An electron microscope is a magnifier that uses electrons to enlighten the subject and display a magnified image. The electron microscope has a greater amount of resolution as compared to other microscopes. Using this, smaller objects can be seen with a naked eye as they have lesser wavelength than light, hence it has a very strong resolving power to view the object in a larger picture. This microscope is much better and more efficient than the crappy light microscope which can only magnify up to 1000 to 2000 times compared to the electron which can magnify up to 2 milion times. Although it may be expensive it is worth it as the electron microscopes have much better resolving power than light micrscopes. Better resolution allows you to see the details of the membrane (after staining), such as the bilayer structure, which are too small to be seen by light microscopy.
There are mainly two types of microscopes. One is a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and the other is the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Let us first understand how an electron microscope works?
The TEM was the first ever electron microscope and it was used to see within the cells. The TEM allows only those electrons to be viewed which pass through the subject, which obviously means that only those electrons which pass through the sample may be seen. This gives rise to black/white and shades of gray on the finished picture.
The electron is a pin-shaped cathode, heated to an extent which induces a beam of electrons to be