Scanning electron microscopy for surface investigations
![Scanning electron microscope picture of a tungsten sample exposed to hydrogen plasma. Left: Surface viewed at a slant; right: cutting with the focussed ion beam makes the cross-section surface visible; the arrow indicates the direction of the plastic deformation of the material.](/4331268/original-1517424816.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjQ2LCJvYmpfaWQiOjQzMzEyNjh9--f15c31c190b53af2401a4f2f7e02f8f0405b1440)
Scanning electron microscope picture of a tungsten sample exposed to hydrogen plasma.
Left: Surface viewed at a slant; right: cutting with the focussed ion beam makes the cross-section surface visible; the arrow indicates the direction of the plastic deformation of the material.
![Scanning electron microscope picture of a steel sample: at a temperature of 530°C it was exposed to a hydrogen plasma. The originally polished surface is covered with a fibrous or spiky structure (picture width: 5.12 µm).](/4331256/original-1517424816.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjQ2LCJvYmpfaWQiOjQzMzEyNTZ9--cac0ab58dc0e50c745ee1af0fb61aae3c817c065)
Scanning electron microscope picture of a steel sample: at a temperature of 530°C it was exposed to a hydrogen plasma. The originally polished surface is covered with a fibrous or spiky structure (picture width: 5.12 µm).
![Scanning electron microscope picture of a steel sample exposed at 670°C to a hydrogen plasma. The originally polished surface shows a spiky structure with individual particles on top (picture width: 12.8 µm).](/4331280/original-1517424816.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjQ2LCJvYmpfaWQiOjQzMzEyODB9--f239b8498718cc6679743d8106c847bb3b424a07)
Scanning electron microscope picture of a steel sample exposed at 670°C to a hydrogen plasma. The originally polished surface shows a spiky structure with individual particles on top (picture width: 12.8 µm).
Further examples of electron microscope investigations are featured, for instance, under the topics: