learning curve for students. Instructors can focus on teaching the fundamentals of electron microscopy without requiring extensive technical training. The LVEM’s simple operation ensures accessibility for large student cohorts, enabling multiple users to work independently with minimal supervision. This ease of use, combined with affordability and robust performance, makes the LVEM an ideal tool for undergraduate labs and research programs.

LVEMs also foster collaboration between departments, access to advanced imaging enables sharing across disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science. This opens up opportunities for faculty and students to work together on interdisciplinary research projects, ranging from nanoparticle studies to biological structure analysis. Access to LVEMs help small institutions build stronger research programs and provide students with the tools to solve real-world scientific challenges.

Delong Instruments’ LVEM microscopes provide accessibility to nanoscale imaging for use with students. Their affordability, versatility, and ease of use empower institutions to offer undergraduates the opportunity to learn and explore research at the nanoscale, fostering the next generation of nanoscientists. By conquering barriers to TEM access, LVEMs enable institutions to integrate advanced imaging techniques into education and research.

Plass, K. E., Krebs, J. K., Morford, J. L., Schaak, R. E., Stapleton, J. J., & van Duin, A. C. T. (2024). Nanomaterials research at a primarily undergraduate institution: Transforming nanorods, undergraduate research communities, and infrastructure. ACS Nanoscience Au, 4(4), 223–234. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnanoscienceau.4c00005