Our Research Group on Sustainable Catalytic Processes (proCatalis, http://procatalis.ufpr.br) is investigating the formation of carbon-supported cobalt particles through carbonization of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework ZIF 67. Recently, we performed Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and we got the images below. Can you identify the cobalt particles and carbon support in these images?
Hi Cícero Naves de Ávila Neto
Fascinating work.
Please do check the cobalt contain in this material via EDS analysis. Then you can predict the Co particles in the support. If the EDS suggest that the plenty Co in the support then you may randomly spot out. If the Co (%) is low then you have to predict the Co into the support using the selected area EDS analysis. Or you may increase the resolution and tally the Co engrafted ZIF with the only ZIF to find out the Co particles.
I can suggest this from the best of my knowledge.
Regards
Thanks for the tips Arnab. We will use this reasoning in the next equipment scheduling.
I have no idea what your specimen is, but it's not stopping me from giving an advice. I suppose specimen consists only of C and Co. Then tiny spherical particles should be of metal. It looks like we can see some of them embedded in bigger, semitransparent particles, but higher magnification is desirable. For example, on the top of the image there are three bigger particles, and in the bottom tip of the second particle we can see agglomeration of spherical particles. Of course, EDS could be very helpful for your specimen. If your TEM is not equipped with EDS, you can use your specimen in FESEM. Just mount your TEM grid on some substrate with low atomic number. The best is Be, then you can analyse both C and Co. Carbon substrate also can be used, but then only Co will be analysed.
Thank you very much for the contribution Vladimir. I would say this is the correct interpretation, even without EDS results to corroborate. We will follow your suggestion and try the FESEM.
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