Tingting Z
2025年6月6日
Application Case – Battery Materials Laboratory
VPI SD-900M Magnetron Sputter Coater (Sample Preparation)
Application Case – Battery Materials Laboratory
VPI SD-900M Magnetron Sputter Coater (Sample Preparation)
Vacuum coating is a core surface-engineering technology. Magnetron sputtering—one of the most widely used physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques—employs high-energy ions from a plasma to bombard a solid target (e.g., Au, Pt). Atoms ejected from the target condense on the specimen, forming a thin, dense film. Because the magnetic field traps electrons close to the target and boosts plasma density, efficient sputtering can be achieved even at low working pressures. The result is a high deposition rate, excellent adhesion, and precise thickness control by simply tuning time and current—ideal for optical, electronic and functional films that demand strict uniformity.
In scanning electron microscopy (SEM) sample preparation, magnetron sputter coating is critical to image quality. Non-conductive or poorly conductive specimens accumulate charge under the electron beam, causing distortion or complete imaging failure. Depositing an ultra-thin conductive layer (~20 nm of Au, Pt or C) before SEM observation eliminates this charging, prevents artefacts and allows high-vacuum, high-voltage imaging without “white-out” or streaks, vastly enhancing stability and resolution.
Laboratory Deployment
The Battery Materials R&D Laboratory at North China Electric Power University—part of the National Energy Storage Technology Innovation Platform—recently integrated the VPI SD-900M magnetron sputter coater with a Hitachi FlexSEM 1000 II desktop SEM, creating a seamless workflow from sample preparation to characterization. Using the SD-900M, researchers coat lithium-ion cathode/anode powders and functional films to obtain uniform, highly conductive surfaces before SEM imaging.
Users report that the SD-900M’s even coatings and excellent conductivity make SEM imaging markedly more reliable: even highly resistive, particulate electrodes show no “white-out” or loss of detail at magnifications of tens of thousands under high vacuum.
Service & Workflow Gains
VPI’s engineering team provided on-site installation, calibration and user training, enabling the laboratory to bring the instrument online in a matter of hours. “Coat-and-image” cycles now take minutes instead of hours, streamlining the experimental workflow and boosting research throughput.
On-site Performance Snapshot
In day-to-day operation, the SD-900M (foreground) shows real-time vacuum and sputtering current on its front panel, while the adjacent SEM delivers crisp micrographs. Gold-coated samples reveal sharp nano-scale edges and clean inter-particle interfaces—free of bright spots or noise—at 15 kV and 15 000× magnification. Such clarity is virtually unattainable without a conductive film; the SD-900M’s homogeneous coating removes charging artefacts and preserves fine topology.
Among Chinese research institutions, roughly one-third of university labs cite VPI sputter coaters as their first choice for SEM sample preparation. Users praise:
Uniform, reproducible coatings across multiple batches
High operational stability during extended runs
Broad compatibility with diverse materials and SEM models
Intuitive interface that shortens operator learning curves
Expert reviewers also highlight the SD-900M’s consistency and low maintenance burden, cementing Vision Precision Instruments (VPI) as a trusted name in vacuum-coating solutions.
Equipment Overview – SD-900M Key Advantages
Feature | Benefit |
High-efficiency magnetron source (≤ 100 mA) | Fast, uniform films with minimal heat load—safe for temperature-sensitive samples |
Rapid evacuation (8–9.6 m³ h⁻¹ pump; ≤ 5 min to 2 Pa) | Short sample-prep cycles boost productivity |
Nano-scale film quality (20–50 nm grain size) | Conductive layer preserves micro-/nano-structures for sharp imaging |
Compact, integrated design (360 × 300 × 380 mm; ~20 kg) | Fits on a benchtop; single-phase 220 V < 1 kW power |
User-friendly control (time or current modes) | Beginners achieve reproducible results within minutes |
Flexible target options (Ø 50 mm Au standard; Ag/Pt optional) | Tailors coating to specific material systems |
Wide pressure window (8–20 Pa with precise gas flow) | Stable plasma and consistent films under varied conditions |
The VPI SD-900M delivers high-quality conductive coatings that unlock the full performance of modern SEMs. Its proven results at North China Electric Power University—uniform films, faster workflows, and cleaner images—underscore its value for laboratories focused on battery materials, advanced thin-film research and beyond. For organizations seeking a reliable, operator-friendly sputter coater that enhances imaging accuracy and experimental efficiency, the SD-900M from Vision Precision Instruments is a compelling, field-validated choice.