Cryo-EM

ANRF National Facility for Cryo-EM

Accessories

Sample Preparation

Vitrobot

Vitrobot Mark IV is used in cryo-electron microscopy to rapidly freeze samples in amorphous ice, preserving native structures. It enables controlled sample application, blotting, and plunge freezing for reproducible grid preparation.

Specifications

Instrument type : Semi-automated vitrification device for cryo-EM grids preparation
Temperature range : 4 °C to 60 °C
Humidity control : Up to 100%, ultrasonic humidification
Blotting : Software-controlled, adjustable force, time, and position
Vitrification : Automated plunge into liquid ethane/propane
Physical : ~413 mm × 260 mm × 890 mm; weight ~31 kg; power 110–230 V
Control : Touch-screen interface, Linux-based, optional foot pedal

GloQube Plus

GloQube Plus is used in TEM sample preparation to modify grid surfaces, making them hydrophilic or hydrophobic as needed. It improves sample spreading, adhesion, and orientation for proteins, nucleic acids, antibodies, and nanoparticles. The system ensures reproducible, safe, and efficient glow discharge treatment of grids.

Specifications

  • Compact glow discharge system with two independent vacuum chambers
  • Sample stage holds TEM grids, adjustable height
  • Plasma current: 1–50 mA, process time 1–900 s
  • Touch-screen interface with recipe storage
  • Safe handling of reagents with automatic vapour delivery

Quorum Q150T ES Plus:

Q150T ES Plus is used for SEM and TEM sample preparation, providing high-resolution metal sputtering (Pt, Cr, Ir) and carbon coating for TEM grids. It ensures fine, uniform coatings to improve imaging quality and protects samples for high-resolution microscopy.

Specifications

  • Combined sputter coater and carbon evaporator with turbomolecular pump
  • Vacuum: 5 × 10⁻⁵ mbar, rotary sample stage
  • Touch-screen interface with recipe storage (1000+ recipes)
  • Chamber: borosilicate glass, ~150 mm diameter

Leica DM 2700 M

Leica DM 2700 M is used for industrial inspection, materials research, and quality control. It allows detailed observation of metal surfaces, semiconductors, MEMS, and PCBs, detecting defects, scratches, and surface features with high contrast and reproducibility.

Specifications

  • Upright materials microscope with LED illumination (~4500 K)
  • Supports bright field, dark field, DIC, polarization, and fluorescence
  • Sample size up to 100 × 100 mm, thickness up to 80 mm
  • Threespeed focus drive and adjustable objective turret
  • Ergonomic design with adjustable controls and color-coded diaphragm assistant

Others

Fume hood

A fume hood is used to protect lab users from harmful chemical fumes, vapors, and dust.
It safely removes toxic gases during chemical handling, reactions, and sample preparation.
It helps maintain a safe and clean laboratory environment.

Dry Cabinet

A HINSO dry cabinet is used for safe storage of TEM grids by maintaining low humidity.
It prevents moisture absorption, oxidation, and contamination of grids.
This ensures long-term grid quality and imaging reliability.

Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is used to control and reduce humidity in sample preparation room.
It prevents moisture-related damage and contamination of samples and equipment.

Centrifuge

Centrifuge it is used to separate sample components based on density by high-speed spinning.
Commonly used for pelleting cells, proteins, or particles during sample preparation.

Micropipettes

(10 µL, 20 µL, 200 µL, 1 mL) They are used to accurately measure and transfer small volumes of liquid during sample preparation.

Slide Warming Table

It is used to gently warm and dry samples. In Cryo work, it is also used to warm tweezers and accessories to prevent moisture and ice formation.

Holders & Transfer Tools

Single-Tilt Holder

A standard TEM/STEM sample holder that lets you tilt the specimen around one axis. Used for routine high-resolution imaging, diffraction, and STEM/EDS analysis of thin samples. Simple, stable, and ideal for general-purpose materials characterization.

Low Background Double-Tilt HiVis Holder

A specialized TEM sample holder engineered for very low background signal and high-visibility access to the sample, improving imaging and analytical sensitivity. It provides independent double-axis tilting, allowing precise crystal alignment for advanced HRTEM, STEM, SAED, and EDS work. The low-background design reduces stray X-rays and scattering, giving cleaner spectra and clearer lattice images. Commonly used for materials science, nanostructures, and crystallography where both high tilt control and minimal noise are critical.

Compact Analytical Tomography Holder

A TEM/STEM holder designed for 3D tomography with a compact, rigid design that improves stability during long tilt-series acquisitions. It typically offers a wide tilt range (often up to ±70° or more), allowing collection of sequential images needed to reconstruct 3D structures. The “analytical” aspect means it is optimized for simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy (e.g., EDS or EELS) with minimal shadowing, enabling chemical and structural tomography.

Commonly used for materials science, nanoparticles, interfaces, thin films, and 3D compositional mapping where both high mechanical stability and full analytical access are essential.

