A Transmission Electron Microscope is an impressive instrument with a number of advantages such as:
TEMs offer the most powerful magnification, potentially over one million times or more
TEMs have a wide-range of applications and can be utilized in a variety of different scientific, educational and industrial fields
TEMs provide information on element and compound structure
Images are high-quality and detailed
TEMs are able to yield information of surface features, shape, size and structure
They are easy to operate with proper training
Disafvantages:
Some cons of electron microscopes include:
TEMs are large and very expensive
Laborious sample preparation
Potential artifacts from sample preparation
Operation and analysis requires special training
Samples are limited to those that are electron transparent, able to tolerate the vacuum chamber and small enough to fit in the chamber
TEMs require special housing and maintenance
Images are black and white
