EM - Mounting Sputter Targets

Most targets are held by a cover or are crimped around the edge ‐ if yours is not that type it must be glued. The 'glue' used must be electrically conducting.

Professional mounting: 

1. Use a few slivers of indium wire on the support plate
2. Cover with the target and then either a) place in an oven with a flat weight on top of the target, or b) use a smoothing iron to heat the gold and hence melt the indium. 
3. Place something, like a piece of lens tissue, onto the target to protect it.

Note: Use a temperature only a little higher than the melting point of indium (m.p. 156.6°C) for a short time.

4. Alternatively use a bit of silver conducting paint, preferably a few small drops of paste at the bottom of the jar.

5. You could also make a paste using our silver powder and a little commercial epoxy glue ‐ the method can be found here. Only spot-gluing is required, but keep a weight on the target while drying/ curing.