Elsa Cryo Transfer Holder

A specialized cryo-TEM holder designed to keep samples frozen at liquid-nitrogen temperatures during transfer and imaging. It preserves vitrified biological or soft-matter specimens, preventing ice crystal formation and maintaining native structure. The holder includes an insulated cryo-transfer system, anti-contamination shielding, and stable low-temperature control, enabling cryo-TEM, cryo-STEM, and cryo-EDS/EELS on temperature-sensitive samples.

Commonly used for cryo-EM of proteins and cells, polymers, hydrated materials, and any sample that must remain below –170 °C throughout preparation, loading, and imaging.

Double Tilt Liquid Nitrogen Cryo Transfer Holder – Model 915

A TEM cryo holder that allows bi-axial tilting while maintaining the specimen at liquid-nitrogen temperatures (typically below –170 °C) during transfer and imaging. Its design minimizes contamination and ice formation through an insulated cryo-transfer pathway and anti-condensation shielding. The dual-tilt capability enables precise orientation of frozen samples, improving cryo-TEM, cryo-STEM, diffraction, and analytical techniques.

Commonly used for vitrified biological samples, hydrated or beam-sensitive materials, and low-temperature studies where stable cryogenic conditions and controlled tilting are essential.

Cold Storage

Cold storage refrigerators (4 °C, −20 °C, −80 °C) They are used to store samples, reagents, and enzymes at required temperatures to preserve stability and prevent degradation.
4 °C: Storage of buffers, reagents, and short-term samples
−20 °C: Storage of proteins, chemicals, and medium-term samples
−80 °C: Long-term storage of sensitive biological samples and specimens

Computation

Storage Server

Processor
2 × Intel Xeon Gold 6326 (16 cores/32 threads each)
usable storage
64 GB
Storage Capacity
28 × 22TB (RAID 50 – 4 groups), Usable Storage: 480 TB

Work Station 1

Processor
2× Intel Xeon Gold 6442Y (24C/48T each, 2.60GHz, 60MB cache)
Memory
384GB DDR5
GPUs
2× NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada (48GB each)
OS Drive
2× 1.92TB Enterprise SATA SSDs in RAID 1 (Ubuntu)

Work Station 2

Processor
2× Intel Xeon Gold 6442Y (24C/48T each, 2.60GHz, 60MB cache)
Memory
384GB DDR5
GPUs
2× NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada (48GB each)(onboard)
OS Drive
2× 1.92TB Enterprise SATA SSDs in RAID 1 (Ubuntu)

GPU Server

Processor
2× Intel Xeon G-6348H (24C/48T each, 2.30GHz, 33MB cache)
Memory
1TB DDR4-3200MHz ECC
GPUs
2× A100 GPUs (80 GB each)
OS Drive
2× 1.92TB Enterprise SATA SSDs (RAID 1, XFS) (Ubuntu)

CPU Server

Processor
4× Intel Xeon G-6648H (24C/48T each, 2.60GHz, 33MB cache, 96 cores)
Memory
1TB DDR4-3200MHz ECC
OS Drive
2× 1.92TB Enterprise SATA SSDs in RAID 1 (Ubuntu)
Network Port
2x 10GbE BaseT (onboard)

Others

Precision AC

Precision AC (20 TR, 14 TR, 8 TR – each with 2 units)

  • The precision air-conditioning system is used to maintain stable temperature
    and humidity for sensitive instruments.
  • Each capacity has two units, operating in alternate mode every 8 hours,
    ensuring continuous and reliable operation.
  • The system maintains relative humidity between 40–60%, preventing
    moisture-related issues and electrostatic problems.
  • This controlled environment protects instruments, improves performance,
    and extends their operational life.

UPS & Battery System:

  • The UPS and battery system provides uninterrupted and stable power supply to sensitive instruments.
  • It protects equipment from power failures, voltage fluctuations, and surges, ensuring safe shutdown and continuous operation.
  • This helps prevent data loss, instrument damage, and improves overall system reliability.

Safety Utility

Smart Oxygen Gas Detector
  • It continuously monitors oxygen levels in the laboratory.
  • It gives early warning alarms during oxygen deficiency or excess, ensuring personnel safety and preventing accidents.

Cryo gloves and cryo face mask

  • They are used to protect hands and face while handling liquid nitrogen and cryogenic materials.
  • They prevent cold burns, frostbite, and splashes during cryo operations.

LN₂ Dewars and Storage Tanks

  • They are used to safely store and handle liquid nitrogen.
  • They provide continuous LN₂ supply for cryo operations and sample preservation while minimizing evaporation and safety risks.

Conference Room and Reception

  • The conference room accommodates up to 25 people and is used for meetings, training, and discussions.
  • It is equipped with charging points, projector, and writing boards for presentations and interactive sessions.
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