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Title: Multi-element microelectropolishing method

Abstract

A method is provided for microelectropolishing a transmission electron microscopy nonhomogeneous multi-element compound foil. The foil is electrolyzed at different polishing rates for different elements by rapidly cycling between different current densities. During a first portion of each cycle at a first voltage a first element electrolyzes at a higher current density than a second element such that the material of the first element leaves the anode foil at a faster rate than the second element and creates a solid surface film, and such that the solid surface film is removed at a faster rate than the first element leaves the anode foil. During a second portion of each cycle at a second voltage the second element electrolyzes at a higher current density than the first element, and the material of the second element leaves the anode foil at a faster rate than the first element and creates a solid surface film, and the solid surface film is removed at a slower rate than the second element leaves the foil. The solid surface film is built up during the second portion of the cycle, and removed during the first portion of the cycle.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Middleton, WI
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869542
Patent Number(s):
5354437
Assignee:
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (Madison, WI)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25F - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC REMOVAL OF MATERIALS FROM OBJECTS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-82ER40077
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
multi-element; microelectropolishing; method; provided; transmission; electron; microscopy; nonhomogeneous; compound; foil; electrolyzed; polishing; rates; elements; rapidly; cycling; current; densities; portion; cycle; voltage; element; electrolyzes; density; material; leaves; anode; faster; rate; creates; solid; surface; film; removed; slower; built; surface film; solid surface; current densities; current density; faster rate; transmission electron; electron microscopy; /205/

Citation Formats

Lee, Peter J. Multi-element microelectropolishing method. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Lee, Peter J. Multi-element microelectropolishing method. United States.
Lee, Peter J. Sat . "Multi-element microelectropolishing method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869542.
@article{osti_869542,
title = {Multi-element microelectropolishing method},
author = {Lee, Peter J},
abstractNote = {A method is provided for microelectropolishing a transmission electron microscopy nonhomogeneous multi-element compound foil. The foil is electrolyzed at different polishing rates for different elements by rapidly cycling between different current densities. During a first portion of each cycle at a first voltage a first element electrolyzes at a higher current density than a second element such that the material of the first element leaves the anode foil at a faster rate than the second element and creates a solid surface film, and such that the solid surface film is removed at a faster rate than the first element leaves the anode foil. During a second portion of each cycle at a second voltage the second element electrolyzes at a higher current density than the first element, and the material of the second element leaves the anode foil at a faster rate than the first element and creates a solid surface film, and the solid surface film is removed at a slower rate than the second element leaves the foil. The solid surface film is built up during the second portion of the cycle, and removed during the first portion of the cycle.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Diffusion and Solid‐Film Formation during Electropolishing of Metals
journal, May 1981


An Ellipsometric Study of Surface Films on Copper Electrodes Undergoing Electropolishing
journal, January 1970


Electron Microscope Specimen Preparation Techniques in materials Science
book, January 1977


Comment on X-ray microanalysis of thin Al-Ag foils
journal, April 1978


Electrolytic Polishing
journal, October 1939


The influence of specimen thickness on X-ray count rates in STEM-microanalysis
journal, June 1977


Photoeffects on the Cu/H3PO4 interface
journal, May 1981


Controlled Jet Polishing of Specimens for Transmission Electron Microscopy
journal, May 1967


Mechanism of Electropolishing
journal, January 1950


X-ray microanalysis of thin foil Al-Ag alloys
journal, October 1977


Automatic Unit for Thinning Transmission Electron Microscopy Specimens of Metals
journal, October 1966


Solution-Side Transport Processes in the Electropolishing of Copper in Phosphoric Acid
journal, January 1973