Evo scanning electron microscope

The Cu_xNi_1−x composition as a function of position on the substrate was determined via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). EDS was measured using an X-ray detector mounted on a Carl Zeiss EVO scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Oberkochen, Germany) and spectra were obtained at 10 keV and a magnification of 10 kx. A Zeiss Auriga SEM was used to capture high magnification images of the Cu_xNi_1−x alloy catalyst before and after graphene growth.

Muscle sections from mice and rats were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 30 min at RT and dehydrated in ethanol solutions of increasing concentration (30%- 100%), for 15 min per concentration. Muscle sections were dried at RT, mounted on aluminium stubs and sputter coated with platinum (5 nm) using a 208HR sputter coater (Cressington, Redding, CA). Data were collected using an EVO Scanning Electron Microscope (Carl Zeiss).

The characterization of SPEx-MIONPs involved a comprehensive approach utilizing various techniques [43 (link),44 (link),45 (link)]. Utilizing a Zeiss EVO scanning electron microscope (Pleasanton, CA, USA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to examine the morphology and size of the nanoparticles. For a more detailed analysis of morphology and size, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was conducted using a Talos S200 microscope (FEI, Hillsboro, OR, USA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, Nicolet iS50 FITR Spectrometer, ThermoFisher Scientific, Madison, WI, USA) played a crucial role in obtaining information about the structure of SPEx-MIONPs, enabling the identification of different bioactive functional groups and Fe-O bonds. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, measured on a Bruker D8 Advance A25 diffractometer with a Cu anode (Bruker, sourced from Madrid, Spain), were utilized to confirm the oxide phase and crystallographic structure in the range of 2θ = [15–70°].
This advanced characterization aimed to validate and provide profound insights into the structural and morphological features of SPEx-MIONPs. The combination of SEM, TEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques ensured a comprehensive understanding of the nanoparticles’ properties, contributing to a thorough assessment of their structural integrity and potential applications.

Prior to microscopy examination, samples (2–3 mm) were cut and treated with osmium vapor (1%) for 8 h to fix the samples and facilitate their observation under the microscope. Then, the fixed samples were covered by a thin film of Au to improve the quality of the micrograph (improving sample conductivity). The microscopy examination was performed using a Zeiss EVO scanning electron microscope (Stuttgart, Germany) with a secondary electron detector at an acceleration voltage of 10 kV. A digital processing free software, FIJI Image-J (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA), was used to determine the pore size distribution and the mean pore size of the nanostructures.

SEM imaging was performed using a Zeiss Evo scanning electron microscope equipped with a Gemini column and a field emission gun, operating at 3 kV. In order to investigate the dimensions and morphological details of the precipitated crystals, samples deposited on glass slides were fixed on aluminum stubs using double sided copper tape, coated with a thin layer (ca. 5 nm) of gold, and imaged using the secondary electron detector.

UV–Vis spectra were recorded to check the reduction of silver nitrate with A. precatorius ethyl acetate extract using a Systronics UV–Vis Spectrophotometer in the range of 300–700 nm. A Zetasizer nano ZS (Malvern Instruments, Malvern) was used to determine the nanoconjugates' average hydrodynamic particle size distribution and zeta-potential. In order to prepare a well-dispersed suspension, the sample was first diluted with MilliQ water followed by 10 min of ultrasonication. FT-IR spectrophotometer (PerkinElmer, Frontier ATR/IR) was used to compare the IR spectra of both A. precatorius seed extracts and AgNCs in the λ range of 4000–500 cm⁻¹. The structural morphology and elemental analysis of the AgNCs was studied using ZEISS EVO Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX)^{65 (link),66 (link)}.