FAQ's

The W.M. Keck Electron Microscopy Facility is a multi-user laboratory. Anyone on campus who needs to use the facility for research is welcome to do so.

Before to use the facility, a user may want to discuss with Chaoying Ni or Frank Kriss at the facility concerning the information (s)he wants to get from the microscopy. The user then needs to download an application and authorization form from this web site. Upon submission of the form, the user may further have to sign up for training on the EM operation. For SEM users, this includes a maximum of two SEM training sessions (2 hrs per session). TEM training normally takes 2 or 3 TEM sessions (4 hrs per session). All regular users are strongly recommended to take relevant courses such as MSEG 602 - the Structure of Materials, MSEG 823 - Transmission Electron Micrsocopy, and MSEG 624 - Practical Electron Microscopy .

Download the Application and Authorization Form

Frenquently Asked Questions:
What is Keck EMF?	The W.M. Keck Electron Microscopy Facility is a USER facility for the structural and chemical characterization of materials at scales ranging from micron to angstrom.The laboratory largely serves the research groups in the College of Engineering and from other units on campus at the University of Delaware. It also facilitates teaching purposes.

Where is EMF?	The EMF is located in the basement of Spencer Laboratory at the Academy Street. It is in suite 022 Spencer. There are 7 small rooms (022A to 022G) inside the main suite. If you walk into the 022 but don't see anybody to talk to in the front section, you may knock the doors of 022A to 022G to see if anyone working inside can help you. Normally, the "In Use" sign is lit if a TEM room is being used.

I need to use the facilty, what do I do?	Based on the types of your samples, try to figure out what you want to know. Decide on the instrument(s) which may give you the answers. Consult with your colleagues and advisors or search scientific literature to figure out how to prepare your samples. You may also discuss with EM staff and/or faculty concerning sample preparation procedures. Prepare your samples. Get a copy of the application and authorization form. Fill in the user information and check the instrument you may use. Obtain an account from your advisor or your departmental financial advisor to which you will be billed for the usage. Fill in the complete account information. Send email to Chaoying Ni to request for training on the instrument of your choice. Mention any prior experience you may have. You will then receive a copy of the operation manual of the instrument and be scheduled for the training. Read the manual before you come to training. Bring your copy with you to make notes on.

How do I know which Instrument to use?	If you are not sure which instrument you should use, we can help you choose one if you can tell us what you want to know about your sample.

How much will it cost?	The cost depends on your experience and on what you are trying to do for your particular samples. Current rates are posted on this web. We have not started to charge any use of ancillary equipment or general consumables. Fees collected are all used to offset lab maintenance costs.

Do I have to bring my own consumables?	Yes, if they are expensive and user specific. The consumables user normally needs to bring include TEM grids with C support or Lacey grids. You will be told what to buy and where to buy during your training. If the new users are not so sure about what grids they should purchase especially during the initial stage of a research project, the lab will provide consumables for the exploratory work. Lab also provides general consumbles including chemicals, gases, LN, TEM films, a few types of slot or mesh grids, gloves, paper towels, and any of those related to the instrument maintenance.

It will take me too long to learn. Can't you just do it for me?	There are not enough of us to perform service work. Much of the EM research work is too complex to be accomplished on a service basis anyway. It costs more than a few hours of EM lab time and a handful of images and/or spectra. Training students on microscopy also serves one of our very objectives as a lab in an educational institution.

Can I get training from another user?	Possibly. There are a few graduate students and post-docs who have a long and continuing activities with the lab and have considerable experience on the EMF instruments. When they have new users in their groups the more experienced users will work with the new users to get them started on their projects and familiarize them with the instruments. The senior user must be in the instrument room at all times during any such introduction. The EMF staff only permit this when they know that the senior student or post-doc users are very experienced and know exactly how the staff would like to see the new users trained. New users must all be reviewed by EMF staff prior to using the instruments on their own.

Other questions	For more questions, please email Chaoying Ni .