Designed specifically for Hitachi specimen holders, the ZONESEMⅡ provides optimized sample cleaning and storage modes of operation. The ZONESEMⅡ serves as an excellent desiccator to prevent holder out-gassing.
- Easy-to-use touchscreen panel
- Programmable up to 24hrs
- Variable pressure control
Cause of contamination
Interactions between hydrocarbons on the specimen surface and the irradiated electron beam generate sample contamination. Hydrocarbons are generally non-covalently attached to the specimen surface during sample handling, preparation, and storage.
Cleaning Process
The ZONESEMⅡ uses a UV lamp with wavelengths of 185 nm and 254 nm to efficiently remove hydrocarbons. Ozone is generated from oxygen in the vacuum-controlled specimen chamber, and generated ozone is broken into oxygen and activated oxygen. Hydrocarbons on the specimen surface are broken into volatile molecules such as CO2, H2O by radical oxygen and UV. The exhaust pump evacuates the free molecules from the sample chamber.