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.

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).
Further examples of electron microscope investigations are featured, for instance, under the topics: