We have observed the morphology of the carbon nanoparticles synthesized from coconut fibre under SEM and TEM. We have encountered a strange scenario where the shape of the carbon nanoparticles under SEM seems to be fibrous and spherical under TEM. Could you please help me in finding the apt explanation??
If your SEM has an auto tilt image compensation and it is left in the wrong configuration, e.g. the computer thinks the stage is tilted when it is not, this can lead to elongation of objects in the SEM image.
I assume the specimen preparation for SEM and TEM are similar enough to rule this out as a source of difference.
Finally it may just be the material behaving differently in the TEM higher accelerating voltage. Or maybe none of these. The above first 2 suggestions should be easy enough to check. Good luck
Besides what Aughterson said, I would consider the followings as well
-The heterogeneity of the sample. In other words, probably some part of the sample is in a rod shape and some part is spherical. This happens especially when there is salt or fibrous material in synthesis step (After drying the sample, the salt precipitates in a crystalline rod shape).
Scrutiny of a different part of the sample will reveal whether the whole sample is in fibrous shape or only some part.
- If the sample is indeed in fibrous shape, and for TEM sample preparation, mounting in resin and cutting with microtome has been used, you would mostly see the fibers circular cross section. Again, you would need to scan other part/area of the sample.
What were your protocols for specimen preparation for TEM and SEM?
Do you have pictures at lower magnification? And you do not have a micron bar on your SEM picture.
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