Scanning electron microscopy of cells allows the surface topography to be imaged at high resolution.
![](https://www.epfl.ch/research/facilities/biological-electron-microscopy/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SEM_neurites2-1-300x178.jpg)
To prevent decay and preserve their structure under high vacuum chamber, biological samples need to be prepared through chemical methods (see protocol). Moreover, biological specimens are generally composed of non-conductive material and need a metal coating.