TEM EDS analysis is a great tool in how to measure chemical composition. Elemental analysis can be used on materials or metal samples. TEM EDS is not a quantitative method, however it can detect low amounts of elemental composition, looking for contaminations or defects. Each element has a characteristic X-ray spectrum that can be used to identify them. In the TEM, a beam of particles interacts with the sample to stimulate the emission of the spectrum.
Your sample may be already on a TEM grid or it may arrive to us in a water solution, a powder, or as a thin foil.
The sample should be as clean as possible, free of any salts or contaminants from sample preparation. If it is difficult to ensure cleanness, you may want to note which elements are going to be present due to the contamination. These elements will not be considered when analysing the sample.
If the sample arrives in a solution, it may be dissolved at 1 mg/ml or a higher concentration. The sample may be dissolved in water or in a solvent. We would then apply it on the TEM grid and let it air dry.
Sample may be also in a powder form, around 1 mg of the sample should be sufficient. You will advise us on how to dissolve it and what type of solution to use. Once dissolved, we would dispense it on a TEM grid and let it air dry.
Analysis of foils can be also performed wit TEM EDS. You may want to prepare small holes in the foil so the thin edge of the hole may be analysed. We can prepare these holes for you if you do not have the appropriate instrument.
Please let us know if your material sample is magnetic as it will need a different protocol for TEM eds analysis.
When the sample arrives to us, we prepare it as noted above so that we have either a grid with dried sample on it or a metal foil with holes. The sample is then inserted in the microscope. We will take a few images and will post you those to ensure we are going to analyse the required areas of interest. Once you help us to identify the correct material, we will proceed to analyse it with EDS.
There are 2 main modes of TEM EDS; (1) point/region elemental analysis or (2) elemental mapping. Point analysis is when a point is placed in a certain area of the sample and then it is analysed for its elemental composition. Region analysis is similar, except it analyses the whole of the region where the beam is focused. The analysis is in a form of a spectrum, from which it is possible to identify the element’s characteristic peaks. We can also compare selected elements as to the ratio of the signal that appears in the spectrum. But this analysis should be taken only as a guide, not as a quantitative measure.
Elements can be mapped onto a TEM image so that distinctive regions can be differentiated. You can see the TEM EDS map in a picture below.
You may want to advise us on how many of point/region or map analysis you will require from a single sample.
We will then send you a report with the spectra, EDS maps (if mapping was performed), images where points were placed or which regions were analysed. You will also receive high resolution TEM images of your material.
This is dependent on the type of the sample and on the selected analysis mode – whether that is EDS point analysis, regional analysis or elemental mapping.
To have an idea, one sample analysed by point or region analysis with 3-5 points or regions analysed would cost between £200 and £300. EDS mapping of such a sample would be starting at £300 per 1 map. To analyse up to 5 maps would be around £450.
We would not advise you to do so. The penetration of the beam through the material may not be even, which then would cause the elemental analysis to not be quantitative to the elemental concentration due to the thickness or other properties on the sample.
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