Reveal how gas composition and temperature influence surface reactions using precise gas delivery, closed-loop MEMS heating above 1000 °C, and in-situ SEM imaging
The Hummingbird Scientific SEM Gas Heating Sample Holder enables in-situ SEM imaging of gas–solid reactions under precisely controlled gaseous environments. Designed for researchers in catalysis, materials science, chemistry, energy storage, environmental science, and nanotechnology, it combines controlled gas atmospheres with high-temperature MEMS heating to investigate dynamic processes including catalyst activation, oxidation, corrosion, nanoparticle evolution, thin-film growth, redox reactions, and other temperature-dependent surface transformations. By directly correlating reaction conditions with real-time SEM imaging and analytical characterization, researchers can reveal the mechanisms governing material performance, stability, and degradation under realistic operating environments.
Hummingbird Advantages:
- Gas flow up to 2 bar with a dedicated purge line for rapid, contamination-free gas switching.
- Closed-loop MEMS heating from room temperature to above 1000 °C with integrated temperature sensing.
- Full compatibility with SEM, STEM, BSE, SE, and EDS during in-situ gas experiments.
- Screw-free gas-cell assembly with self-aligning windows for fast, reproducible sample loading.
- Integrates seamlessly with your SEM using custom-fitted stage hardware and user-replaceable gas tubing for easy maintenance.
- Compatible with TEM, SEM, and X-ray microscopy workflows using cross-platform microfabricated chips.
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How it Works
The SEM Gas Heating Sample Holder integrates a sealed environmental cell, metal & PEEKsil gas delivery tubing, multifunctional microfabricated chips, electrical biasing connections, and dedicated control hardware into a versatile platform for in-situ gas-phase SEM experiments. The environmental cell is formed by two microfabricated silicon chips with electron-transparent silicon nitride (SiN) windows. A sample is loaded onto one of the chips before the two chips are sealed together, creating a controlled gas environment around the specimen that remains isolated from the microscope vacuum.
A precision-engineered, screw-free loading and sealing mechanism enables fast, reproducible sample loading and automatic alignment of the SiN windows. Controlled gas flow is delivered through the sealed environmental cell at pressures up to 2 bar using Hummingbird Scientific's gas delivery systems, with a dedicated purge line for rapid contamination-free experimental gas switching. Optimized holder geometry and a low thermal mass MEMS microheater provide stable imaging during high-temperature experiments with closed-loop heating above 1000 °C and integrated 4-point on-chip temperature sensing.
Compatible microfabricated chips for MEMS heating and electrical biasing enable thermal and electrical stimuli to be applied during controlled gas-phase experiments, allowing researchers to observe gas-induced surface transformations, oxidation, corrosion, catalyst activation, phase transformations, and degradation processes in real time under realistic reaction environments.
Key Features and Capabilities
Achieve reproducible gas-cell assembly with self-aligning windows and a screw-free sealing design
Perform temperature-controlled gas-phase SEM with homogeneous MEMS heating above 1000 °C, 4-point on-chip temperature sensing, concurrent electrical biasing, and near-drift-free imaging
Control gas pressure from high vacuum to 2 bar using one experimental gas and a dedicated purge line for reliable, repeatable gas-phase SEM experiments
Perform correlative gas-phase microscopy across TEM, SEM, and synchrotron X-ray platforms
Perform correlative spectroscopy and microscopy for detailed in-situ elemental analysis
Protect your SEM during gas-cell experiments and streamline experimental workflows with rapid high-vacuum seal checking
Keep experiments moving with in-stock gas-cell SEM chips designed for gas flow, heating, sample biasing, and multimodal microscopy workflows
Configure the holder for seamless integration with a wide array of SEM systems
Built for Diverse Research Applications
Software
Spend less time managing equipment and more time generating results. Hummingbird Connect integrates with microscope and laboratory software platforms to simplify experiment setup, streamline workflows, and keep your data organized from acquisition through analysis.
To help you get the most from your gas-cell holder, Hummingbird Control Software provides intuitive and precise control of closed loop gas heating. Together, these software solutions enable faster setup, improved reproducibility, and more efficient gas-phase SEM experiments.
Built on Engineering Excellence
Hummingbird Scientific designs, machines, assembles, tests, and services its products in-house. Our integrated engineering, machining, microfabrication, software development, and applications teams enable rapid prototyping and iteration, custom modifications, and direct technical support throughout the life of the instrument. This vertically integrated approach allows researchers to adapt experimental platforms to unique scientific requirements while maintaining the performance and reliability required for advanced in-situ microscopy experiments.
The SEM Gas Heating Sample Holder is a direct result of these capabilities, integrating controlled gas delivery, MEMS heating, and experimental workflows into a single platform for reproducible in-situ gas-phase SEM experiments.
Need something unique? Our engineers can customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions to support specialized experiments and emerging research challenges.
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