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An Inexpensive Approach for Bright-Field and Dark-Field Imaging by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy in Scanning Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2014

Binay Patel  and
Masashi Watanabe
Binay Patel*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
Masashi Watanabe
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Scanning transmission electron microscopy in scanning electron microscopy (STEM-in-SEM) is a convenient technique for soft materials characterization. Various specimen-holder geometries and detector arrangements have been used for bright-field (BF) STEM-in-SEM imaging. In this study, to further the characterization potential of STEM-IN-SEM, a new specimen holder has been developed to facilitate direct detection of BF signals and indirect detection of dark-field (DF) signals without the need for substantial instrument modification. DF imaging is conducted with the use of a gold (Au)-coated copper (Cu) plate attached to the specimen holder which directs highly scattered transmitted electrons to an off-axis yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) detector. A hole in the copper plate allows for BF imaging with a transmission electron (TE) detector. The inclusion of an Au-coated Cu plate enhanced DF signal intensity. Experiments validating the acquisition of true DF signals revealed that atomic number (Z) contrast may be achieved for materials with large lattice spacing. However, materials with small lattice spacing still exhibit diffraction contrast effects in this approach. The calculated theoretical fine probe size is 1.8 nm. At 30 kV, in this indirect approach, DF spatial resolution is limited to 3.2 nm as confirmed experimentally.

Keywords

holder developmentsoft materialsatomic number contrast (Z contrast)polymersimage resolutionSMART macro
Type
Techniques, Software, and Instrumentation Development
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 124 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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