2008 Volume 6 Pages 111-114
We developed a stage-scanning system for confocal scanning transmission electron microscopy (confocal STEM), which enables us to perform STEM under a fixed lens configuration without a beam-scanning system. A specimen holder with a piezo-driven stage was modified and controlled by a computer program for stage scanning. The signals of transmitted electrons detected by an STEM detector were displayed on a computer screen and were synchronized with the voltage supplied to the piezoelectric devices used for stage positioning, which consequently produced a stage-scanning STEM image. Furthermore, we evaluated the stability of the developed stage-scanning STEM system and the resolution of the obtained images. 0.2 nm lattice firings could be observed in Au particles, which indicated that this system could demonstrate atomic-resolution STEM imaging at desired z positions. This is attributed to the small specimen drift, stable stage scanning and the computer program developed for stage axis corrections. Finally, we applied this stage-scanning system to confocal imaging. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2008.111]
