I want to do TEM of a P3HT:PCBM blend. Could you please suggests the process? I want to do it for organic photovoltaic devices application.
Ultramicrotome might be a better sample preparation method for TEM analysis.
Hi,
Preparing a sample (thin film of polymer or any other material) for TEM imaging is always tricky and demands lot of time and patience. Follow the steps mentioned below;
1. Prepare Resin mixture by mixing appropriate amount of (Eponate 12 Resin, Glycerol Polyglycidyl Ether), Dodecenyl Succinic Anhydride (DDSA), Nadic Methyl Anhydride (NMA), and 2, 4, 6 –Tris (dimethylaminomethyl)phenol (DMP-30).
2. Embed your sample (P3HT:PCBM blend) in epoxy mould and cure at 60 deg C for 12 h.
3. Ultra microtome the epoxy molded sample into thin membrane (
If you can not visit another laboratory for training, so look but over at Youtube. There are training at home, for example "Using an Ultramicrotome to Trim a Resin Block" and many other:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj8uQXQaY-c
I have a query, I have sample of ionically crosslinked alginate composite encapsulated with TiO2 nanoparticles. I want to do TEM analysis. These composite cantdisperse in ethanol, methol and acetone.How i can perform TEM analysis?
Dear Molly, you could try to sonicate your sample in ethanol-water mixture for longer time and then take 10-20 uL of mixture (if not dispersed) and drop cast on TEM Cu grids. The sample should be completely dry before TEM operation.
I have a query, I want to do TEM of polymer composite film (~100micro meter thick). Can anyone suggest the sample preparation method for its TEM analysis.
@ Rakhi Nangia
Preparation of TEM samples for solid materials are quite easy but in the polymer/thin membrane layer case it’s too difficult to prepare the sample for TEM analysis. If you have membrane samples then it is too soft to withstand sectioning at room temperature without distorting, even if supported by a surrounding layer of epoxy resin. For this reason polymers need to be hardened by cooling to sub-zero temperatures (anywhere between -40 to -150°C) and cryo-sectioned at that temperature. Sections are placed on regular TEM Cu grids for support during viewing.
For taking the proper section of the sample the Ultramicrotomy is a highly specialized technique is used and it’s requiring sophisticated instrumentation and dedicated, skilled operators (i.e., not a technique that can be taught in one or two sessions!). It is both demanding and time consuming, requiring about 1 h per sample.
After cutting the sample using forceps or spatula you can take direct sample on the Cu grid. After that dry the sample and put one drop toluene on it. Again after drying directly you can use sample for analysis.
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