Professional sputter and carbon coaters for SEM sample preparation
LUXOR sputter and carbon coaters deliver reproducible, ultra-thin conductive coatings that protect your samples from charging in an electron microscope. Fully automatic, benchtop design — trusted by research labs and industrial facilities worldwide.
Smart and innovative technology for serious SEM labs
Fully automated operation
Select the desired coating thickness and press start — the entire coating process is fully automated.
Upside-down design
The unique “upside-down” design keeps your expensive SEM column well protected, offers maximum safety for operators, effortless operation and maximum flexibility.
3D coating
Coat complex three-dimensional structures without requiring a turbomolecular pump or rotating, tilting, or planetary stages, while preventing sample charging and protecting beam-sensitive specimens.
Compact stand-alone benchtop units
LUXOR uses dedicated, stand-alone coaters for gold, platinum and carbon coating, offering greater flexibility, contamination-free operation, time savings, and no need to switch coating setups.
Smart, innovative technology
LUXOR’s plug-and-play, pre-mounted targets and removable sample holder allow for easy sample handling, lower ownership costs, intuitive operation, and reduced downtime.
Triple functionality
The LUXOR coater goes beyond coating, offering dedicated methods such as a high-vacuum mode for sample outgassing and a drying mode for sensitive (biological) samples.
Choose your LUXOR coater
Find the right coater for your lab
Our team is ready to guide you to the perfect solution with a product demonstration and support from our global distributor network.
What is sputter coating for SEM?
Sputter coating is a physical vapour deposition (PVD) process used to apply an ultra-thin conductive metal film to non-conductive or beam-sensitive samples before scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.
The coating prevents surface charging, dramatically improves signal-to-noise ratio, and protects delicate samples from electron beam damage.
What is carbon coating for SEM?
In a LUXOR carbon coater a carbon rod is electrically heated in a vacuum until it evaporates. This vapor then condenses onto the samples, forming a nanometer-thin carbon layer that protects non-conductive or beam-sensitive samples from charging in a scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Carbon is commonly used as a coating material when performing EDX (Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), because it does not introduce strong interfering peaks in the elemental spectra.
Common applications
- Ceramics
- Geological samples
- Pharmaceutical particles
- Fibres & textiles
- Nanomaterials
- Polymers
- Food sciences
- Biomaterials
- Energy & batteries
- Electronics
A fly's-eye (20nm C coating)
Phytoplankton (2 nm Pt coating)
Polystyrene ball (5 nm Pt coating)
Nanofibers (2 nm Pt coating)
Trusted by labs worldwide
“Basically it is about entering the coating thickness, pushing start, and then take a few minutes to warm ourselves at the small heater in the tent.
And its compact size, easy installation and automated operation were necessary prerequisites for use in the harsh conditions and cramped housing on the plains around the Fagradalsfjall volcano”.
Request a quote or demo
Tell us about your SEM and application. We will recommend the right LUXOR coater and provide a quote.
- Free product demonstration available
- Global distributor network
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a gold sputter coater and a platinum sputter coater?
Gold (and gold/palladium) is ideal for SEM imaging up to 50,000× magnification. Platinum provides a finer grain size and is recommended for high-resolution FEG-SEM above 50,000×.
How long does a sputter coating cycle take?
A typical gold or platinum coating cycle is completed in approximately 5 minutes, including pump-down and venting. A carbon coating cycle is even faster and takes typically less then 4 minutes.
Which vacuum pump is needed with the LUXOR coater?
A dedicated dual-stage rotary vacuum pump (4.3 m³/h capacity) is required. It is available as an optional accessory and can be ordered together with the coater.
Can I coat with carbon for EDX analysis?
Yes. The LUXOR C model is specifically designed for carbon coating, making it the ideal solution for EDX/EDS elemental analysis where a gold or platinum coating would interfere with results.