My film is typically 200nm Cu alloy grown on Si substrate oriented along . I am able to strip the film out of the substrate using adhesive tape but I am unable to transfer it to the grid. Is there a way to overcome this problem?
You can add on the film a cellulose lacquer coat, tear off with the tape, stick on a (Ti) ring and then dissolve the lacquer with the tape. Now you can grind with Ions.
Article A modular programme for the preparation of inhomogeneous mat...
Volker , thank you. But my problem is when I try to dissolve the tape the film breaks down. I have tried various solvents like IPA, acetone, NMP, dichloro methane etc...
Okay, you're probably stress in your film, which is difficult. Therefore it holds so bad on the substrate. Let it best on the substrate and thin the substrate from behind with the ion mill. The film will indeed roll like a fish bush but usually arise in the corners thin areas. When the film comes off so grab it between a folding grid (see link).
Good luck!
http://www.2spi.com/catalog/grids/foldgrds.php
I also believe your best option is to use a FIB. You could try welding the film to the Omniprobe or Kleindick needle using Pt deposition, carefully lift it out of the Si substrate and weld it to a grid. In rpicniple it should work OK!
Alessandro and Rajesh thanks for your answers. But the main reason I want to use the peeling method is to minimize the large amount of time invested in FIB lift out. Moreover I am not sure if lift out could give me a plan view sample. Isn't it more suited for cross - section? I could be wrong. If so, please share the technique for plan view sample preparation.
In this paper you will find important tips for a FIB plan view preparation:
Filip Lenrick, Martin Ek, Daniel Jacobsson, Magnus T. Borgström, and L. Reine Wallenberg: FIB plan and side view cross-sectional TEM sample preparation of nanostructures, Microscopy and Microanalysis, Volume 20, Issue 1, February 2014, Pages 133-140
Use this link if you have free access:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=9159578&jid=MAM&volumeId=20&issueId=01&aid=9159575&bodyId=&membershipNumber=&societyETOCSession=
With newly designed and patented grids, it is possible to view specimens using the grid itself as a support. No carbon or former support is needed! M-Bond glue may be used to facilitate adhesion for specimens that are not flat. see examples here: www.EXpressLO.com, www.YouTube.com/LAGiannuzzi/videos
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