Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre research and publications

PEMC supports research across various disciplines within the University of Plymouth and with external partner organisations
3D printed coccolith

Research case studies

Vesuvius Lava  Preparing geological samples for SEM analysis
 A step-by-step example of preparing lava for SEM-EDS analysis.

Supporting PhD Research into Complex Fault Systems with Grain Orientation Analysis Investigating faults through EBSD
 Supporting PhD research into Complex Fault Systems with Grain Orientation Analysis.

Cryo Freeze drying vs Cryo-SEM
 Visualising the differences between dry and hydrated samples using banana skin.

WDS Case study Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy – a geological example
 Quantitative compositional analysis through SEM-WDS.

OI Extreme Low energy analysis with a specialised detector
 Light element analysis using Oxford Instruments' Ultim Extreme Detector.

LVSED bee tongue Imaging at low vacuum
 Expanding imaging capabilities with specialised low vacuum detectors.

Holder Using 3D printing to create custom items for Electron Microscopy
 Creating customised vacuum-safe items and sample holders for PEMC users.

Mineralogic Map Exploring mineralogic
 Automating analysis and classification for geoscience.

Pollen Understanding interaction volume
 A visual example of how accelerating voltage impacts imaging.

Meteorite EDS Classifying meteorites using SEM
 How PEMC is working with local meteorite dealers to give names to new meteorites.

ED image of schist A microscale investigation of a 1000km metamorphic belt
 Using electron microscopy to reveal details about metamorphic processes.

3D reconstruction of porous materials through FIB-SEM 3D reconstruction of porous materials through FIB-SEM
 Investigating porosity and interconnectivity for simulation modelling.

3D Printing a Coccolithophore from FIB-SEM Data 3D printing a coccolithophore from FIB-SEM data
 True 3D visualisation of plankton that is too small for the naked eye to see.

Dynamics of formation and secretion of heterococcoliths by Coccolithus pelagicus Dynamics of formation and secretion of heterococcoliths by Coccolithus pelagicus
 This work has allowed us a better understanding of coccolithogenesis in heterococcoliths.

The effect of different post-electroplating surface modification treatments on tin whisker growth The effect of different post-electroplating surface modification treatments on tin whisker growth
 Enabling further understanding on the role the oxide layer plays in mitigating whisker growth.

Microscopic study of (assemblies of) nano-objects Microscopic study of (assemblies of) nano-objects
 FIB-SEM serial sectioning tomography allows for much larger assembly supra-particles to be imaged with no special preparation beforehand.

Testing the Capabilities of Automated Mineralogy in Mining Testing the capabilities of automated mineralogy in mining
 Automated mineralogy shows advantages over standard electron microscopy techniques for mine sample characterisation.

Working with industry Industry case studies
 See how businesses and industries have benefited from working with Plymouth Electron Microscope Centre.

Core facilities such as Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) provide the University research community and partner organisations with state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise which adds to and improves research outputs. With the help of the national EM community and The Royal Microscopical Society, PEMC has created a publication policy and from 1 January 2018, all users of PEMC are required to adhere to this policy in their future publications resulting from any level of PEMC support. 

Please see below to download the publication policy and the sign-up form.

