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Hi,
I have contaminate the raster samle uncarefully, so the AFM images of the raster is very bad. I want to kown how to clean the raster sample. Thank you very much.
The best way to clean the calibration grid reference sample is as follows:
-Buy replicating tape (Ted Pella, product# 44840, http://www.tedpella.com/replicat_html/44840.htm)
-Cut a piece of the tape that is larger than the sample size
-Place 2 drops of acetone on sample
-Place tape over sample while acetone is still liquid
-Allow acetone to evaporate through the tape
-Remove the tape
Most particles that are on the sample will be lifted with the tape when you remove it.
I use some called "opticlean". It is a a polymer in an organic solvent. After placing a drop or so on your sample the solvent will evaporate within 15 min or so leaving a clear film. That film can be peeled off using tweezers and you end up with a clean sample. Replicating tape or similar work similar and can be obtained from the usual SEM supply companies.
Just learned about this product from Photonic Cleaning Technology today (http://www.photoniccleaning.com/)
Natalia cleaned this very dirty grating in about 15min. Optical images below:
Before:
After:
Hi Dongli,
I assume you are referring to one of the calibration gratings, correct?
If yes, then the cleaning procuedure that we have found to work well is to put the sample in an ultrasonic bath for 10 minutes in Acetone, then 10 minutes in Isopropyl, then 10 minutes in water.
Dave
Hi David,
Yes, I am referring to one of the calibration gratings. I have touched its surface uncarefully. Today, I have cleaned it using your method, but the result is not very well. When I navigate, I can see the surface of the grating though the camera very clearly. This proved that the cleaning procudure worked well. But I found that there are many granules on the suface of the grating in its AFM images, and the diameter of granules is ranging from dozens to several hundred nanometers. I thought that they might be the molecules of Acetone, so I put it in the air to dry for several hours and then put it in the ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes in water. But the granules were still on the surface in the AFM images of the grating. I can't find where the problem is. I hope that you could give me some help, thank you very much.
Dongli Liu
Did you try the replicating method that I suggested? You can get stuff from here e.g.:
http://www.2spi.com/catalog/submat/cellulose-acetate-replicating-tape-sheets.shtml