You can use them as is, there is no need to remove them from the aluminium foil.

Just cut a small piece of the foil with the fibers on top, stick it on top of a SEM stub using tape, sputter it with gold and u r good to go! I have done it like this numerous times, voltage used was 5kV.

how about using freeze drying?

Thanks for your response. Freeze drying is a good option but I'm working to produce nanofibres using electrospinning. Do you have idea how to prepare SEM samples after electrospinning of PVA on aluminum foil?

Please have a look at:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_way_to_coat_3D_electrospun_nanofibers_non_conductive_polymer_for_conducting_SEM_to_visualize_pore_size

Please, do you know what is LEI mode in SEM, as I know of SE and BSE mode?

Shall wait for your response.

Best regards,

Hi Baber,

I've had some success imaging non-conductive electrospun polymer nanofibres using lower accelerating voltages (~1 or 2 kV). In my case, I removed the nanofibres from the aluminium foil and contacted them with the SEM stub using conductive carbon tape to ensure greater adhesion. Imaging will probably be easier with thinner electrospun deposits (lower spinning time) as there will be less non-conductive material.

I understand that the standard method of SEM imaging polymer nanofibres involves sputtering them with gold prior imaging. If you have the facilities available and require higher-quality images, this might be your best option.

Regards,

Niall

Many thanks Niall

You can use them as is, there is no need to remove them from the aluminium foil.

Just cut a small piece of the foil with the fibers on top, stick it on top of a SEM stub using tape, sputter it with gold and u r good to go! I have done it like this numerous times, voltage used was 5kV.