Imaging of wood tissue by ToF-SIMS: Critical evaluation and development of sample preparation techniques

Tissue of Norway spruce wood was investigated by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Different sample preparation techniques (including sectioning and drying) traditionally used for SEM analysis were compared and critica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied surface science 2007-07, Vol.253 (18), p.7569-7577
Main Authors: Tokareva, E.N., Fardim, P., Pranovich, A.V., Fagerholm, H.-P., Daniel, G., Holmbom, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Exact sciences and technology
Extractives
FE-SEM
Physics
Sample preparation
ToF-SIMS
Wood sections
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Summary:Tissue of Norway spruce wood was investigated by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Different sample preparation techniques (including sectioning and drying) traditionally used for SEM analysis were compared and critically evaluated. A high contamination of wood surfaces by polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) introduced onto the sample during sectioning was detected by ToF-SIMS. A new protocol was developed and images of wood sections dried in different ways were compared. Main location of Mg, Na, K and Ca, but no lignin in membranes of bordered pits in spruce section surfaces was detected by ToF-SIMS imaging if critical point drying (CPD) or acetone extraction followed by drying under nitrogen flow (AEND) was applied. No specific locations of wood components as well as low signals from metal ions (Mg and Na) were observed on the wood surfaces of freeze-dried (FD) or air-dried (AD) sections. It was found that extractive substances, presenting on surfaces of FD and AD wood section, were evenly distributed on the surfaces and interfered with ToF-SIMS analysis. Our results indicated that ToF-SIMS imaging was critically sensitive to the sample preparation technique and a strict protocol for characterization of metals, lignin and polysaccharides in wood was suggested.
ISSN:0169-4332
1873-5584
DOI:10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.03.059