Assuming your SEM has high-enough resolution, make sure it can tilt the
specimen:

I doubt that your nanoparticles will have material contrast with the
substrate (but try it out, you might be surprised). In this case,
topographical contrast is your best friend. If you can tilt the
specimen with respect to the electron beam, then you are in good shape.
Tilting brings out shadows that make the surface topography more
apparent.

Good luck, and send us pretty pictures!
Simon Garcia

Simon Garcia
Research Scientist
National Institute of Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Drive, MS 8362
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301-975-2957

On Jul 1, 2005, at 1:25 PM, Zhiwei Zou wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I am trying to bond the gold nanoparticles (10nm) on the gold pattern.
> I am
> wondering whether I can identify the gold nanoparticles from the gold
> pattern (background) in the SEM. (the resolution is ok for the 10nm
> nanoparticles).