SEM Through Dielectric Membranes: Secondary Electron Contrast Reversal

Recent advances in electron microscope fluid cell design have enabled imaging of samples in aqueous environments and have provided a platform to perform in-situ crystallization experiments as well as electrochemical studies [1-2]. However, the actual SEM imaging contrast mechanisms when imaging through the dielectric membranes of this type of fluid cell device remain unknown. In these experiments, high atomic number materials (e.g. Au, Ag) were imaged in the fluid cell using practical SEM imaging parameters and the resulting imaging contrast was documented.