Dharmpal Singh

BSE412a

12240

Lab Report-7
Scanning Electron Microscopy
1. Aim: To image samples obtained by scanning electron microscopy
and use gold coating.

2. Principle: Surface characterization is done to understand the

behaviour of various materials. One of the techniques as is scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). Its capability to provide magnification is
250 times than that of light microscopy.
SEM uses a high energy electron beam in or der to create variety of
signals on the surface of the specimen. These signals are responsible
for having various type of information including chemical information
as well. Ideally this process is carried out in vacuum. It can be carried
out in an open and high pressure environment as well.
These signals are then detected by a detector, mainly in the form of
Secondary Electrons (SE). Secondary electrons are the beams reflected
by elastic scattering and are generated by the interaction of the beam
with the surface of the specimen used.
Along with SEs there are other types of signals mainly consisting of
back scattered electrons (BSE), characteristic X-rays and transmitted
electrons. Intensity of BSEs strongly varies with atomic number of the
material used.
As we use high energy electrons beam in the SEM, the sample needs to
be conducting because if it isnt conducting, the electrons will start
accumulating on the surface of the material and in turn damage it.

3. Materials/Instruments Used:

4.

i. Scanning Electron Microscope

ii. Sputter Coater
iii. Samples
Method: The specimens were put in the sputter coater and then coated. In case of
scanning electron microscopy, the specimens were put in the SEM, which then followed
by starting of vacuum pump and then the samples were scanned at different scales.
The pressure maintained in the vacuum pump was 5 MPa.

5. Results: Images for the specimens were obtained at different

magnifications.
Nano Fibers:

Dharmpal Singh

30000X
Hydrogels:

BSE412a

12240

10000X

Dharmpal Singh

BSE412a

12240

Micro-Particles:

Nano-Particles:

6. Conclusion: Various images were clearly obtained by using SEM.

7. Discussion: The clarity of the images totally depends on the resolution. In some cases
the resolution wasnt good enough to get good images. In the images of fibers, different
fibers can easily be seen, while in cases of micro and nano-particles, different particles
can be seen. Two sections of hydrogel were imaged under SEM, longitudinal and
transverse.

8. Reference:
i. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_electron_microscope
ii. http://www.nanoscience.com/products/sem/technology-overview/

Dharmpal Singh

BSE412a

12240