Pin-Printing on a Dewpoint Controlled Autogrid

Have you seen some of our latest deposition results from the VitroJet? Deposition, through pin printing, is closely monitored using a powerful camera to assess layer quality. The field of view of the camera covers approximately 800 x 800 micrometers at a high resolution where deposition takes place. Micron sized holes on pre-clipped autogrids can clearly be seen allowing researchers to view and screen the deposition of their samples. In this way, we visualize nanometer thick films deposited in real-time and through the images and recordings. So when it is time to bring the grids to the cryo-TEM, the quality of the deposition will already be assessed.

In combination with dewpoint control, the thin film of sample can be maintained, if desired, for as long as needed. Maintaining a solution at dewpoint means controlling the sample temperature while working in a climate where air is saturated with moisture. In this way we keep evaporation or condensation from taking place.

To test this feature, we put our climate chamber to the test. A PBS sample solution was deposited on a grid and left in the climate chamber for nearly two minutes. Controlling evaporation maintains the quality and conditions in the sample solution to prevent changing conditions to lead to denaturation of sample. The result: a thin intact layer with minimal evaporation that’s less than 50 nm!