Labtech-EM is pleased to announce the introduction of the new "K-kit Folding Grid” that significantly reduces preparation times of liquid samples for TEM imaging. K-kit from Bio MA-Tek is a low cost, single-use sample chamber for TEM imaging and characterisation of liquid samples containing nanoobjects. It can be used with almost any TEM without the need for expensive in-situ TEM holders.
Image Credit: Labtech International Ltd
Manufactured from silicon using MEMS technology, K-Kit consists of a sealable microchannel chamber between two silicon nitride membranes that fits most standard TEM holders.
K-kit is easy to use with a few small tools which are provided as part of a starter kit. A droplet of liquid sample is drawn into the microchannel of K-kit by capillary action and then sealed using vacuum-compatible glue. The K-Kit is then mounted, either on a hole grid with an additional adhesive step, or mounted directly into the new Folding Grid which saves time.
The K-kit microchannel also serves as a reaction chamber for experiments in material, chemical and biological sciences, allowing visualisation of nanoobjects, aggregates, and agglomerates (NOAAs) in their native state. K-kit can also be used in the alternative dry mode, where particles are dried in the K-kit microchannel to avoid agglomeration which tends to occur when droplets of suspensions are dried on a support film.
Kit-Kits are available in two SiN membrane thickness (30nm or 100nm) each available with microchannel gaps of 0.2µm, 5µm (30nm only) and 2µm to suit different applications.