Electron Beam Coater for Reduction of Charging in Ice-Embedded Biological Specimens using Ti88Si12 Alloy

Michael B. Sherman; Wah Chiu

doi:10.1017/S1431927603030435

Electron Beam Coater for Reduction of Charging in Ice-Embedded Biological Specimens using Ti₈₈Si₁₂ Alloy

Michael B. Sherman, Wah Chiu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-Å-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti₈₈Si₁₂. Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 Å resolution.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	566-573
Number of pages	8
Journal	Microscopy and Microanalysis
Volume	9
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927603030435
State	Published - Dec 2003
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Charging
Conductive coating
Electron cryomicroscopy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Instrumentation

Access to Document

10.1017/S1431927603030435

Cite this

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title = "Electron Beam Coater for Reduction of Charging in Ice-Embedded Biological Specimens using Ti88Si12 Alloy",

abstract = "Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-{\AA}-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti88Si12. Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 {\AA} resolution.",

keywords = "Charging, Conductive coating, Electron cryomicroscopy",

author = "Sherman, {Michael B.} and Wah Chiu",

year = "2003",

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doi = "10.1017/S1431927603030435",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "566--573",

journal = "Microscopy and Microanalysis",

issn = "1431-9276",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

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T1 - Electron Beam Coater for Reduction of Charging in Ice-Embedded Biological Specimens using Ti88Si12 Alloy

AU - Sherman, Michael B.

AU - Chiu, Wah

PY - 2003/12

Y1 - 2003/12

N2 - Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-Å-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti88Si12. Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 Å resolution.

AB - Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-Å-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti88Si12. Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 Å resolution.

KW - Charging

KW - Conductive coating

KW - Electron cryomicroscopy

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