Publication policy

Journal publications

Genge, M.J., Alesbrook, L., Almeida, N.V., Bates, H.C., Bland, P.A., Boyd, M.R., Burchell, M.J., Collins, G.S., Cornwell, L.T., Daly, L., Devillepoix, H.A.R., Van Ginneken, M., Greshake, A., Hallatt, D., Hamann, C., Hecht, L., Jenkins, L.E., Johnson, D., Jones, R., King, A.J., Masour, H., McMullan, S., Mitchell, J.T., Rollinson, G., Russell, S.S., Schröder, C., Stephen, N.R., Suttle, M.D., Tandy, J.D., Trimby, P., Sansom, E.K., Spathis, V., Willcocks, F.M. & Wozniakiewicz, P.J. (2023) The fusion crust of the Winchcombe meteorite: A preserved record of atmospheric entry processes, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, DOI (Open Access)
Suttle, M.D., Daly, L., Jones, R.H.,, Jenkins, L.,, Van Ginneken, M., Mitchell, J.T., Bridges, J.C., Hicks, L.J., Johnson, D., Rollinson, G., Taylor, R., Genge, M.J., Schröder, C., Trimby, P., Mansour, H., Piazolo, S., Bonsall, E., Salge, T., Heard, R., Findlay, R., King, A.J., Bates, H.C., Lee, M.C., Stephen, N.R., Willcocks, F.M., Greenwood, R.C., Franchi, I.A., Russell, S.S., Harrison, C.S., Schofield, P.F., Almeida, N.V., Floyd, C., Martin, P-E., Joy, K.H., Wozniakiewicz, P.J., Hallatt, D., Burchell, M., Alesbrook, L.S., Spathis, V., Cornwell, L.T., Dignam A. (2022) The Winchcombe meteorite – a regolith breccia from a rubble-pile CM chondrite asteroid, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, DOI (Open Access)
King, A.J., Daly, L., Rowe, J., Joy, K.H., Greenwood, R.C., Devillepoix, H.A.R., Suttle, M.D., Chan, Q.H.S, Russell, S.S., Bates, H.C,,Bryson, J.F.J., Clay, P.L., Vida, D., Lee, M.R., O’Brien, A., Hallis, L., Stephen, N.R., Tartèse, R., Sansom, E.K., Towner, M.C., Cupak, M., Shober, P.M., Bland, P.A., Findlay, R., Franchi, I.A., Verchovsky, A.B., Abernethy, F.A.J., Grady, M.M., Floyd, C.J., Van Ginneken, M., Bridges, J., Hicks, L., Jones, R.H., Mitchell, J.T., Genge, M.J., Jenkins, L., Martin, P-E.M.C., Sephton, M.A., Watson, J.S., Salge, T., Shirley, K.A., Curtis, R.J., Warren, T.J., Bowles, N.E., Stuart, F.M., Di Nicola, L., Györe, D., Boyce, A.J., Shaw, K.M.M., Elliott, T., Steele, R.C.J., Povinec, P., Laubensteinm M., Sanderson, D., Cresswell, A., Jull, A.J.T., Sýkora, I., Sridhar, S., Harrison, R.J., Willcocks, F.M., Harrison, C.S. , Hallatt, D., Wozniakiewicz, P.J., Burchelll, M.J., Alesbrook, L.S., Dignam, A., Almeida, N.V., Smith, C.L., Clark, B., Humphreys-Williams, E.R., Schofield, P.F., Cornwell, L.T., Spathis, V., Morgan, G.H., Perkins, M.J., Kacerek, R., Campbell-Burns, P., Colas, F., Zanda, B., Vernazza, P., Bouley, S., Hankey, M., Collins, G.S., Young, J.S, Shaw,C., Horak, J., Jones, D., James, N., Bosley, S., Shuttleworth, A., Dickinson, P., McMullan, I., Robson, D., Smedley, A.R.D., Stanley, B., Bassom, R., McIntyre, M., Suttle, A.A., Fleet, R., Bastiaens, L., Ihasz, M., McMullan, S., Boazman, S.J., Dickeson, Z.I., Grindrod, P.M., Pickersgill, A.E., Weir, C.J., Suttle, F.M., Farrelly, S., Spencer, I., Naqvi, S., Mayne, B., Skilton, D., Kirk, D., Mounsey, A., Mounsey, S., Mounsey, S.E., Godfrey, P., Bond, L., Bond, V., Wilcock, C., Wilcock, H. & Wilcock, R. (2022) The Winchcombe Meteorite, a Unique and Pristine Witness from the Outer Solar System, Science Advances, 6, 46, DOI (Open Access)
Zaric S, Strachan A, Kurushima Y, Dong A, McIlwaine C, Harrington Z, Nibali L, Foey A & Ide M (2022) 'Evaluating clinical utility of subgingival and salivary endotoxin activity levels as periodontal biomarkers' Frontiers in Oral Health 3, , DOI
Foey A, Habil N, Strachan A & Beal J (2022) 'Lacticaseibacillus casei Strain Shirota Modulates Macrophage-Intestinal Epithelial Cell Co-Culture Barrier Integrity, Bacterial Sensing and Inflammatory Cytokines' Microorganisms 10, (10) , DOI Open access
O'Hanlon TJ, Massabuau FC-P, Bao A, Kappers MJ & Oliver RA (2021) 'Directly correlated microscopy of trench defects in InGaN quantum wells' Ultramicroscopy 113255-113255 , DOI
