Please read the following to understand which components you will need to use the glow discharge plasma cleaner for preparing (cleaning) your grids for TEM.
To get started you will need the Glow Discharge Plasma Cleaner (SKU: M-PDC-32G) and the Economy Dry Oxygen Service Pump (SKU: M-PDC-OPE). If you already have a vacuum pump, it needs to have a minimum pump speed of at least 23 L/min and ultimate pressure of 200 mTorr or less.
The Vacuum Gauge and Digital Meter (SKU: M-PDC-VCG) is recommended for process consistency because the plasma intensity is dependent on the pressure. It is also very helpful for troubleshooting. However, many users pump down the chamber and then turn on the RF to generate plasma without looking at the pressure.
Optional is the Quartz Sample Tray (SKU: M-PDC-32T).
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Before using the Glow Discharge Plasma Cleaner and accessories for preparing (cleaning) your grids, it is important to understand the instrument settings relevant to your type of grid. Based on a review of 103 published papers citing the Glow Discharge Plasma Cleaner for cryo-EM grid cleaning, the following grid materials, process conditions, and additional notes about individual applications have been compiled.
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Cryo-EM Materials
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Common Process Conditions
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|
Film Material
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Count
|
Gas
|
Power
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Time (s)
|
Pressure (mTorr)
|
|
Carbon
|
91
|
Air (9); Nitrogen (1)
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High; Med
|
10-120,
180*
|
220 (10)
|
|
Gold
|
4
|
Air (3)
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High
|
120
|
220 (1), 600 (1)
|
|
Graphene
|
4
|
NR
|
Med; Low
|
10-20
|
NR
|
|
Graphene Oxide
|
1
|
NR
|
Med
|
10
|
NR
|
|
Silicon oxide
|
1
|
NR
|
NR
|
45
|
NR
|
|
Nanowire
|
2
|
NR
|
High
|
90-360
|
NR
|
|
Carbon Grid Treatment Time
|
|
Time (s)
|
Count
|
|
NR
|
16
|
|
0-9
|
1
|
|
10-19
|
2
|
|
20-29
|
11
|
|
30-39
|
36
|
|
40-49
|
11
|
|
50-59
|
0
|
|
60
|
5
|
|
90
|
3
|
|
120
|
3
|
|
180*
|
3
|
*180 second treatment was used to clean carbon EM grids prior to negative staining with uranyl acetate for single molecule studies exclusively.
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Basic guidelines for using the Glow Discharge Plasma Cleaner.
- Turn on the pump and main power
- If you are using the vacuum gauge - adjust air flow to reach target steady state pressure
- If your are not using the vacuum gauge – pump down for 2-3 minutes
- Turn on RF power
- Plasma Treatment for specified time
- Turn off RF Power, Turn off pump, vent, power down
For further information, reference the Glow Discharge Plasma Cleaner User Manual.
These are basic guidelines for use, if you need more information using the Ask Question - Request Quote tab to submit your question.
