Differences between laser confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Both laser confocal microscopes and SEMs are point-source, point-by-point scanning imaging where the magnification is adjusted by controlling the scanning drive range. A laser confocal microscope works by scanning with a laser to obtain three-dimensional images. Scanning electron microscope is the use of finely focused electron beam in the sample surface scanning excitation of a variety of physical signals to modulate the imaging, can only get two-dimensional images, can not get three-dimensional images.
1, different limiting resolution (amplification of different signal sources)
Laser confocal: ultimate resolution 150nm
Scanning electron microscope: 20nm ~ 0.8nm
2, different scanning drive mode
Laser confocal: laser rotating mirror to control the laser scanning range and scanning speed
Scanning electron microscope: electromagnetic coil control electron beam scanning range and scanning speed
3,Different stereo imaging
Laser confocal: the sample is driven by nano-precision stepper motor in the Z-axis direction layer by layer imaging, the software will set the image of each layer to synthesise a clear 3D stereo image.
Scanning electron microscope: single-frame image with a large depth of field, belonging to the two-dimensional image.
4,Different application scope
Laser confocal: several times to several thousand times
Scanning electron microscope: several times ~ hundreds of thousands of times
5, different working environments
Laser confocal: can test samples in the atmospheric environment
Scanning electron microscope: test samples in high vacuum environment.