O'Hanlon TJ, Zhu T, Massabuau FC-P & Oliver RA (2021) 'Dislocations at coalescence boundaries in heteroepitaxial GaN/sapphire studied after the epitaxial layer has completely coalesced' Ultramicroscopy 113258-113258 , DOI
Hunter, N.; Voisey, C.; Tomkins, A.; Wilson, C.; Luzon, V. & Stephen, N.R. (2021) Deformation Mechanisms in Orogenic Gold Systems During Aseismic Periods: Microstructural Evidence from the Central Victorian Gold Deposits, Southeast Australia, Economic Geology 116 (8) 1849-1864 DOI
Langendam, A., Tomkins, A.G., MacRae, C., Wilson, N., Evans, K. & Stephen, N.R. (2021) CHOS gas/fluid-induced reduction in Ureilites, Meteoritics and Planetary Science DOI
Staddon, L., Darling, J.R., Schwarz, W.H., Stephen, N.R., Schuindt, S., Dunlop, J. & Tait, K.T. (2021) Dating the age of martian mafic crust; microstructurally constrained baddeleyite geochronology of enriched shergottites Zagami, Northwest Africa (NWA) 7257 and NWA 8679, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, DOI
Strachan, A., Haspel, D. & Stephen, N.R. (2021) 3D printing of custom sample holders as a responsive and cost-effective method of sample holder generation for electron microscopy, Microscopy & Microanalysis DOI 
Wenzel, A., Filiberto, J., Stephen, N.R., Schwenzer, S.P. & Hammond, S.J. (2021) Constraints on the petrologic history of gabbroic shergottite Northwest Africa 6963 from pyroxene zoning profiles and electron backscattered diffraction, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 56, 1744-1757, DOI
Mitchell, J.T., Tomkins, A.G., Newton, C. & Johnson, T.E. (2021), A model for evolving crust on 4 Vesta through combined compositional and thermal modelling, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 571, 117105 DOI
Langer, G., Taylor, A.R., Walker, C.E., Meyer, E.M, Joseph, O.Z, Gal, A., Harper, G.M., Probert, I., Brownlee, C. & Wheeler, G.L. (2021) Role of silicon in the development of complex crystal shapes in coccolithophores, New Phytologist 231, 5 1845-1857 DOI
O'Hanlon TJ, Bao A, Massabuau FC-P, Kappers MJ & Oliver RA (2020) 'Cross-shaped markers for the preparation of site-specific transmission electron microscopy lamellae using focused ion beam techniques' Ultramicroscopy 212, 112970-112970 , DOI
Tomkins, A.G., Johnson, T.E. & Mitchell, J.T. (2020), A review of the chondrite-achondrite transition, and a metamorphic facies series for equilibrated primitive stony meteorites, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 55, 857-885 DOI
Tomkins, A.G., Alkemade, S.L., Nutku, S.E., Stephen, N.R., Finch, M.A. & Jeon, H (2020) A small S-MIF signal in Martian regolith pyrite: Implications for the atmosphere, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 290, 59-75 DOI
Jansen-Sturgeon, T., Hartig, B.A.D., Madsen, G.J., Bland, P.A., Sansom, E.K., Devillepoix, H.A.R., Howie, R.M., Cupak, M., Towner, M.C., Cox, M.A., Nevill, N.D., Hoskins, Z.N.P., Bonning, G.P., Calcino, J., Clark, J.T., Henson, B.M., Langendam, A., Matthews, S.J., McClafferty, T.P., Mitchell, J.T., O'Neill, C.J., Smith, L.T., Tait, A.W. (2020), Recreating the OSIRIS-REx slingshot manoeuvre from a network of ground-based sensors, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 37, e049 DOI
Knights, AM, Norton, MJ, Lemasson, AJ & Stephen, NR (2020) 'Ocean Acidification Mitigates the Negative Effects of Increased Sea Temperatures on the Biomineralization and Crystalline Ultrastructure of Mytilus', Frontiers in Marine Science 
Hutt, LP, Harper, GM, Moody, AJ & Boden, R. (2020) 'Insights into growth kinetics and roles of enzymes of Krebs’ cycle and sulfur oxidation during exochemolithoheterotrophic growth of Achromobacter aegrifaciens NCCB 38021 on succinate with thiosulfate as the auxiliary electron donor', Archives in Microbiology DOI
Tomkins AG, Alkemade SL, Nutku SE, Stephen NR, Finch MA & Jeon H (2020) 'A small S-MIF signal in Martian regolith pyrite: Implications for the atmosphere' Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Publisher Site , DOI PEARL
