I have coated metal oxide nano sheets on carbon fiber paper and I want have TEM analysis of the same sample. Could anybody tell me how to prepare sample? Thank you.
As you said, it can be viewed as a composite of 1D and 2D structure. The interaction may not be as strong as to tolerate the ultrasonic irradiation. So, it is better to go with SEM. Still, if you want to analyze the sheet thickness by TEM, disperse a tiny quantity of the composite in polar organic solvent and leave it for a few minutes to settle down the big particles. Then collect a drop of supernenant and drop on copper grid and dry. But the analysis will give you only a localized information. You may choose XRD for sheet thickness measurement.
you coat the sample on copper grid, then only you can do the TEM analysis for your sample
Thank you Vasanth for your reply and suggestion, As per you, if I coat material on copper grid, there could be a possibility of changing sizes of the nanostructure (eg. sheet thickness, length). I am wholly interested to record the nonstructural sizes of the material on Carbon fiber.
As you said, it can be viewed as a composite of 1D and 2D structure. The interaction may not be as strong as to tolerate the ultrasonic irradiation. So, it is better to go with SEM. Still, if you want to analyze the sheet thickness by TEM, disperse a tiny quantity of the composite in polar organic solvent and leave it for a few minutes to settle down the big particles. Then collect a drop of supernenant and drop on copper grid and dry. But the analysis will give you only a localized information. You may choose XRD for sheet thickness measurement.
The particle size for the extremely fine and highly reactive nano powders can be examined with a transmission electron microscope The powder samples for TEM observation can be prepared by dispersing them in methanol and placing a few drops on a carbon-coated TEM grid.
To look at the sample in cross-section, prepare the sample as the Biologists do... embed in plastic and microtome it. We do this all the time and it works well. If you don't have the facilities yourself, go to your Biology department and have them do it. They are probably better at microtoming anyway. If you will be using a 200 or 300 kV scope, carbon coat the samples.
I know about TEM, but I have no idea about exact working mechanism of it
Dear Ajay,
Follow the following steps:
1. Put your carbon fiber paper coated with nano sheets in a beaker and add some polar solvent in it.
2. Turn on the ultra sonication.
3. The small particles would disperse in the solvent so that you can use a micro pipette and take a very small drop and put it on to a Cu grid.
4. Let it dry for some time.
5. Now it is ready. Go take TEM and enjoy :)
Good luck!
In my opinion, the best way is to scrap out some materials from carbon. You can do by sonicating the metal oxide coated carbon in ethanol. Take out the metal oxide and put it on Cu grid. Dry it and you are ready for TEM analysis.
Dear Prof. Gupta, thank you for the answer. Actually I have tried the same, however material is quite adherent to the CF, hard to take out. Could you suggest any alternative method. thank you.
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