METHOD OF OBSERVATION OF SAMPLE FLOATING ON LIQUID SURFACE UNDER SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To observe an ultrafine sample floating on the surface of ionic liquid under a scanning electron microscope without allowing the sample to be covered by the ionic liquid.;SOLUTION: A floating or hydrophobic ultrafine sample is prevented from being covered by ionic liquid by floating the sample on the surface of aqueous solution of hydrophilic ionic liquid; or if the sample is hydrophilic, hydrophobic ion liquid is used; the use of aqueous solution of low viscosity and high fluidity enables the ultrafine sample to be freely coagulated, dispersed or aligned on the surface of the ionic liquid and, when having precipitated into the ionic liquid, to refloat; to facilitate observation of the ultrafine sample under a scanning electron microscope after its shape has stabilized, the fluidity of the aqueous solution of ionic liquid is reduced by drying the solution before electron-microscopic observation.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT