The difference between confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Laser confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy both scan and image point by point source, and the magnification is adjusted by controlling the scanning drive range. Laser confocal microscopy works by laser scanning to obtain three-dimensional images. Scanning electron microscopy uses various physical signals excited by finely focused electron beams when scanning the sample surface to modulate imaging. It can only obtain two-dimensional images, but not three-dimensional images.
1. Different limit resolutions (different amplified signal sources)
Laser confocal: ultimate resolution 150nm
Scanning electron microscope: 20nm~0.8nm
2. Different scanning driver methods
Laser confocal: Laser rotating mirror controls laser scanning range and scanning speed
Scanning electron microscope: Electromagnetic coil controls the scanning range and scanning speed of the electron beam
3. Different stereoscopic imaging
Laser confocal: A nanometer-precision stepper motor is used to drive the sample to image layer by layer in the Z-axis direction. The software combines the set images of each layer into a clear three-dimensional image.
Scanning electron microscope: A single frame image has a large depth of field and is a two-dimensional image
4. Different application scopes
Laser confocal: several times ~ thousands of times
Scanning electron microscope: several times to hundreds of thousands of times
5. Different working environments
Laser confocal: can test samples in atmospheric environment
Scanning Electron Microscopy: Testing Samples in High Vacuum Environments