Giles S, Jackson C & Stephen N (2020) 'Barriers to fieldwork in undergraduate geoscience degrees' Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 1, (2) 77-78 , DOI PEARL
D.M.Haspel, M.A.Ashworth, L.Wu, G.D.Wilcox, X.Bao & R.J.Mortimer (2019) The effect of different post-electroplating surface modification treatments on tin whisker growth, Transactions of the IMF, 97, 3, 129-139, DOI
Mcilwaine C, Strachan A, Harrington Z, Jerreat M, Belfield LA, Sandor V, Foey A & Zaric S (2019) 'Comparative analysis of total salivary lipopolysaccharide chemical and biological properties with periodontal status' Archives of Oral Biology 110, 104633-104633 , DOI Open access
MacArthur, J.L., Bridges, J.C., Hicks, L.J., Burgess, R., Joy, K.H., Branney, M.J., Hansford, G.M., Baker, S.H., Schwenzer, S.P., Gurman, S.J., Stephen, N.R., Steer, E.D., Piercy, J.D. & Ireland, T.R. (2019) Mineralogical constraints on the thermal history of martian regolith breccia Northwest Africa 8114 Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 246, 267-298 DOI
Strachan A, Harrington Z, McIlwaine C, Jerreat M, Belfield LA, Kilar A, Jackson SK, Foey A & Zaric S (2018) 'Subgingival lipid A profile and endotoxin activity in periodontal health and disease' Clinical Oral Investigations Author Site , DOI Open access
Doyle S, Hansen DB, Vella J, Bond P, Harper G, Zammit C, Valentino M & Fern R (2018) 'Vesicular glutamate release from central axons contributes to myelin damage' Nature Communications 9, (1) , DOI PEARL
King, A.J., Schofield, P.F., Stephen, N.R., Frogley, M.D., Cinque, G. & Russell, S.S. (2018) Investigating the history of volatiles in the solar system using synchrotron infrared micro-spectroscopy Infrared Physics and Technology 94, 244-249 DOI
Humphreys CJ, Massabuau FC-P, Rhode SL, Horton MK, O’Hanlon TJ, Kovacs A, Zielinski MS, Kappers MJ, Dunin-Borkowski RE & Oliver RA (2018) 'Atomic Resolution Imaging of Dislocations in AlGaN and the Efficiency of UV LEDs' Microscopy and Microanalysis 24, (S1) 4-5 , DOI
Langan LM, Harper GM, Owen SF, Purcell WM, Jackson SK & Jha AN (2017) 'Application of the rainbow trout derived intestinal cell line (RTgutGC) for ecotoxicological studies: molecular and cellular responses following exposure to copper' Ecotoxicology 26, (8) pp 1117-1133 , DOI PEARL
McKeown DA, Stevens K, Peters AF, Bond P, Harper GM, Brownlee C, Brown MT & Schroeder DC (2017) 'Phaeoviruses discovered in kelp (Laminariales)' The ISME Journal 11, (12) pp 2869-2873 , DOI PEARL
Berry, A.J., Schofield, P.F., Kravtsova, A.N., Miller, L.A., Stephen, N.R., Walker, A.M., Soldatov, A.V., Ireland, T.R., Geraki, K. & Mosselmans, J.F.W. (2017) The limitations of hibonite as a single-mineral oxybarometer for early solar system processes Chemical Geology DOI
Massabuau FC-P, Rhode SL, Horton MK, O’Hanlon TJ, Kovács A, Zielinski MS, Kappers MJ, Dunin-Borkowski RE, Humphreys CJ & Oliver RA (2017) 'Dislocations in AlGaN: Core Structure, Atom Segregation, and Optical Properties' Nano Letters 17, (8) 4846-4852 , DOI
Massabuau FC-P, Chen P, Horton MK, Rhode SL, Ren CX, O'Hanlon TJ, Kovács A, Kappers MJ, Humphreys CJ & Dunin-Borkowski RE (2017) 'Carrier localization in the vicinity of dislocations in InGaN' Journal of Applied Physics 121, (1) 013104-013104 , DOI
D.M.Haspel, M.A.Ashworth, L.Wu, G.D.Wilcox & R.J.Mortimer (2016) Tin Whisker Mitigation My Means of a Post-Electroplating Electrochemical Oxidation Treatment, Transactions of the IMF, 93, 332-341 DOI
Bilton, D, Tourraint, E, Turner, C, Balke, M (2015). Capeloatus prykei gen. et sp.n. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae) – a phylogenetically isolated diving beetle from the Western Cape of South Africa, Systematic Entomology, Volume 40 Issue 3, p520-531 (Acknowledgements: Dr Roy Moate and Glenn Harper).
Springbett H, Griffiths J, Ren C, O'Hanlon T, Barnard J, Sahonta S-L, Zhu T & Oliver R (2015) 'Structure and composition of non-polar (11-20) InGaN nanorings grown by modified droplet epitaxy' Physica status solidi (b) 253, (5) 840-844 , DOI

