FEI TEM Tecnai SOP March 2015 - moles.washington.edu · Insertsample$holder$ a....
Transcript of FEI TEM Tecnai SOP March 2015 - moles.washington.edu · Insertsample$holder$ a....
FEI TECNAI G2 F20 S-‐TWIN TEM Training SOP
NanoTech User Facility (NTUF) Center for Nanotechnology University of Washington
V. 2015.1 March 2015
Contacts: primary: Ellen Lavoie 206-‐685-‐6775 [email protected] Secondary: ScoN Braswell 206-‐685-‐6774 [email protected]
TEM Pre-‐start a. Check that Microscope Control (Tecnai User Interface) & Digital Micrograph
programs are open (in addi@on, be sure the CCD control box is on and the temp is -‐25).
b. Click on the Setup tab in UI and check that the high tension (HT) is on (yellow) and Operate is also yellow (if is not contact a staff member immediately…DO NOT turn on yourself).
c. In the “Setup” tab check the following:
a. “Status: Col Valves” is red
b. Pressure readings: No@fy Staff if any indicators are abnormal
Gun = 1
Column = 6
Camera = 1-‐34-‐ish
d. Check that the stage has been re-‐centered – double check both the numbers
at the bo[om of the so\ware interface and in the Stage tab. e. Cover the glass viewing chamber (both covers), then fill the nitrogen trap (an@ contamina@on device or ACD). PPE is provided. Liquid nitrogen transfer dewars can be filled with the 50 L tank in the hallway near G44M entrance.
Do not touch the SOOP
Viewing Chamber
Tecnai User Interface (UI)
ACD
Stage tab
Single Tilt Sample Holder Note: Do not ever touch the rubber o-‐ring or the copper
colored bits of the holder even with a gloved hand! a. Remove the cap at the end of the holder stand. b. Be careful to make sure TEM holder will not slip into the cover tube while you load the
grid. c. Fit the tool into the hole in front of the spring clamp. d. Open the clamp to 90° and replace the tool in the stand. e. Put the sample in the specimen carrier either using tweezers (recommenda@on is to
clean with ethanol and lens @ssue first) or vacuum tweezers. Be careful that the sample fits flush into holder.
f. Carefully lower the spring clamp onto the grid with the tool. g. Test that the grid is clamped firm and not loose in the carrier. h. Remove the holder from the carrier and carefully check the rubber o-‐ring for any hairs
or debris and clean gently with lens @ssue (do not use tweezers to remove debris – you may damage the o-‐ring). Stubborn fibers can be removed with the wooden s@ck provided in petri dish (clean it a\erwards).
Holder Tool
Cover tube
Lens @ssue
O-‐ring
Double Tilt Sample Holder – you must be specifically trained in order to use this holder!
Important: beryllium is VERY toxic and special care must always be taken when working with this holder!
Do not push down or apply force to the carrier at all or the pivots will break. The pivots are mounted on fragile crystals that calibrate the β-‐@lt. a. Use the Hex Tool to unscrew the retaining nut and li\ it gently out of the carrier (DO NOT use tweezers – use the hex tool). b. Place grid in carrier and check alignment on the stereo microscope. c. Put the washer on top of the grid with the tabs aligned if a thin grid or sample is being loaded. If you have a thicker sample, do not use the washer. Always store the washer when not being used in the small plas@c box labeled for it. d. Li\ the retaining nut on the Hex Tool and carefully screw it into the carrier (again, DO NOT use tweezers – use the hex tool). e. Test that the grid is clamped firm and not loose in the carrier. Check and clean the o-‐ring as needed the same way as with the ST holder. *a[en@on…always use the vacuum tweezers when handling beryllium parts…this alleviates the possibility of contamina@ng tweezers with beryllium. If you touch beryllium with a gloved hand accidently, remove and throw away the glove without touching it on anything else.
Helpful Tips:
• Keep small parts close to the table top in case they fall.
• Don’t over @ghten the nut. You should get about 1 full turn on the threads and the nut will be recessed into the carrier. • Take care not to insert the retaining nut upside down. There is a flange around the top of the nut.
