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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Provided below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) to answer the most commonly asked questions.  If after viewing this page you require a more specific answer or your question is not covered, please feel free to email us for further assistance.

  • Diamond-like carbon (DLC), hybrid and graphene based foils

    What size of foils should I order?

    Always order the smallest size suitable for your individual application. For example, if your extractor accommodates 20 mm x 22 mm foils, our Micromatter DLC-11 size is perfect for you.

  • Could I not order a large sheet and cut it myself? I would have less waste.

    Large self-supporting foils are much more difficult to produce than smaller ones, so they are disproportionately more expensive. Micromatter DLC foils have excellent mechanical stability, however, handling large foils requires special precautions as they tend to flex more. Bending a carbon foil inevitably introduces microscopic cracks into the foil, which negatively affects its performance and lifetime. Ultimately, you will pay more because you need more foils.

  • What is the shelf-life of Micromatter carbon foils?

    Micromatter self-supporting foils can be stored for years if they are kept in a cool, dry place. Exposure to moisture or solvent vapors may lead to degradation of the foils. DLC foils on glass are more sensitive to environmental conditions because the glass carrier is coated with a water soluble parting agent. The properties of this parting agent (or release agent) may be affected by too dry, or too moist, storage conditions. The typical shelf-life of glass backed foils is several months in a normal laboratory environment. For best results, we recommend to order thin carbon films on glass as needed and to use them as soon as possible.

  • What makes DLC foils different from other carbon foils?

    Micromatter’s DLC foils are composed of nano-crystallites and contain both sp 2 and sp 3 carbon. The sp 3 content of the foil determines the diamond-like properties of the foil, such as its hardness and electrical resistance. All Micromatter foils are produced by a proprietary laser plasma deposition process which converts e.g. graphite into DLC.

  • Can you recommend the best stripper foil for my cyclotron?

    In general, cyclotron users should follow the recommendations of the cyclotron manufacturer as regards the type and the thickness of the stripper foils. The foil thickness may be varied within a certain range around the recommended thickness to achieve a slightly different beam size. Thinner extraction foils generally result in less beam scattering and produce a tighter beam than thicker foils. While a tighter beam often appears preferable, it has a higher intensity per unit of area. This can lead to heat transfer problems particularly in the entrance foil of a liquid or gas target. A too tightly focused ion beam can overheat and destroy a target window.

    If you wish to experiment with different kinds of carbon films, or different thicknesses, Micromatter would be pleased to supply you with any kind of foil you choose. Please note that Micromatter will not accept any responsibility for damage to, or lower performance of, your accelerator.

  • I heard that Micromatter produces DLC foils and graphene foils using the same laser deposition process? Why are they different?

    Yes, both types of carbon foils are produced with the same equipment, using virtually the same process. However, the sputter targets used for the laser plasma ablation are different as are a number of process parameters.



  • XRF calibration standards for trace element quantification

    Backing materials: Why do you offer only Nuclepore® and Mylar® membranes? What about PTFE or other materials?

    Micromatter XRF calibration materials contain elements or defined chemical compounds in very low quantities (micrograms per square centimeter, µg/cm 2 ). All standards are produced by ultra-high vacuum deposition techniques such as thermal and electron beam evaporation, or by sputtering. Standards are characterized by precision weighing to a fraction of a microgram on an analytical scale.

    All vacuum deposition techniques require a backing that is heat resistant in the temperature range that occurs during the process. Many polymers (e.g. PTFE, Teflon®) are known to change weight when heated to elevated temperatures. Since this process comprises too many uncontrollable, the results of the quality assurance by precision weighing would become inconsistent. Both Nuclepore® polycarbonate and Mylar® polyester membranes are significantly more heat resistant than PTFE or similar materials and hence deliver consistent weighing results.

  • Are Micromatter standards NIST traceable?

    To answer this question one must first define “traceability”. The definition of metrological traceability which has achieved global acceptance is contained in the International vocabulary of Metrology (VIM) as follows: Traceability is the “property of a measurement result whereby the result can be related to a reference through a documented unbroken chain of calibrations, each contributing to the measurement uncertainty”.
    It is important to note that traceability is the property of the result of a measurement, not of an instrument or calibration report or laboratory. It is not achieved by following any one particular procedure or using special equipment. Merely having an instrument calibrated, even by NIST, is not enough to make the measurement result obtained from that instrument traceable to realizations of appropriate SI units or other stated references. The measurement system by which values are transferred must be clearly understood and under control.
    The phrase “NIST traceability” does not imply in any way acceptance by NIST or any other national metrological institute. It only suggests the laboratory has used a procedure which provides measurement results that can be traced to a NIST reference.



  • Accelerator targets

    Can you provide specialty accelerator targets, e.g. isotopically enriched material?

    Micromatter can provide targets for a wide range of accelerator applications. In terms of thermal or chemical properties, there is no significant difference between natural and isotopically enriched target materials. Any material that Micromatter offers as XRF standards is also available on custom backings which are more suitable for irradiation with charged particles. For isotopically enriched or multi-layer targets, please enquire.




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