Focused Ion Beam
The Focused Ion Beam (FIB) is used for both imaging and preparation of a wide range of solid sample types. FIB is often used in conjunction with electron microscopy techniques in FIB-SEM and FIB-TEM to prepare and analyze materials ranging from metals and minerals to polymers and thin films. FIB techniques have been most commonly in use in the semiconductor industry.

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What is the Focused Ion Beam Used For?
FIB is used to create high-resolution digital images of solid surfaces. This can be done with FIB alone or, more commonly, in combination with Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) or Transmission Electron Microscopy (FIB-TEM). These methods find applications in mapping the surface topography of all kinds of solid materials, including semiconductors, thin films, and naturally occurring substrates. In microelectronics and nanotechnology, FIB can also be used to alter samples through the deposition of very thin material layers on top of them.
How does the Focused Ion Beam Work?
The focused ion beam is created using a heated liquid metal, like gallium, and a tungsten needle. When these come into contact, a strong electric field is created, which will ionize the gallium atoms and create ions. Then, using a series of electrically charged “lenses”, the ions can be accelerated and directed towards a specific target, effectively creating a “beam” of ions. This beam can then be directed toward the surface of a sample, where it can be used to image, etch and prepare the sample for further analysis.
Suitable Samples
FIB-SEM and FIB-TEM are both used to probe the surfaces of different substances and therefore can be used on most solid sample types, whether they are metals, non-metals, semiconductors, or polymers. However, it should be noted that the FIB can be destructive to the sample which means it can severely damage some softer sample types, to the point of no longer being able to gather useful data. Therefore, FIB is most suitable for use with harder materials.
Differences between FIB-TEM and FIB-SEM
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are two techniques that are used to image samples on a very small scale. Both work in a similar manner, with the key difference being the scale that they work on. TEM can image surfaces on a far smaller scale than SEM, making it more suitable for very in-depth analysis. SEM, on the other hand, can produce larger images, making it more useful for ‘whole picture’ analysis.
In both cases, a FIB can be used to prepare the samples beforehand. In the case of FIB-TEM, the sample must be incredibly thin for the analysis to work. Therefore, the FIB is used to etch a tiny, under 100 nm thick layer of the material so that it can be accurately studied through TEM. In the case of FIB-SEM, the FIB is instead incorporated directly into the SEM process, allowing the sample to be cut as the probe scans. This allows for several images to be prepared together, which can then be used to construct a more comprehensive 3D image of the area in question.
Advantages and Limitations of FIB Sample Preparation
The main advantage of applying FIB to both SEM and TEM is that it enhances both techniques in a way that allows for more valuable data to be collected, whether by cutting a very thin cross-section of the sample, or allowing for full 3D images to be prepared through tomography. In both cases, FIB enables gathering more versatile and useful results than could be gathered through electron microscopy alone.
The downside to incorporating FIB is that it introduces a destructive element to the process. Both SEM and TEM are inherently non-destructive, meaning that the sample is not usually damaged during imaging. The application of a focused ion beam will irreparably cut the sample, which means that it cannot be restored post-analysis. Furthermore, FIB can be too damaging for some sample types, leading them to break in ways that can affect the results.
Need a FIB-TEM or FIB-SEM analysis?
At Measurlabs, we offer high-quality laboratory services that make use of focused ion beam technology. Check out our cross-sectional HR-TEM imaging with FIB sample preparation or cross-section SEM with FIB. You can also contact our electron microscopy experts through the form below or at info@measurlabs.com to discuss your analysis needs in more detail.
Suitable sample matrices
- Silicon wafers
- Metallic Surfaces
- Polymers
- Thin films
- Mineral samples
- Alloys
Ideal uses of FIB
- Preparing samples for cross-sectional SEM and TEM
- Analysis of semiconductor parts
- Metallurgic analysis
- Mapping the surface topography of a new material
- Surface analysis of minerals
- Determining polymer amorphousness through surface imaging
Ask for a quote
Contact us below to get a quote for testing services in one business day.
You can also email us at info@measurlabs.com or call +358 50 336 6128.
Frequently asked questions
One of the most common applications of FIB is the preparation of <100nm thick samples for cross-sectional TEM. The Focused Ion Beam can also be used to image samples either on its own or as a part of a FIB-SEM setup, where the beam cuts the sample while it is imaged by scanning electron microscopy.
FIB is suitable for a wide range of hard, solid sample materials, including thin films, glass substrates, and metals.
Measurlabs offers a variety of laboratory analyses for product developers and quality managers. We perform some of the analyses in our own lab, but mostly we outsource them to carefully selected partner laboratories. This way we can send each sample to the lab that is best suited for the purpose, and offer high-quality analyses with more than a thousand different methods to our clients.
When you contact us through our contact form or by email, one of our specialists will take ownership of your case and answer your query. You get an offer with all the necessary details about the analysis, and can send your samples to the indicated address. We will then take care of sending your samples to the correct laboratories and write a clear report on the results for you.
Samples are usually delivered to our laboratory via courier. Contact us for further details before sending samples.