Table 1.

FIB as an independent instrument or combined with other techniques.

Synergistic techniques	Features	Target materials	Conditions and suggestions	References
Stand-alone FIB-SEM	Cross-section imaging or 3D tomography integrated with multiple detectors	Clay minerals and oil shales (this study)	(1) Medium current to balance milling speed and minimized curtain effect (2) Pt coated for protective layer (3) Acquire high-resolution SE and BSE image simultaneously for later image segmentation	[92–94]
FIB and TEM	Microstructural and crystallographic characterization	Earth & planetary materials such as ore minerals, high pressure phases and extraterrestrial materials	(1) Stepping down the polishing currents to 10~50 pA/5 kV or even lower (2) For irregular small particles, E-beam for Pt deposition is necessary	[36, 42, 56, 95, 96]
FIB and APT	3D chemical and isotopic information	U-Th-Pb isotope systems & trace element compositions in zircon, monazite etc.	(1) Pt/Au-coated as protective layer—evaporation field of carbon is too high (2) Make a mark for selected position if the area of interest is relatively small	[64, 65, 97–99]
FIB and synchrotron techniques	Elemental mapping	Terrestrial shale kerogen organic carbon & extraterrestrial organic matter in planetary materials, e.g., carbonaceous chondrites.	(1) None carbon capping. Ideally no EXPOXY embedding (2) Low current for final milling and low KV E-beam imaging to minimize damage (3) Ensure STXM is performed prior to TEM on organic materials due to alteration of organic by high energy TEM beam	[68, 73, 100]