High-efficiency detector of secondary and backscattered electrons for low-dose imaging in the ESEM.

•A new combined detector of SE and BSE with very high detection efficiency for the ESEM.•Proof of concept for detection of energy-separated SE using the ISEDS in the ESEM.•Low-dose imaging of non-coated low atomic number samples in a gaseous environment.•The strategy for deep-sensitive imaging in non-coated low Z samples in the ESEM.•Performance of the improved scintillation BSE detector for electron microscopy.