The SPECTRE S/TEM is a Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Ultra probe-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (S/TEM) installed in June 2026. The SPECTRE enables multimodal and correlative electron characterization, with capabilities for energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), cathodoluminescence (CL) and 4D-STEM diffraction characterization all within one microscope.
Example Experiments:
- High resolution STEM imaging, down to 50pm resolution at 300kV
- STEM-EDS for chemical mapping with an atomic-resolution beam
- STEM-EELS for chemical mapping of light elements, with monochromated EELS for fine-structure analysis
- Correlative STEM-cathodoluminescence and monochromated low loss EELS for mapping optical properties
- 4D-STEM for ptychography or nano-beam diffraction
Detailed capabilities of the SPECTRE:
Optics
- High-brightness Schottky-field emission X-FEG electron source
- Operates at 60kV, 200kV, and 300kV, with the ability to switch kVs within a microscope session.
- S-CORR probe corrector, which corrects spherical aberrations of the upper objective lens, up to 5th order spherical aberration (C5) and six-fold astigmatism (A5)
- S-TWIN’ objective lens with a pole piece gap of 5.4mm
- Enables high resolution STEM imaging, down to 50pm resolution at 300kV
Monochromation
- Wien filter monochromator
- With monochromator, tunable energy resolution between 0.1 – 1.0 eV
- With UltiMono, energy resolution down to ~0.025eV at 60kV
Stage:
- Piezo-enhanced CompuStage goniometer
Compatible Holders:
- Holders must be compatible with either the UltraX EDS or Mönch CL detectors, even if not using either of the systems. We have 5 holders which are compatible with the SPECTRE:
- Compatible with UltraX EDS:
- Thermo Fisher UltraX holder (double tilt)
- Fischione Tomography holder (single tilt)
- Simple Origin cryo transfer holder (single tilt)
- Compatible with Mönch CL:
- Thermo Fisher CL holder (single tilt)
- Mel-Build cryo CL holder (single tilt)
Imaging Detectors
- Ceta-S camera with speed enhancement for TEM imaging and diffraction
- 40 frames per second (full, 4k x 4k imaging)
- 300 frames per second (512 x 512 imaging)
- HAADF detector
- Panther STEM segmented BF/DF detector
- K3 direct electron detector, located after the Continuum GIF, for energy-filtered imaging at 200kV and 300kV
- 150 frames per second (full, 4k x 4k imaging)
- 1500 frames per second (256 x 256 imaging)
Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS)
- Ultra-X EDS detector, with a collection solid angle of >4.0 steradians (with the DT holder)
- 6 silicon detectors
- Automated Tomography acquisition software
Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS)
- Gatan Continuum GIF, which corrects up to 5th order spectrometer aberrations, equipped with 2 detectors:
- Continuum Camera, a scintillator-based detector which is suited for low kV detection. Operates at maximum of ~2000 spectra per second. This is the only detector for 60kV, and is often used for low loss EELS.
- K3 direct electron detector, which combines direct electron detection with electron counting. Operates at a constant 3000 spectra per second. Only compatible with 200kV and 300kV, and is recommended for core-loss EELS.
- Digiscan 3 scan generator
- In situ time series recording capabilities, up to the frame rate of the detector
Cathodoluminescence (CL)
- Attolight Mönch cathodoluminescence system: an off-axis parabolic mirror attachment inserted above the sample within the pole piece gap
- Andor Kymera 328i Spectrometer with a Newton EMCCD detector, optimized for visible wavelengths
4D-STEM
- Electron Microscope Pixelated Array Detector (EMPAD), a 128 x 128 pixel direct electron detector for 4D-STEM applications, with a dynamic range of 30 bit and maximum 1100 diffraction frames per second
Misc
- TEM Lorentz mode and uncorrected STEM Lorentz for magnetic domain imaging
- Autoscript, enabling Python API control over microscope operation
