SALT DOPING IN ELECTRONPROBE MICROANALYSIS

A new method of electronprobe microanalysis (EPMA) is suggested. It is based on creating ionic conductivity in frozen water solutions and in polymer films by doping them with a salt. This procedure is effective to prevent surface charging and allows imaging of nonconducting sampl es by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as X-ray microanalysi s. Specifically, this procedure makes it possible to perform EPMA of s amples with xerogel matrices, which were used for molecular laser micr oprobe mass spectrometry analysis, and consequently to provide complex microprobe examination of samples.