Mounting Thinned Samples to TEM Grids

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Applications Note 
www.alliedhightech.com 
Allied High Tech Products, Inc. 
Call for more information: 800.675.1118 
Mounting Thinned Samples to TEM Grids 
Date: 06/2020, v1.0 
Mounting Thinned Samples to TEM Grids 
Date: 06/2020, v1.0 
Mounting a thinned sample to a grid is the last step when preparing samples for 
observation in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). It is important to fit the 
sample to the grid without any extra material hanging off the sides so that the grid and 
stage will fit inside the TEM. Using fine self-closing tweezers makes handling the grid 
and the sample easier. 
There are a variety of TEM grids to choose from, but molybdenum (moly) and copper 
grids with central oval openings are the most common.  
Choosing an Adhesive 
There are multiple methods to mount the sample to the grid that require different 
adhesives. User preference, application and sample type will dictate which method is 
best. For more information regarding various adhesives, see Allied’s “Adhesives for TEM 
Sample Preparation” applications note or contact Allied. 
EpoxyBond 110 (#71-10000) or M-Bond 610 (#71-20000) can be used to mount 
the sample to the grid after it has been removed from the fixture. They can also be used 
while the sample is still attached to the fixture because of their resistance to acetone, 
which is generally used to clean the sample after removal. 
Trimming the Sample
If the sample is longer than 1.5 mm, the sample 
edge will hang off the grid (Figure 1a). It can be 
trimmed down by tracing the overhanging edge 
with a diamond scribe. 
Recommended Method 
Immediately after polishing and with the sample 
still attached to the fixture, mount a TEM grid to 
the sample and then trace the long ends of the 
sample with a diamond scribe (Figure 1a). 
Mounting the sample to the grid while it is still on 
the fixture provides more stability during trimming. 
Melt the mounting wax by placing the fixture on a 
hot plate, then remove the sample and grid 
together from the fixture. The remaining wax 
can be removed with acetone and cleaned with 
isopropyl alcohol (Figure 1b). 
a 
Figure 1: The sample edge hangs off the grid (a). 
The TEM grid after being removed from the fixture (b). 
b