The Art and Science of Microscopy: Translating Operator Workflows into Automated Processes for Accelerated Discovery

Acquiring data using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is a complex, multi-step process. The intricacy of the process depends on the type of sample, composition of the material, desired results of the experiment, resolution requirement and other experimental factors. Each experiment presents unique complications, such as sample drift and contamination, that the microscopist must consider when acquiring data [1]. All these challenges are handled fluidly and expertly by experienced microscopists, but to reach new levels of innovation in material development, including greater reproducibility, throughput, and precision, the automation of these workflows is essential [2].