Application Note. Thin metal foils with coatings. Sample Preparation for SEM. related instrument Leica EM RES102.

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1 Material Life Science Application Note Thin metal foils with coatings Sample Preparation for SEM related instrument Leica EM RES102 Medical Industrial Manufacturing Natural Resources

2 2 Ion beam slope cutting (cross polishing) Thin metal foils with coatings PROBLEM Thin foils are mostly unstable because of their thickness of a few microns. This makes it difficult to do slope cutting without any protection of the sample. A common realisation to protect the sample surface is by sticking a cover glass on top of the sample. Another issue is cutting the foils before ion milling. The sample edge should be flat and sharp without any broken areas. A razor blade is mostly the best solution. A protected sample can also be sawed with a wire saw. APPLICATION EXAMPLES 1. Cross sectioning of copper foil with lithium layer PURPOSE The sample is just 46 µm thick and difficult to handle. GOAL Cross sectioning to obtain information concerning the interface between the copper foil and the Lithium / Carbon layer. PREPARATION CONDITIONS Mechanical pre-preparation Cut the foil with a razor blade to get the appropriate sample size and a flat sample edge. Ion Milling Acceleration voltage: 7k V Current: 2.6 ma Oscillation angle: ±40 Milling time: 3 h RESULTS - Cut is very flat and clean. - Grain structure of copper and the Lithium / Carbon layer is clearly visible - Interface structure is clearly recognizable.

3 LNT Application Note - THIN METAL FOILS WITH COATINGS 3 Cross section of a Cu foil with a Lithium / Carbon layer 2. Cross sectioning of Sn on Cu PURPOSE Cu and Sn are very soft. They are very difficult to prepare in a conventional way. GOAL Cross sectioning to obtain information regarding the grain structure of Tin and the interface area. PREPARATION CONDITIONS Mechanical pre-preparation Cut the foil with a razor blade to achieve the appropriate sample size with a flat sample edge. Ion milling Acceleration voltage: 6 kv Gun current: 2.6 ma Milling angle: 3 Oscillation angle: ±35 Milling time: 3.5 h

4 4 RESULTS - The columnar structure of Sn with cracks is visible - Grain structure and interface structure are clearly visible - Voids and Cracks in the interface area - Grain structure of Cu Cross section of a Tin layer on a Copper foil (Image: Geoff West, Loughborough University, UK)

5 RELATED PRODUCTS Leica EM RES102 The statement by Ernst Leitz in 1907, With the User, For the User, describes the fruitful collaboration with end users and driving force of innovation at Leica Microsystems. We have developed five brand values to live up to this tradition: Pioneering, High-end Quality, Team Spirit, Dedication to Science, and Continuous Improvement. For us, living up to these values means: Living up to Life. LIFE SCIENCE DIVISION - NANO TECHNOLOGY LNT The Leica Microsystems Nano Technology Division s focus is to provide the most compehensive product portfolio for the preparation of biological, medical and industrial samples for investigation in the Electron and Light Microscope. Excellent Sample Preparation is a prerequisite for perfect microscopy. Your image starts here! Leica Microsystems an international company with a strong network of worldwide customer services: Active worldwide Tel. Fax Australia North Ryde Austria Vienna Belgium Diegem Canada Concord/Ontario Denmark Ballerup France Nanterre Cedex Germany Wetzlar Italy Milan Japan Tokyo Korea Seoul Netherlands Rijswijk People s Rep. of China Hong Kong Shanghai Portugal Lisbon Singapore Spain Barcelona Sweden Kista Switzerland Heerbrugg United Kingdom Milton Keynes USA Buffalo Grove/lllinois Leica EM RES102 Application Note Thin Metal Foils With Coatings 09/2014 Copyright by Leica Mikrosysteme GmbH, Vienna, Austria, Subject to modifications. LEICA and the Leica Logo are registered trademarks of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.