Washer
Hex Tool
Insert sample holder
a. Before inser@ng go to “Stage” tab and ensure the stage has been reset.
b. Make sure the objec@ve and SA apertures are out.
c. Open “Setup” Tab and “Vacuum Overview” in the lower right hand bar of so\ware.
d. Align pin to 4 o’clock posi@on, and insert TEM holder straight into the airlock with a
slight clockwise turn un@l it sets in. The “Turbo On” bu[on will turn from gray to Orange and a message
will pop up below for holder selec@on.
e. Select holder type in message box and click Enter (arrow) bu[on.
f. “Turbo On” bu[on will change from Orange to Yellow and once it is yellow will go
through a series of pumping cycles for three minutes. Red LED on the goniometer (stage) will light up.
Watch vacuum status change to “Airlock.” V41 & V8 will show as open on Vacuum Overview.
g. Once Red LED on the goniometer (stage) turns off and vacuum status changes back to
“Col Valves Closed”, the holder can be inserted further into the goniometer: Turn the holder counter-‐clockwise
to the stop, all the while holding onto the holder without pulling or resis@ng as it goes fully into the goniometer.,
DO NOT let go since it may slam against the goniometer and can cause damage to the electronics behind
the purple plate.
h. Turn Turbo off by clicking the Yellow “Turbo On” bu[on.
a. Gloves can be removed at this point.
Vacuum status window
Setup tab
Geqng a Beam a. Wait for column pressure to drop below 10 Log. It may ini@ally rise slightly
a\er holder inser@on…don’t panic but if it con@nues to rise, remove holder
and find a staff member immediately. It should reach 10 Log within a few
minutes.
b. Click the yellow “Col. Valves Closed” bu[on to open the column valves.
c. In the Vacuum Overview V7 & V4 will open.
d. If no beam is visible in the chamber, check: Lower magnifica@on on RH control panel to 8700X Move stage to one side with the joys@ck
Ensure a large condenser aperture is in
Check the spot size (typical is 3 or 2 depending on your needs)
Le\-‐hand control panel (LH) Right-‐hand control panel (RH) Beam will be visible in chamber
Setup tab
TEM Alignment: Condenser
a. Choose spot size. For HR imaging you will want to use a smaller spot size (larger number) of around 5. Regular imaging of under 200 kX use a spot size of about 3.
b. Select an appropriate C2 aperture by turning the dial with pin to a numbered posi@on. For most samples in TEM mode use the 100 um aperture in posi@on #3.
c. Increase the magnifica@on to at least 38kX. d. Turn the “Intensity” knob on the LH control panel in the counterclockwise posi@on to focus the beam to a small spot. d. Center the beam on the phosphor screen with the trackball on the LH control panel. e. Turn the BRIGHTNESS knob clockwise un@l it fills the 4 cm ring on the phosphor screen. If the illumina@on
shi\s, re-‐center it with the condenser aperture X and Y knobs. f. Repeat steps c, d, and e un@l the illumina@on no longer moves off center while turning “Intensity” knob in the
crossover posi@on.
C2 Aperture
X-‐Align Y-‐Align
Selector dial
4 cm ring on phosphor
TEM Alignment: Condenser S@gma@on
a. IF the area of illumina@on is not circular or the beam appears to stretch at the intensity cross-‐over then perform the following:
b. Go to “Tune” tab > “S@gmator” menu and click on “Condenser.”
c. Use the “Mul@func@on Knobs” (MF) to adjust the beam roundness in both the X and Y dimensions. Check that the beam does not stretch at the “Intensity” cross-‐over.
d. Click “None” a\er finishing.
Mul@-‐Func@on X Mul@-‐Func@on Y
This legend at the lower-‐le\ corner iden@fies the bu[ons on the control panel
Tune tab
TEM Alignment: Eucentric Height and α-‐@lt
a. Find an interes@ng large feature on the grid or sample and go to a mag of ~13kX with “Magnifica@on” knob.
b. Press “Eucentric focus” on the RH control panel.
c. Go to “Stage” tab, click the flap-‐out arrow, and ac@vate the “Wobbler.” Alterna@vely, use the short cut bu[on if available.
d. Adjust Z-‐height on the RH control panel to minimize image movement while wobbling the α-‐ @lt.
e. Click “Wobbler” again to stop α-‐@l@ng.
f. Repeat α-‐@lt wobbler step at a higher mag of ~35kX if necessary.
