STEM Tomography in Biology

Abstract

STEM modality provides major advantages for electron tomography of thicker (>300 nm) biological specimens, both for plastic-embedded, heavy-metal stained samples, and for vitrified, unstained cells. With the proliferation of modern TEM microscopes that allow for switching between TEM and STEM modes with relative ease, we expect the use of STEM tomography to increase. The concepts for STEM imaging are significantly different than for TEM, and therefore we will describe in detail the STEM imaging modality, followed by STEM tomography concepts and applications.