Carbon coater for the Dalhousie Regional Microprobe Facility

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High spatial resolution imaging and microanalysis of non-conducting materials using electron beam methods requires the application of a conducting film to the sample surface. Carbon is typically the film of choice, as its low atomic number mass results in minimal attenuation of the characteristic x-rays used in elemental analysis. Without a device for achieving carbon coats that are sufficiently thin, and whose thickness is reproducible, accurate microanalysis of non-conducting materials by electron-induced x-ray emission is not possible. The carbon coater used in the Dalhousie University Robert M. MacKay Microprobe facility is more than 20 years old and is at the end of its useful service. More frequent failure of critical components is now reducing the certainty of adequate sample preparation for analysis, and impacting the facility's ability to deliver analytical services. Approximately 50 different PIs across the region have used the facility over the past five years, including more than twice that number in the graduate and undergraduate students and PDFs they supervise. The facility is also used by local industry involved in diverse areas such as mineral exploration, development of advanced energy storage, as well as corrosion testing and failure analysis. Without a device for achieving carbon coats that are sufficiently thin, and whose thickness is reproducible, accurate analysis of non-conducting materials using the EMP is not possible, and research involving this instrument would be severely impacted. Funds are requested to replace the existing carbon coater with a new instrument capable of applying the necessary conducting films, and with additional features that would extend the application of microanalysis into new areas of research and development.