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K-kit wet cell liquid TEM sample holder chamber
innovative, low cost liquid sample chamber

•                                           
• K-kit wet cell - liquid TEM sample chambers  |
  • K-kit with 0.2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness
  • K-kit with 0.2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness
  • K-kit with 2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness
  • K-kit with 2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness
• accessories and tools 
  • K-kit glue box with Torr Seal glue set and epoxy mounting glue set
  • K-kit accessory box with glues, liquid stage, needles and channel opener
  • K-kit starter box with glues, stirring sticks, needles and channel opener
  • K-kit channel opener
  • K-kit micro channel loading rod
  • K-kit sample loading stand
  • K-kit sample loading rod and stand set
  • K-kit needle pen for glue / epoxy application
  • K-kit gluing stand
  • K-kit needle pen and gluing stand set
  • K-kit copper aperture grids for mounting the K-kit sample holder
  • Glass slides
  • K-kit tool box with sample loading and gluing tools, accessory box and glass slides

Introduction

The K-kit is an easy to use innovative sample holder for liquid specimens. It is a single-use sample holder with a sealable micro-channel between two silicon nitride membranes. The K-kit is made from silicon with Si3N4 membranes, using the latest MEMS technologies. Included with the K-kit is a copper aperture grid to mount the sealed wet cell. The k-kit is compatible with most standard TEM holders.

The microchannel, with two rectangular silicon nitride windows, enables imaging and analysis of nano-particles suspended in aqueous solutions. The size of the silicon nitride window is 300µm x 25µm with channel heights of 0.2 and 2µm. The inside of the microchannel is coated with Si3N4. Applications are wide ranging from, material, life, chemical and biological sciences.  Nanoparticles can be imaged in their native state  or in-situ dynamic physical and/or chemical reactions can be observed.

The K-kit can also be used in dry mode. The suspended particles are dried in the K-kit microchannel to avoid agglomeration which tends to occur when droplets of suspensions are dried on a support film.

Compatible with FESEM – STEM detectors. The K-kits with the 30nm Si3N4 membranes are compatible with FESEM s equipped with a STEM detector when 25 – 30kV is used for imaging. The best results are achieved in dry mode.

Features and benefits of the K-kit wet cell:

• easy to use liquid TEM sample holder for aqueous suspensions
•  low cost alternative to  very expensive in-situ liquid TEM holders
• choice of two microchannels: 0.2 µm and 2 µm
• compatible with STEM detectors in FESEM systems @ 25-30 kV
• suitable for EDS analysis
• complete set of  dedicated preparation tools available
• dry mode for quantitative analysis of nano-particles

Easy process with a set of dedicated tools

Unpack K-kit

Mount in holder

Touch carrier on drop

Seal ends with glue

Mount on a TEM hole grid

The K-kit is easy to use with a set of dedicated tools. They are designed to facilitate the complete sample preparation process. Each K-kit is packaged with a copper TEM aperture grid.
When mounted on the K-kit holder,  touch the K-kit sample holder onto a droplet to draw in the liquid. The liquid sample enters the microchannel by capillary action. Turn the K-kit sample holder in a vertical position to seal the microchannel with a vacuum proof sealant (Torr Seal). After that, the K-kit sample holder is mounted in a standard 3mm copper aperture grid using vacuum compatible epoxy. After a short pump down in a vacuum chamber, the K-kit liquid sample is ready for imaging.
For dry nanoparticle imaging omit the microchannel sealing step; the liquid evaporates quickly under vacuum. View applications.

Publication list

• Application of TEM for distinguishing the primary and secondary abrasives of undiluted CMP slurry (Proc. IEEE-IPFA)_2013
• Characterizing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen spray_2015
• Direct-Writing of Cu Nano-Patterns with an Electron Beam_2015
• Electron beam manipulation of gold nanoparticles_2014
• Novel microchip for in situ TEM imaging of living organisms and bioreactions in aqueous conditions_2008
• Quantitative characterization of nanoparticles in blood by transmission electron microscopy with a window-type microchip nanopipet_2012
• Stable water layers on solid surfaces_2015
• Characterising nanoparticles in complex biological media
• The Examples of Hydrophilic Liquids in K kit

The K-Kit can be used with many solutions and solvents. The glue (Torr Seal), used to seal the microchannel, has been tested for 24 hrs and is compatible with:

Water Ethanol Methanol Isopropanol Hexane Toluene Chloroform (CHCl3) PEG400 (Polyethylene Glycol)

NMP (N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone) CAN (CH3CN – Acetonitrile) DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) 0.1N HCl (Hychloric acid) 0.1 N HNO3 (Nitric acid) 0.1 N KOH (Potassium Hydroxide) 1% NH4OH ( Ammonium Hydroxide)

The glue (Torr Seal) is not compatible with: Acetone, DCM (Dichloromethane) and THF (Tetrahydrofuran)

Ordering Information for the K-kit wet cell – liquid TEM sample chamber

K-kit with 0.2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-703004 pkg/4 €510,00 Qty:

K-kit with 0.2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-703006 pkg/6 €765,00 Qty:

K-kit with 2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-703024 pkg/4 €510,00 Qty:

K-kit with 2µm microchannel, 30nm Si3N4 membrane thickness Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-703026 pkg/6 €765,00 Qty:

Ordering Information for the K-kit wet cell accessories and tools

K-kit glue box with Torr Seal glue set and epoxy mounting glue set Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730010 each €25,00 Qty:

K-kit accessory box with glues, liquid stage, needles and channel opener Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730020 each €50,00 Qty:

K-kit starter box with glues, stirring sticks, needles and channel opener Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730030 each €50,00 Qty:

K-kit channel opener Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730040 each €25,00 Qty:

K-kit micro channel loading rod Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730050 each €80,00 Qty:

K-kit sample loading stand Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730052 each €140,00 Qty:

K-kit sample loading rod and stand set Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730055 each €190,00 Qty:

K-kit needle pen for glue / epoxy application Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730060 each €160,00 Qty:

K-kit gluing stand Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730062 each €60,00 Qty:

K-kit needle pen and gluing stand set Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730065 each €190,00 Qty:

K-kit copper aperture grids for mounting the K-kit sample holder Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730070 pkg/10 €18,00 Qty:

Glass slides Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730075 pkg/6 €6,00 Qty:

K-kit tool box with sample loading and gluing tools, accessory box and glass slides Product # Unit Price* Add to Quote / Order 23-730095 each €500,00 Qty:

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