Small Sample Preparation

The Dimension Icon ships with several steel sample disks that you may attach to a magnetic sample holder. Also provided with the instrument are red and white colored double-sided adhesive patches, or “sticky tabs,” designed to hold the sample chip to the disk.

Magnetic Steel Disc Selection

Small samples are usually secured to the stage using magnetic steel discs. A wide variety of small samples may be mounted to these pucks, which easily mount to the stage via the magnetic puck holder. Select a disc that is appropriately sized for the sample.

Several cross-sectional sample holders are also available. These are designed to hold a wafer, polymer, or other sample in cross section on the SPM stage:

PSH-103	SD-103	APSH-0040

Sample Mounting Procedure

The following procedure outlines the most common practice for mounting a small sample to a magnetic steel disc.

1. Peel off a sticky tab from the sheet by lifting one of the red tabs. The adhesive is located underneath the white circle, and with the red tab hanging off to one side.

2. Place the sticky tab on the steel small sample disc. Press the tab firmly down onto the puck such that the adhesive sticks to the disc.
3. Gently remove the red-and-white paper by peeling back the end such that the adhesive remains on the surface of the disc.
4. Using tweezers, place the small sample firmly on the adhesive. Take care not to contact as little of the sample surface as possible, ensuring that you have unaltered regions to image.

5. Place the mounted sample atop the XY stage (scanning head systems) or scanner (scanning sample systems) by placing the sample on the magnetic small sample holder, and position the magnetic sample holder underneath the Dimension Icon SPM Scanner.

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