Transmission Electron Microscope:

• An instrument to study the microstructural properties of a material with atomic resolution.

• Operates on the same basic principles as a light microscope but uses electrons instead of light. Electrons have much lower wavelength and make it possible to get a resolution a thousand times better than with a light microscope. Table 12.01 summarizes various features of light versus electron microscope.

Table 12.01: Comparision of various features between light and electron microscope.

• One can see the objects in the order of a few angstroms (10^-10 m). In particular, very fine details of a cell or material down to near atomic levels can be probed.

• The possibility of having high magnifications in TEM has made it as a valuable tool in both medical, biological and materials research.