How to do sample mounting and sputter coating for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM ) part 1

Scanning electron microscopes use beams of electrons rather than beams of light, allowing us to see below the diffraction limit of conventional optical microscopes and image structures on the nanoscale. However, an important caveat of electron microscopy is that samples must be exposed to harsh conditions. Though light is transmitted easily through air, electrons are not. So, in order to image a sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), it must be exposed to a hard vacuum. Additionally, it can be complex or even impossible to image non-conductive samples without first coating them in a conductive layer, given that imaging relies on electron transfer between microscope and sample. Though SEM sample preparation can be complicated, it is vital that it is performed correctly and carefully to create meaningful and detailed images. #SEM #microscope #coating #mounting #goldplating #goldcoating #scanning