Probe with solid beveled tip and method for using same for specimen extraction

1. A method for lift out of a specimen milled upright within a trench of bulk material where the specimen is of a type having specimen edges under attractive force from adjacent trench edges of the trench, the method comprising:

providing a solid probe having a first planar surface formed at or adjacent a probe tip thereof, said first planar surface having a non-zero planar angle relative to a normal to a long axis of the probe, wherein the first planar surface has a greater surface area than a surface area of the specimen edges under attractive force from adjacent trench edges of the trench;

positioning the long axis of the probe at a tilt angle between the long axis and a normal to a face of the specimen, wherein the tilt angle and planar angle are approximately equal;

abutting the first planar surface against a face of the specimen within the trench such that Van der Waals forces between the first planar surface and the face of the specimen is substantially greater than the attractive force between the specimen edges and the adjacent trench edges; and

lifting the specimen out from the trench with the probe.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe has a circular cross-section and the first planar surface is a beveled surface formed along a front facing solid tip of the probe such that the first planar surface of the solid tip forms an ellipse.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tilt angle is between 10 and 45 degrees.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ellipse has a long diameter of between about 25-75% of a depth of the specimen face.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first planar surface is formed parallel with the long axis of the probe.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the probe has a second planar surface parallel with and spaced from the first planar surface.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first planar surface has a rectangular or slightly trapezoidal shape.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including and after the step of lifting the specimen out from the trench with the probe:

manipulating the specimen to an open slot of a mounting grid; and

placing side portions of the face of the specimen onto a recessed shelf within the open slot.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including the step of rotating the probe about its long axis by 180 degrees prior to placing side portions of the face of the specimen onto the recessed shelf.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of manipulating the specimen includes using a second probe to reorient the specimen on the first planar surface.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including one or more steps taken from the group consisting of:

rotating the probe such that the specimen is generally underneath the probe for manipulating the specimen to a solid surface such as a carbon-coated grid or slotted carrier grid;

rotating the probe such that the specimen is generally on top of the probe for manipulating the specimen to a carrier grid so the specimen will come to rest on the grid support regions once the probe is lowered through the slot;

nudging and centering or optimizing specimen position on the first planar surface using a second stationary probe, a second probe attached to a micromanipulator, or the specimen carrier itself;

altering a probe tip tilt angle to optimize specimen position for manipulation; and/or

rotating the specimen or a grid carrier relative to the probe.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a solid probe includes forming the first planar surface by a process consisting of one or more methods taken from mechanical polishing, FIB milling, broad ion milling, laser ablation or milling, and/or via additive manufacturing such as via 3D printing or deposition methods.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a solid probe includes providing a conductive surface to the first planar surface by applying a conductive coating.

14. A probe used to lift out a specimen from within a trench prepared from bulk material of a sample, the probe comprising:

a solid elongate body disposed along a long axis of the probe and terminating in a probe tip; and

a solid planar surface adjacent an end of the probe tip formed at a non-zero angle relative to a normal to the long axis of the probe, wherein the solid planar surface includes a first solid planar surface parallel with the long axis of the probe and second planar surface spaced from and parallel with the first solid planar surface,

wherein the solid planar surface is configured to impart sufficient Van der Waals attractive force to a sample surface positioned immediately adjacent the solid surface of the probe so that the sample can be detached from and lifted from the bulk material and transported to a grid for investigation.

15. The probe of claim 14 , wherein the first solid planar surface and second solid planar surface have a rectangular or slightly trapezoidal shape.

16. The probe of claim 14 , further including a metallized coating formed atop the solid planar surface.