Published December 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

Preparation of TEM samples for hard ceramic powders

  • 1. National Centre for HREM, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Lorentzweg 1, Delft (Netherlands)

Description

It is challenging to prepare a good sample for high-resolution electron microscopy of polycrystalline ceramic powders containing hard particles or particles with a strong preferential cleavage. Here we demonstrate that embedding the particles in a Cu matrix in a pressed pellet allows for straightforward conventional ion milling. The method is applied to powders of Mg10Ir19B16 and Na0.5CoO2 to show its feasibility, whereby transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples with crystalline areas thinner than 10 nm can be obtained easily.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2008.07.002

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.ultramic.2008.07.002;
PII
S0304-3991(08)00192-7;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Ultramicroscopy (Amsterdam)
Journal Volume
109
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 8-13
ISSN
0304-3991
CODEN
ULTRD6

INIS

Country of Publication
Netherlands
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41009586
Subject category
S36: MATERIALS SCIENCE;
Descriptors DEI
CERAMICS; CLEAVAGE; IONS; MILLING; PARTICLES; PELLETS; POLYCRYSTALS; POWDERS; RESOLUTION; SAMPLE PREPARATION; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Descriptors DEC
CHARGED PARTICLES; CRYSTALS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; MACHINING; MICROSCOPY; MICROSTRUCTURE

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.