Flap-‐out Arrow
Stage Map
Stage tab
TEM Alignment: Focus, Beam Tilt, Beam Shi\, and Rota@on Center
Go to “Tune” tab and Direct Alignments: a. Bring mag to ~ 40,000 or higher. Move away from sample and select “Beam @lt pp X” and focus “Intensity” to ~1/2” diameter.
i. Using MF knobs, merge the two beams into one spot.
c. Select “Beam @lt pp Y” and adjust as for pp X. i. Using MF knobs, merge the two beams into one spot.
d. While s@ll at ~ 40,000 x, select “Beam shi\” i. Lower magnifica@on if needed to find beam. ii. Move beam to the center using MF knobs. iii. Bring the magnifica@on up to 125k and re-‐center beam.
e. Pull lever on the le\ side of the viewing chamber towards you to raise the small screen (this puts the phosphor image in the plane of view of the binocular system). Focus the binoculars by adjus@ng each eye piece while the pointer is in the center of the small screen. DO NOT FOCUS THE BINOCULARS ON THE ACTUAL SAMPLE.
f. Find a feature of interest on the sample and “Focus” on RH control panel to Gaussian focus (minimum contrast)
g. Rota@on center: (do RC at at least 125,000x) i. i. Posi@on sample edge at the center of the screen with
joys@ck. ii. Choose “Rota@on Center”. iii. Watch the center of the image on the small phosphor
screen. iv. Use MF knobs to minimize image shi\ at the center of the
image.
Misaligned beam @lt pivot point
Small phosphor screen lever
Objec@ve Aperture (Op@onal for Contrast) Do not use if you have not been shown how
a. Insert objec@ve aperture by turning selector pin to 4, 3, 2, or 1. b. Aperture 4 is smallest; it gives the most contrast and least resolu@on.
Aperture 1 is largest and gives slightly more contrast than no aperture at all.
c. Press “Diffrac@on” on the RH panel. d. Center the aperture on the screen with the two aperture screws (similar
to centering the C2 aperture.) e. Turn Focus knob to “D 1.65 m” and use the OA screws to center the
aperture around the diffrac@on image. f. Turn “Diffrac@on” off. g. If the beam s@ll looks ‘clipped’ then the aperture is too small or it’s off-‐
center. h. When finished working please remember to turn the OA selector back
to posiPon 7. This ensures no damage will be done to the aperture during holder removal and/or ACD cryo cycle.
Using the CCD camera NOTE: The CCD chip is sensi@ve to beam intensity so do not change magnifica@on (up or down) with the camera exposed to the beam (screen raised). When adjus@ng intensity, be sure you have chosen FINE with the “Intensity” knob. a. Choose a magnifica@on then spread the beam intensity (clockwise) on LH panel un@l the beam is spread across the en@re screen (the recommended “Exp Time” > 1-‐2.0 sec…but if there is a very dark feature on the screen this @me could be invalid. b. Click “Insert” in “Camera” tab to insert the CCD camera (In the DM so\ware the search and acquire can be controlled but not inser@on). c. Li\ the big phosphor screen using “R1” on RH panel or the screen li\ bu[on. d. Click “Search” to display live image or “Acquire” to capture. e. Double-‐check the pixel intensity of the image – should be anywhere from 3,000-‐11,000. f. If “Value” > 13,000 lower the phosphor screen, and spread the beam “Intensity” knob or the CCD could be damaged.
TEM Alignment 5: Objec@ve S@gma@on and Focus a. Go to “Process” tab in Digital Micrograph program and select
Live > FFT. b. IF the FFT image is not circular go to the “Tune” tab >
“S@gmator” menu and click “Objec@ve.” c. Turn MF knobs to correct any objec@ve as@gma@sm and make
the FFT image circular. d. Click “None” a\er finishing. e. Adjust “Focus” to maximize the diameter of the rings which
puts you near minimum contrast focus. f. Defocus image counter-‐clockwise to make edges appear
sharper. g. Click “Acquire” to capture the focused micrograph. h. Op@onal: at minimum contrast focus push “L1” on LH control
panel to reset defocus reference point.
