Open AccessHigh-resolution microscopy for biological specimens via cathodoluminescence of Eu- and Zn-doped Y_2O_3nanophosphors
Author(s) -
Toshiharu Furukawa,
Hirohiko Niioka,
Masayoshi Ichimiya,
Tomohiro Nagata,
Masaaki Ashida,
Tsutomu Araki,
Mamoru Hashimoto
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.025655
Subject(s) - cathodoluminescence , materials science , microscopy , scanning electron microscope , phosphor , optics , analytical chemistry (journal) , resolution (logic) , nanoscopic scale , luminescence , doping , electron microscope , microscale chemistry , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , chromatography , artificial intelligence , computer science , composite material , mathematics education , mathematics
High-resolution microscopy for biological specimens was performed using cathodoluminescence (CL) of Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors, which have high CL intensity due to the incorporation of Zn. The intensity of Y(2)O(3):Eu nanophosphors at low acceleration voltage (3 kV) was increased by adding Zn. The CL intensity was high enough for imaging even with a phosphor size as small as about 30 nm. The results show the possibility of using CL microscopy for biological specimens at single-protein-scale resolution. CL imaging of HeLa cells containing laser-ablated Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors achieved a spatial resolution of a few tens of nanometers. Y(2)O(3):Eu, Zn nanophosphors in HeLa cells were also imaged with 254 nm ultraviolet light excitation. The results suggest that correlative microscopy using CL, secondary electrons and fluorescence imaging could enable multi-scale investigation of molecular localization from the nanoscale to the microscale.