A new particle mounting method for surface analysis

The chemical analysis of microparticles is challenging due to the need mount particles on a substrate for analysis; double-sided adhesive tape often used (sometimes conductive), however that usually coated with poly (dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) as release agent. PDMS common surface contamination can mask chemistries and hinder material performance where it dependent this contaminated interface. It known contains very mobile oligomeric fraction readily diffuses across surfaces resulting in mounted particulate samples before during chemistry analysis. This makes impossible determine whether has arisen from procedure or sample itself. A new preparation method proposed polymer are (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) solution, which we compare have been discs using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) 3D OrbiSIMS Particles pHEMA results reduction signal by 99.8% compared discs. illustrates how simple, quick inexpensive solution be adhere ToF-SIMS, other techniques such X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), without introduction large amounts silicone contaminant.