As@gma@c objec@ve As@gma@sm corrected FFT in focus Out of focus (no rings)
Tune tab
Save TEM Images in Digital Micrograph – Method 1
Follow the steps illustrated below to setup a sequen@al save.
a. Pick the Tools icon in the bo[om right of the Digital Micrograph applica@on
b. Highlight “Save Numbered” in the op@ons menu of the Saving Dialogue.
c. Click “Browse” and select Q: or M: from “My Computer.”
d. Assign a file name ‘string.’ e. “Next Index” indicates the next numbered file. f. Save Image as Gatan or DM file. g. A\er each image is acquired click Save123 icon. h. Make sure all micrographs are saved before you
close them. i. A\er all files are transferred use ‘Batch Close’. Ctrl-‐
Alt-‐Shi\ and “X” to close all frames. j. When finished for day, convert all images from DM
to JPEG or TIFFs by doing a “batch convert”…see instruc@ons on Method 2 for batch conver@ng.
k. Close all your images as a courtesy for the next user when you are finished.
Save TEM Images in Digital Micrograph – Method 2
Save each image individually in order to specifically name each: a. Click on the drop down menu File: Save as: and save file as a DM ini@ally. b. Be sure to save in your file in either the M or Q drive. c. When finished with you session convert all of your images from DM to a JPEG or TIFF file by:
i. File ii. Batch convert iii. Browse for the appropriate folder iv. Be sure to check the box “convert sub folders” v. Under “save display folders”, choose the format you would like vi. Click “ok”
In the folder there will be one copy of DM and one copy of your converted image. The original DM image also has a permanently a[ached record of all the parameters of the microscope. This is especially important in the case of forgeqng to use a scale bar or to aid in reproducibility. Unfortunately a DM file can only be opened using DM so\ware (free offline so\ware can be found on the Gatan website). d. Close all your images as a courtesy for the next user when you are finished.
Changing Samples or Finishing a. Be sure objec@ve and selected area apertures removed. b. Be sure the phosphor plate is down. c. Switch back to “Bright Field” mode (if you were using STEM,
Diffrac@on, or Nanoprobe Mode.)
d. “Camera” Tab > click “Insert” to remove CCD.
e. Go to “Stage” > Flap-‐out and click Reset: “Holder” bu[on to zero the stage XYZ and holder @lt angles. Failure to “Reset: Holder” before removing it from the TEM is likely to damage the holder and stage.
f. Set magnifica@on to 700kx. This is important for the stability of the objec@ve lens system.
g. “Setup” Tab > Click “Col. Valves Closed” bu[on. When closed, menu shows “Status: Col. Valves” in red. Failure to close column valves before removing the holder can damage the electron gun.
h. Take out the holder as shown at right. i. IF the turbo starts a\er you remove the holder, click the orange
turbo bu[on to turn it off .
NOTE: IF YOU HAVE HAD A LONG SESSION AND THE NEXT USER IS NOT waiPng or not scheduled for an hour or more PLEASE CHECK AND FILL LIQUID NITROGEN. THIS WILL ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE OF IT RUNNING “DRY”
1. Pull straight unPl stop
3. Grab stem and pull holder out while thumb and forefinger are anchored on the purple plate
2. Turn clockwise unPl stop
Remove
Be sure “Setup” and “Vacuum overview” tabs are visible during holder removal
Cryo Cycle If you are the last user of the day, please don’t forget to run the Cryo Cycle. If you are the last user and it is before 4pm find staff to check if you should do the cyle or wait. Also…check to be sure there is anyone scheduled in the evening.
a. Login to the NTUF webpage at the end of your session and check the TEM schedule to see if you are the last person of the day.
b. Remove liquid nitrogen dewar and pour remaining liquid carefully back into the transfer dewar. Put styrofoam cup underneath the copper coils. Place the Tecnai ACD dewar on the tabletop (not a top shelf).
c. Go to “Setup” > “Vacuum” menu > “Flapout” arrow > and click “Cryo Cycle.”
d. The Red LED on the stage will light and the turbo will run for 240 min to remove residual water from the column.
NOTE: the cryo cycle can NOT be disrupted during the cycle…it must
run the entire time.
Have a nice evening!
ACD dewar