Silicon Nitride Windows For TEM

TAAB introduces a new generation of British Made Silicon Nitride Support Films for EM imaging and analysis from Silson. These resilient, ultra-smooth low stress inorganic siN support films have been developed to enable specific nanotechnology and molecular biology research and are manufactured using the latest state-of-the-art semiconductor and MEMS fabrication techniques. Silicon nitride support films have the great advantages of being chemically and mechanically robust and able to withstand temperature changes up to 1000°C. They are extremely stable and suitable to conduct a variety of nanotechnology experiments with particles or cells mounted directly on the support films. They provide a carbon-free, low background TEM support film. The frame is manufactured as a 3mm x 200µm silicon disc free from debris and will fit perfectly in standard TEM holders (a 100µm thick frame is an option). The specimen viewing area is created by etching away a window in the silicon wafer substrate underneath the Si3N4 membrane, leaving a perfectly smooth, resilient and chemically robust silicon nitride film. SiN is naturally hydrophobic but can be made temporarily hydrophilic with air or oxygen plasma treatment. Benefits of SiN Windows • High resistance to temperature, acids, bases and solvents • Clean, ultra-flat, high planarity, low background, low scattering • Large viewing area without obstruction across the entire window • Carbon free and plasma cleanable Choosing which membrane to use For higher resolution, thinner membranes (10-20nm) are to be preferred, but for more physically demanding specimens and procedures 30-50nm windows should be tried. As with any support, the larger and thinner the film (window) the more vulnerable it will be, so it is best to start with smaller, thicker, stronger windows until you refine your procedures and can move to larger, thinner less robust ones. Your own practical requirements will eventually determine which is best for you. Some Fields of Application • Cell biology: attached cells can be grown in their environment on the support film and subsequently analysed • Analysis of colloids, aerosols, nanoparticles • Self-assembled mono-layers • Polymer research • Thin film research (directly deposited on the silicon nitride support film) • Materials science • Properties of Nanostructures for semiconductor devices and characterisation of thin films To read more about this see our pdf.

For more information on Silicon Nitride Windows For TEM talk to TAAB Laboratories Equipment Ltd