{"id":12945,"date":"2020-01-16T17:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/materials\/?p=12945"},"modified":"2022-07-12T13:34:58","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T18:34:58","slug":"expert-sample-preparation-techniques-for-sems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/materials\/expert-sample-preparation-techniques-for-sems\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Sample Preparation Techniques for SEMs"},"content":{"rendered":"

When using a scanning electron microscope<\/a> (SEM) for the first time, you might have doubts about what can be imaged. You might also struggle to get the image quality you’re expecting. Yet with the right sample preparation techniques, you can easily improve your results.<\/p>\n

High moisture samples<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first: SEMs operate in a vacuum,which can seriously alter your sample. For example, loose particles can detach from any surface, all liquids will evaporate immediately, and delicate materials will outgas.<\/p>\n

\"SEM

SEM image of a fly's eye<\/p><\/div>\n

While a fly can be easily imaged, when you image<\/span> a fly larva, you will most likely get a splatter scenario. That’s because larvae can be understood as small liquid pockets. If the water inside evaporates, the skin can collapse due to the internal pressure and, in the worst cases, it might explode. Gasses and particles can then access the electron column and compromise image quality for good.<\/span><\/p>\n

To image high-moisture content samples with an SEM, it’s critical to:<\/span><\/p>\n