Prior to morphological, structural, and electrical characterisation materials are often processed by plasma cleaning, ion milling, cutting with the microtome, welding of contacts, and lapping using the following equipment:

• AJA International ATC-IM Ion Milling System
• Precision Ion Polishing System - Model 691
• Gatan Dimple Grider - Model 656
• Ultramicrotome
• Welding machine
• Lapping machine