Nowadays, high-resolution imaging techniques are extensively applied in a complementary way to gain insights into complex phenomena. For a truly complementary analytical approach, a common sample carrier is required that is suitable for the different preparation methods necessary for each analytical technique. This sample carrier should be capable of accommodating diverse analytes and maintaining their pristine composition and arrangement during deposition and preparation. In this work, a new type of sample carrier consisting of a silicon wafer with a hydrophilic polymer coating was developed. The robustness of the polymer coating toward solvents was strengthened by cross-linking and stoving. Furthermore, a new method of UV-ozone cleaning was developed that enhances the adhesion of the polymer coating to the wafer and ensures reproducible surface-properties of the resulting sample carrier. The hydrophilicity of the sample carrier was recovered applying the new method of UV-ozone cleaning, while avoiding UV-induced damages to the polymer. Noncontact 3D optical profilometry and contact angle measurements were used to monitor the hydrophilicity of the coating. The hydrophilicity of the polymer coating ensures its spongelike behavior so that upon the deposition of an analyte suspension, the solvent and solutes are separated from the analyte by absorption into the polymer. This feature is essential to limit the coffee-ring effect and preserve the native identity of an analyte upon deposition. The suitability of the sample carrier for various sample types was tested using nanoparticles from suspension, bacterial cells, and tissue sections. To assess the homogeneity of the analyte distribution and preservation of sample integrity, optical and scanning electron microscopy, helium ion microscopy, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry were used. This demonstrates the broad applicability of the newly developed sample carrier and its value for complementary imaging.

中文翻译：

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表面清洁和样品载体，用于补充高分辨率成像技术

如今，高分辨率成像技术以互补的方式得到广泛应用，以深入了解复杂现象。对于真正的互补分析方法，需要一个通用的样品载体，该载体适合每种分析技术所需的不同制备方法。该样品载体应能够容纳各种分析物，并在沉积和制备过程中保持其原始组成和排列。在这项工作中，开发了一种新型的样品载体，该样品载体由带有亲水性聚合物涂层的硅晶片组成。通过交联和烘烤，增强了聚合物涂层对溶剂的坚固性。此外，开发了一种新的紫外线臭氧清洁方法，该方法可增强聚合物涂层与晶圆的粘附力，并确保所得样品载体的表面性能可重现。使用紫外线臭氧清洁的新方法恢复了样品载体的亲水性，同时避免了紫外线引起的聚合物损坏。非接触式3D光学轮廓测定法和接触角测量法用于监测涂层的亲水性。聚合物涂层的亲水性确保了其海绵状的性能，因此在沉积分析物悬浮液时，溶剂和溶质会通过吸收到聚合物中而与分析物分离。此功能对于限制咖啡环效果并在沉积时保留分析物的天然身份至关重要。使用悬浮液，细菌细胞和组织切片中的纳米颗粒，测试了样品载体对各种样品类型的适用性。为了评估分析物分布的均质性和样品完整性的保留，使用了光学和扫描电子显微镜，氦离子显微镜，激光烧蚀感应耦合等离子体质谱和飞行时间二次离子质谱。这证明了新开发的样品载体的广泛适用性及其对互补成像的价值。和飞行时间二次离子质谱仪。这证明了新开发的样品载体的广泛适用性及其对互补成像的价值。和飞行时间二次离子质谱仪。这证明了新开发的样品载体的广泛适用性及其对互补成像的价值。