Carbon grids preparation

Carbon Grid Preparation

Materials

1. Ni or Cu grid (400 mesh)
2. paper
3. glass jar
4. plastic petri dish
5. water
6. nitrocellulose

Procedure

1. Clean grids in acetone. Fill glass jar with water.
2. Drop 25 μl of nitrocellulose onto water surface.
3. Wait until film is formed.

Carbon Coating and Glow Discharge

Set up

1. Secure carbon thread in holder.
2. Attach the holder to rod B&D and grounded rod 7cm from grid
3. Insert sample.
4. Hold in place with microscope slide or pennies.
5. Move stop over sample to prevent C from coating during step 10.
6. Pump down to 10-4.
7. Turn dial to #0 (L).
8. Switch LT selector to D (30V).
9. Switch on LT
10. Turn the selector up to # 2 to make the thread glow a few seconds and off gas contamination slowly.
11. Remove stop to coat with C.
12. Add liquid nitrogen to the LN2 trap.
13. Allow vacuum to recover to 5x10-6 - may need to be restarted.
14. Trip the LT.
15. Set selector to 6.
16. Press reset & look away.
17. Turn off LT.
18. Vent bell jar.

7cm from grid and 1cm of thread gives about 6 nm carbon coat. This method is very reproducible.

Glow Discharge

1. Load sample.
2. Press cycle allow vacuum pump down to 1.0x 10-1.
3. Press seal.
4. If the vacuum is too good adjust with unmarked knob under bell jar (bleed valve).
5. Turn voltage knob to HT.
6. Turn Selector to 5.
7. Allow plasma glow for 90 Seconds.
8. Return selector and voltage knob both to 0.
9. Press seal to exit.
10. Vent.

• Set ALLOWTOPICVIEW =

-- NicolasCoudray - 26 Aug 2011

Carbon grids preparation

Carbon Grid Preparation

Materials

1. Ni or Cu grid (400 mesh)
2. paper
3. glass jar
4. plastic petri dish
5. water
6. nitrocellulose

Procedure

1. Clean grids in acetone. Fill glass jar with water.
2. Drop 25 μl of nitrocellulose onto water surface.
3. Wait until film is formed.
4. Place grids on the film.
5. Blot grids with paper.
6. Place the paper onto Petri dish to dry.

Carbon Coating and Glow Discharge

Set up

1. Secure carbon thread in holder.
2. Attach the holder to rod B&D and grounded rod 7cm from grid
3. Insert sample.
4. Hold in place with microscope slide or pennies.
5. Move stop over sample to prevent C from coating during step 10.
6. Pump down to 10-4.
7. Turn dial to #0 (L).
8. Switch LT selector to D (30V).
9. Switch on LT
10. Turn the selector up to # 2 to make the thread glow a few seconds and off gas contamination slowly.
11. Remove stop to coat with C.
12. Add liquid nitrogen to the LN2 trap.
13. Allow vacuum to recover to 5x10-6 - may need to be restarted.
14. Trip the LT.
15. Set selector to 6.
16. Press reset & look away.
17. Turn off LT.
18. Vent bell jar.

7cm from grid and 1cm of thread gives about 6 nm carbon coat. This method is very reproducible.

Glow Discharge

1. Load sample.
2. Press cycle allow vacuum pump down to 1.0x 10-1.
3. Press seal.
4. If the vacuum is too good adjust with unmarked knob under bell jar (bleed valve).
5. Turn voltage knob to HT.
6. Turn Selector to 5.
7. Allow plasma glow for 90 Seconds.
8. Return selector and voltage knob both to 0.
9. Press seal to exit.
10. Vent.

• Set ALLOWTOPICVIEW =

-- NicolasCoudray - 26 Aug 2011