Backscatter SEM?

Question

Which would show up lighter in a backscatter scanning electron microscopy image, silicon or a polymer?

Answer 1

A polymer would most likely charge up, and look like an undecipherable bright blob. You need to coat a polymer, or any insulating specimen, before using an SEM. Use a sputtering machine to coat with either gold or platinum/iridium.

An aluminum track on silicon comes out lighter than the silicon, since it has a higher coefficient of secondary emission.