Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a solid sample at the micrometer scale. EPMA is based on the principles of Xray emission spectroscopy, and it combines the imaging capabilities of an electron microscope with the quantitative elemental analysis capabilities of an X-ray spectrometer. The technique is widely employed in various fields, such as materials science, geology, metallurgy, and semiconductor research, for studying both the composition and microstructure of materials.

Ehtewish H, Mesleh A, Ponirakis G, De la Fuente A, Parray A, Bensmail I, Abdesselem HB, Ramadan M, Khan S, Chandran M, Ayadathil R , Elsotouhy A, Own A, Al Hamad H, Abdelalim EM , Decock J , Alajez NM , Albagha O , Thornalley PJ , Arredouani I , Malik R, and El-Agnaf OMA. Blood-Based Proteomic Profiling Identifies Potential Biomarker Candidates and Pathogenic Pathways in Dementia. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 8117.

The Gatan Precision Ion Polishing System II is used to mill dimpled samples to electron transparency as a cheaper alternative to FIB milling. It is also used to clean unwanted redeposition off of TEM lamellae made by FIB.

NMR is a physical phenomenon that studies the response of magnetic nuclei to radiofrequency radiations when placed in a strong external magnetic field. Magnetic nuclei within a molecule will each absorb an amount of energy specific to the local electronic environment around them. NMR is a powerful and versatile tool for structure characterization, which is done by analyzing the chemical and electronic environment of a particular nucleus in the molecule.

Denton Vacuum Explorer™ evaporator system has both thermal and electron beam evaporation sources. There is a single mass flow controller (MFC) that is currently used for reactive deposition of oxides. The chamber can be heated up to 150 °C. In addition, the system can accommodate substrates up to 6” in diameter; hence, it keeps the space of accommodating various substrate sizes as per application needs.

FT-IR stands for Fourier Transform InfraRed, the preferred method of infrared spectroscopy. In infrared spectroscopy, IR radiation is passed through a sample. Some of the infrared radiation is absorbed by the sample and some of it is passed through (transmitted). The resulting spectrum represents the molecular absorption and transmission, creating a molecular fingerprint of the sample. Like a fingerprint, no two unique molecular structures produce the same infrared spectrum. This makes infrared spectroscopy useful for several types of analysis.

The MBE can handle up to 4” dia. substrates. One chamber has oxygen plasma as well as e-beam evaporation capability and is used for reactive deposition of oxides. The second chamber is dedicated for semiconductor compounds. Veeco's GEN20™ MBE system is an ultra-flexible tool with a design configurable for III-V and emerging materials, including applications that require the integration of e-beam technology. The system incorporates production design technology that allows for an optional cluster tool wafer transfer system for an ideal lab-tofab migration.

Yahya Abdi I, Bartl M, Dakna M, Abdesselem H, Majbour N, Trenkwalder C, El Agnaf O, Mollenhauer B. Cross-sectional proteomic expression in Parkinson’s disease-related proteins in drug-naïve patients vs healthy controls with longitudinal clinical follow-up. Neurobiology of Disease. MS NBD-22-775R. Accepted Jan 2023.

El-Agnaf O, Bensmail I, Al-Nesf M. A.Y, Flynn J, Taylor M, Majbour N, Abdi I.Y, Vaikath N, Farooq, Vemulapalli PB, Schmidt F, Ouararhni K, Al-Siddiqi H, Arredouani A, Wijten P, Al-Maadheed M, Mohamed-Ali V, Decock J, Abdesselem HB. Uncovering a neurological protein signature for severe COVID-19. Neurobiology of Disease, 2023.

The Scanning Auger Microprobe (SAM) technique is a highly versatile surface analysis technique that allows for precise and accurate mapping of the elemental composition of materials at the micrometer scale. This technique is based on the Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) principle, which is a wellestablished analytical technique used to study the surface chemistry of materials. The SAM technique is a variation of AES, which involves scanning a small electron beam over the sample surface to generate a two-dimensional elemental map of the surface.