The difference between laser confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Both laser confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy are point source scanning imaging, which adjusts the magnification by controlling the scanning driving range. Laser confocal microscopy works through laser scanning and can obtain three-dimensional images. Scanning electron microscopy uses various physical signals excited by a finely focused electron beam when scanning the surface of a sample to modulate imaging. It can only obtain two-dimensional images, not three-dimensional images.
1. Different limit resolutions (different amplified signal sources)
Laser confocal: ultimate resolution 150nm
Scanning electron microscopy: 20nm~0.8nm
2. Different scanning driving 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. Stereoscopic imaging is different
Laser confocal: The sample is driven by a nano precision stepper motor to image layer by layer in the Z-axis direction, and the software synthesizes the set images of each layer into clear three-dimensional stereoscopic images
Scanning electron microscopy: A single frame image has a large depth of field and belongs to a two-dimensional image
4. Different application ranges
Laser confocal: several to several thousand times
Scanning electron microscopy: several times to several hundred thousand times
5. Different working environments
Laser confocal: capable of testing samples in atmospheric environments
Scanning electron microscopy: testing samples in a high vacuum environment
