Cleaning of SEM Stubs and Mounts

Introduction
Standard SEM stubs and mounts are used as substrates to mount samples for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). They are made from vacuum grade aluminium and must be clean when specimens are mounted. Two cleaning methods are mentioned here:

  • cleaning of new SEM stubs and mounts
  • recycling and cleaning of used SEM stubs and mounts


Cleaning of new SEM Stubs and Mounts

When new stubs are supplied, they are cleaned after manufacturing. However, different suppliers use different cleaning methods and hydrocarbons from packaging can be deposited on the SEM stubs during storage. Therefore it is wise to devise a standard procedure for cleaning the SEM stubs and mounts before use. The cleaning procedure depends on the required cleanliness and the available infrastructure in the lab. Always inspect the SEM stubs and remove lint and dust. Handle clean SEM stubs with clean nitrile gloves.
Cleaning method 1: Rinse the new SEM stubs shortly in a 50/50% solution of isopropanol and acetone at room temperature and dry with warm air. Use a fume hood to extract solvents.
Cleaning method 2: Clean the new SEM stubs with low power in a plasma cleaner or UV cleaning system; this should remove hydro carbons.


Recycling and cleaning of used SEM stubs to remove sticky tabs

The double sticky tabs or tape are rather difficult to remove from SEM stubs or mounts. The acrylic adhesive tends to be relatively strong.  Removing the sticky tabs using mechanical methods is not possible because:

  • Carrier is not strong enough to enable peeling off in one piece.
  • Sticky tabs are too soft to be sanded off.
  • They are too soft and too thin to remove with a razor blade.

The best method to remove the sticky tabs from SEM stubs is to dissolve the adhesive with chemicals using the following procedure:

  1. Remove samples from sticky tabs; do not recycle stub with reactive chemicals
  2. Place stubs in a sealed glass beaker and cover with acetone (small amounts of of other solvents like methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or hexane can be allowed)
  3. Let soak for at least an hour
  4. Remove stubs one at the time with a metal spoon
  5. Wipe stub across a sturdy paper towel to remove the sticky tab exercising moderate pressure
  6. If sticky tab is not fully removed, wet with acetone and repeat wiping across the paper towel
  7. Let dry
  8. Inspect SEM stubs:
  9.                               - If scratches or markings are present, the surface of the stub can be improved by wet-sanding on
                                    600 grit silicon carbide paper. Make sure the entire surface is ground flat.
                                  - If stub is damaged or aluminium has visibly reacted, throw away.

  10. Rinse the recycled stubs shortly in 50/50% solution of isopropanol and acetone at room temperature and dry with warm air
  11. Store in a dry, dust-free environment.

 

Notes:

  • Recycling SEM stubs is only cost effective for the more expensive and larger SEM stubs and mounts. For the standard 12.7mm pin stubs and 12.2mm JEOL stubs it is hardly cost effective, especially if one has to purchase solvents and take the time for cleaning into into account.
  • Do not use recycled SEM stubs for critical applications such as particle analysis or GSR applications. The recycling procedure can disperse contaminants in the form of fine dust from samples onto the recycled SEM stubs.
  • Care when using chemicals on aluminium; it can be easily etched
  • Do not use adhesive remover; they can contain chemicals which tend to etch the aluminium stubs

Another, more elaborate, method for  “Removal of double stick carbon top from SEM specimen holders” by Chissoe, Vezey and Skarla has been published in the 2003 Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, pages 79-81. This method is suitable for cleaning the more expensive SEM sample holders.




SEM Supplies

TEM Supplies

Calibration

Sample Preparation

AFM / SPM

  Product Menu with Images
  SEM Sample Stubs
  Carbon Tabs
  Sample Stub Adapters
  SEM Stage Adapters
  SEM Sample Holders
  SEM Preparation Stands
  Filaments / Cathodes
  Silicon Finder Grid
  Gatan 3View Pins
  FEI Volumescope Pins
  SEM Stub Storage Boxes
  Phenom Supplies
  JEOL NeoScope Supplies
  Hitachi TM Series Supplies
  Field & Lab Sampler Kits
  FlowView liquid sample Kit

Instruments

  Acoustic Enclosures
  Cressington SEM coaters
  TEM Sample Prep
  Diaphragm Pump
  Rotary vacuum Pump
  Precision diamond saw  
  TEM Grids
  TEM Support Films
  Silicon Nitride Films
  K-Kit Wet Cell Holder
  Graphene Films
  TEM Grid Boxes
  Cryo Grid Boxes
  TEM Sample Staining
  3mm Embedding Tubes
  Filaments/Cathodes
  Eyelash Manipulators

Cryo Supplies

  Cryo Grid Boxes
  Other Cryo Supplies

FIB Supplies

  FIB Lift-out Grids
  FIB Low Profile Stubs
  FIB Grid Holders
  FIB Pre-tilt Holders
  FIB Pre-tilt stubs
  FIB Grid Boxes
  SEM / FIB Magn. Calib.
  SEM Res. Test Spec.
  EDS / WDS Calibration
  TEM Calibration
  AFM / SPM Calibration
  LM Magn. Calibration

Vacuum Supplies

  Vacuum Gauges
  KF/NW Vacuum Parts
  KF/NW Vacuum Hoses
  ISO Vacuum flange parts
  Vacuum Oil and Grease
  Vacuum Sealant
  Diaphragm Pump
  Rotary vacuum Pump
  Vacuum Sample Storage
  Vacuum Pick-Up Pens

Sample Coating Supplies

  Sputter Targets
  Carbon Rods & Fibers
  Quartz QCM Crystals
  SEM Sample Coating Fluid

Evaporation Supplies

  Thermal Evaporation Sources
  Evaporation Materials
  Supports & Substrates
  SEM Preparation Stands
  Tweezers
  Probes & Picks
  Applicators & Swabs
  Plastic Transfer Pipettes
  Cutting Tools / Scissors
  Conductive Paint/Cement
  Conductive Tapes & Tabs
  Non-Conductive Adhesives
  Sample Storage
  Hand Tools
  Sorting Wire Mesh
  Preparation Surfaces
  Cleaning / Gloves
  Conductive Metal Powders
  Metallographic Sample Prep
  AFM/SPM Discs
  AFM/SPM Disc Pick-up Tool
  AFM/SPM Holders
  AFM/SPM Disc Storage
  Cantilever Tweezers
  AFM/SPM Discs Tweezers
  Nano-Tec Mica Discs
  HOPG Substrates

Light Microscopy

  Correlative Cover Slips
  Glass Microscope Slides
  Glass Cover Slips
  Quartz Microscope Slides
  Quartz Cover Slips
  Black Metal Slides
  Slide Storage Boxes
  LM Calibration
  Plastic Transfer Pipettes
  Optical Lens Tissue
  Glass Petri Dishes
  Digital Microscope
  PTFE Beakers