Hello, we are studying temperature-dependent transformations of a sample containing a hard chrome film. The TEM foil was prepared by FIB because it is the only way to thin the hard chrome. The foil is glued to the support with a platinum film a few microns thick. We would like to know if we can heat the sample to 180 ° C, which is necessary for the hard chromium in-situ TEM experiment, before the platinum glue softens.
Hello Egle,
Theoretically, it should be Ok. But practically, especially if the Pt layer was deposited with FIB, it can be not so stable, because actually it is a Pt-organic composite. I'd recommend to check it before the experiments. It is definitely better to spend a few hours preparing a "dummy sample" and heating it, than drop something into the TEM column...
Good luck!
Do you use GIS (Gas Injection system) to deposit the Pt layer on your sample?
In that case, "Pt layer" is a composite of less than 50% Pt particles (several nm) with amorphous carbon form by decomposing of Trimethyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)Platinum(IV) precursor. It may be stable up to 180° C, you should check.
Regards.
Thank you very much for your suggestions! A previous test in a external oven up to 400 °C during 15 minutes showed that the Pt welding deposited by FIB did not soften. Thus, we performed the TEM in-situ heating experiment up to 400 °C and everything was OK. Beautiful images and diffraction patterns at that temperature!
Egle Conforto, thanks for sharing the experience. Good luck with your next experiments!
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