The samples must be ultra-thin and electron-transparent for examination in the TEM. With an ultramicrotome equipped with special glass or diamond knives, ultra-thin sections of 20-100nm thickness can be produced. The ultramicrotome allows the transfer of the thin sections usually via a water bath onto round TEM grids. These grids are usually made of copper, gold or nickel and are often coated with a carbon or other ultra-thin film. Before cells or macromolecules from aqueous solutions can be applied, this carbon film must be made hydrophilic. This is done with the help of ionised residual gas in a plasma cleaner or glow-discharge device.

Block Trimming for TEM (PDF)

Thick Sectioning for TEM using Leica UC7 (PDF)

Thick Sectioning for TEM using RMC PowerTome (PDF)

Thin Sectioning for TEM (PDF)

Flattening Semithin Sections

Avoiding Contamination of Ultra-Thin Sections 

Dental Wax to Make Trufs

Reference: Cryo Sectioning and the Use of Diamond Knives

Elimination of Wrinkles in Semi-Thin Sections

Grids: Shiny Side vs Dull Side?

Grids: Removing a Charge from the Surface of Grids

Reaction of Ni and Cu Grids 

Picking Up of Carbon Film 

Reference: Simple Method for Handling Grids

Techniques for Retrieving Thin Sections (PDF)

Section Pick-up with the Perfect Loop

Improving the Adhesion of Sections Filmless Grids

On-Grid Enhancement

Removal Of Lead Citrate & Uranyl Acetate Precipitates on LR White Sections

Cryo Preparation using C-flat™

Infobox Ultramicrotomes

Infobox Diamond Knifes

Special Catalog: (Ultra-)Microtomy

Special catalog: TEM Grids