The sputter coater your SEM lab has been looking for
LUXOR sputter coaters are purpose-built for SEM sample preparation in research labs and industrial facilities worldwide. Gold, platinum, and carbon models available. One-touch operation, consistent ultra-thin coatings, built to last.
Choose your LUXOR coater
LUXORAu
LUXORC
Not sure which model to choose?
Our team is ready to guide you to the perfect solution with a product demonstration and support from our global distributor network.
What makes LUXOR sputter coaters different
Fully automated operation
Select your coating thickness and press start. Every LUXOR coater handles the complete coating process automatically.
Upside-down design
The upside-down target and sample positioning design keep your SEM column well protected, operators safe, and allows for effortless operation across different sample types.
3D coating
Coat complex three-dimensional structures without a turbomolecular pump or planetary/rotating stage, while preventing sample charging and protecting beam-sensitive specimens.
Compact stand-alone benchtop units
Compact, stand-alone instruments that fit any lab bench. Dedicated models for gold, platinum, and carbon mean greater flexibility and contamination-free operation.
Smart, innovative technology
Pre-mounted targets and a tool-free sample holder make the LUXOR sputter coater straightforward from day one. Lower ownership costs, intuitive operation, and a sputtering coating machine built to last.
Triple functionality
The LUXOR sputter coating machine goes beyond coating, with a high-vacuum outgassing mode and a drying mode for sensitive biological samples.
Which coater is right for your application?
Not sure which LUXOR coater fits your application? Here is a quick way to decide. If you are still unsure, get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
| LuxorAu | Luxor Pt | Luxor C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coating type | Gold sputter coating machine | Platinum sputter coating | Carbon coating for SEM |
| SEM type | Desktop and floor model SEM | FEG-SEM, high-resolution SEM | All SEM types |
| Magnification | Up to 50,000× | 50,000× and above | All magnifications |
| EDX/EDS analysis | Not recommended | Not recommended | Ideal choice |
| Cycle time | ~5 minutes | ~5 minutes | Under 4 minutes |
| Also accepts | Au/Pd targets | Gold and Au/Pd targets | Carbon rods only |
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”.
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)
Before you request a quote
The questions we get most from labs evaluating LUXOR coaters. Get in touch if yours is not here.
When do I need a carbon coater instead of a sputter coater?
You need a carbon coater when your workflow includes EDX or EDS elemental analysis. Gold and platinum sputter coaters introduce metal peaks into the elemental spectrum that interfere with chemical analysis results. Carbon coating for SEM avoids this entirely because carbon does not produce strong interfering peaks. For imaging-only applications, a gold or platinum sputter coater is the standard choice.
How long does a sputter coating cycle take?
A typical gold or platinum sputter coating cycle completes in around 5 minutes, including pump-down and venting. A carbon coating cycle is faster and takes under 4 minutes.
Cycle time varies slightly depending on the target coating thickness and whether you are coating in air or argon.
What vacuum pump do I need with a LUXOR coater?
Every LUXOR sputter coater requires a dedicated dual-stage rotary vacuum pump with a capacity of 4.3 cubic metres per hour.
The pump is ordered separately and is available as an accessory directly from LUXOR or your local distributor. LUXOR does not recommend using third-party pumps, as the sputter coater controls the pump directly for fully automatic operation.
Is a LUXOR sputter coater compatible with my SEM?
Yes. LUXOR sputter coaters are standalone benchtop instruments and work independently of your SEM brand or model. They require no connection to your microscope and are compatible with all vacuum pump setups supplied by LUXOR.
They are compatible with all Hitachi, Zeiss, Thermo Scientific Phenom, JEOL, Tescan and CIQTEK systems, among others. You prepare your samples in the LUXOR coater, then load them into your SEM as usual.
Can I use a LUXOR sputter coater with metals other than gold or gold/platinum?
The LUXORAu and LUXORPt function as metal coaters for gold, gold/palladium and platinum targets. These cover the vast majority of SEM sputter coating applications.
LUXOR is working on a wide range of other target materials, including silver and copper. If you have a specific requirement, get in touch and we will advise on the best solution.
Find the right LUXOR coater for your lab
Tell us about your SEM and application. We will match you with your nearest distributor and send a full quote covering the coater, vacuum pump and any accessories.
- Full quote covering coater, vacuum pump and accessories
- Product demonstration available
- UK distributor support, local expertise and fast response
- No obligation