Low-noise boron supports for high resolution electron microscopy

Very thin (approximately 1.5 nm) amorphous boron films are useful as specimen supports for the study of biochemical molecules by dark-field transmission electron microscopy. The noise factor is significantly smaller than for carbon films, probably becuase of the tendency to bond in icosahdral B12 subunits. Signal-to-noise ratio of about 2 to 3 have been obtained with bromine and strontium atoms in test molecules. (Auth.)