Conference abstracts

Mitchell, J.T., Willcocks, F.M., Stephen, N.R. (2023), Fayalite in polymict eucrite northwest Africa 6414: evidence of metasomatism and fayalite-bearing magmas on the HED parent body?, Lunar & Planetary Science Conference,  #1492
Willcocks, F.M., Mitchell, J.T., Stephen, N.R. (2023), Real science in real time; how microscopy live! Has introduced planetary science to a wider audience, Lunar & Planetary Science Conference, #1950
Willcocks, F.M., Stephen, N.R., Grimes, S.T., Mitchell, J.T. (2022), A new terrestrial analogue for Martian volcanism: An unexpected match for the shergottite meteorites, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6018
Mitchell, J.T., Willcocks, F.M., Stephen, N.R. (2022), Northwest Africa 6414 classified after 10 years: A complex polymict eucrite of at least nine lithological groups, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6017
Suttle, M.D. et al. (2022), Geological history of the Winchcombe meteorite - a new CM chondrite fall, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6076
Daly, L. et al. (2022), A coordinated approach to investigate the heterogeneity of aqueous alteration at the micro-scale in the Winchcombe meteorite, a CM fall, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6262
Genge, M.J. et al. (2022), The fusion crust of the Winchcombe meteorite: Vigorous degassing during atmospheric entry, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6345
Martin, P-E.M.C., King, A.J., Mitchell, J.T., Stephen, N.R., Trimby, P., Van Ginneken, M., Salge, T., Almeida, N.V., Willcocks, F.M., Daly, L., Lee, M.R. (2022), Calcium-aluminium-rich inclusion populations within the Winchcombe CM2 meteorite breccia, 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6358
Willcocks, F., Grimes, S.T. & Stephen, N.R. (2021) Comparative Planetology of the Inner Solar System; Using Flood Basalts on the Moon (Lunar Maria), Mars (Tharsis and Elysium) and Earth to Investigate the Magmatic Evolution of Our Solar System, LPI Contributions 2609, 6061
Mitchell, J.T., Tomkins, A.G., Wilson, N.C., Howard, D.L. & Stephen, N.R. (2022), A single chondrule preserved in a petrographic thin section of howardite Dhofar 018, 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, #1184
Mitchell, J.T., Stephen, N.R. & Tomkins, A.G. (2021), Sampling an impact melt sheet with unusual diogenite Northwest Africa 5480, 84th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6008
Mitchell, J.T., Tomkins, A.G., Newton, C. & Johnson, T.E. (2021), The evolving crust of 4 Vesta from compositional and thermal modelling, 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, #1576
Mitchell, J.T. & Tomkins, A.G. (2019), Compositional diversity of diogenites: variable fO2 and post-eucritic magmatism, 82nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6065
Mitchell, J.T. & Tomkins, A.G. (2019), Constraining ejecta blanket conditions of Dhofar 018 form a single pristine chondrule, SSERVI Australia
Massabuau F, Rhode S, Horton M, O'Hanlon T, Kovacs A, Zielinski M, Kappers MJ, Dunin-Borkowski R, Humphreys CJ & Oliver RA (2018) 'Alloy fluctuations at dislocations in III-nitrides: identification and impact on optical properties' Gallium Nitride Materials and Devices XIII 1-/-0/20182-/-0/2018SPIE , DOI
Mitchell, J.T. & Tomkins, A.G. (2018), On the origin of olivine diogenites and diogenites: compositional diversity linked to variable fO2, 22nd Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, #IMA2018-1393
Mitchell, J.T. & Stephen, N.R. (2016), Revisiting NWA 3141, 8266, and 8594: two eucrites and a howardite?, 79th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6224
Mitchell, J.T. & Stephen, N.R. (2016), Variations within the Vestan meteorites: cause for re-evaluating the HED classification scheme?, Extraterrestrial Materials Research Meeting