Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of calibrating a SEM system, comprising: obtaining a calibration measurement by employing the SEM system to measure a dimension of a feature of a calibration standard, wherein the feature comprises a coating comprising a transition metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , CrO 3 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , WO 2 , WO 3 , MnO 2 , MnO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , Co 3 O 4 , NiO, CuO, ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO, and SnO 2 ; and  using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM system. 2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises adjusting the SEM system based on the calibration measurement. claim 1 3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises: claim 1 obtaining a sample measurement by employing the SEM system in measuring a dimension of a sample; and  interpreting the sample measurement with the aide of the calibration measurement. 4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feature is formed of the coating comprising a transition metal oxide. claim 1 5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feature comprises a second material and the coating comprising a transition metal oxide forms a coating over the second material. claim 1 6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the coating has a thickness from about 1 nm to about 100 nm. claim 5 7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing a current through the calibration standard to oxidize carbon deposits on the calibration standard. claim 1 8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting the coating a positive potential to electrochemically induce oxidation of carbon deposits on the calibration standard. claim 1 9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exposing the calibration standard to ultraviolet light to induce oxidation of deposits on the calibration standard. claim 1 10. A method of calibrating a SEM system, comprising: obtaining a calibration measurement by employing the SEM system to measure a dimension of a feature of a calibration standard, wherein the feature comprises a coating comprising a transition metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , CrO 3 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , WO 2 , WO 3 , MnO 2 , MnO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , Co 3 O 4 , NiO, CuO, ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO, and SnO 2 , the coating having a thickness from about 1 nm to about 100 nm; and  using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM system. 11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises adjusting the SEM system based on the calibration measurement. claim 10 12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises: claim 10 obtaining a sample measurement by employing the SEM system in measuring a dimension of a sample; and  interpreting the sample measurement with the aide of the calibration measurement. 13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feature is formed of the coating comprising a transition metal oxide. claim 10 14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feature comprises a second material and the coating comprising a transition metal oxide forms a coating over the second material. claim 10 15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising flowing a current through the calibration standard to oxidize carbon deposits on the calibration standard. claim 10 16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising setting the coating a positive potential to electrochemically induce oxidation of carbon deposits on the calibration standard. claim 10 17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising exposing the calibration standard to ultraviolet light to induce oxidation of deposits on the calibration standard. claim 10 18. A method of calibrating a SEM system, comprising: obtaining a calibration measurement by employing the SEM system to measure a dimension of a feature of a calibration standard, wherein the feature comprises a coating comprising a transition metal oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , CrO 3 , MoO 2 , MoO 3 , WO 2 , WO 3 , MnO 2 , MnO 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , Co 3 O 4 , NiO, CuO, ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO, and SnO 2 ;  flowing a current through the calibration standard to oxidize carbon deposits on the calibration standard; and  using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM system. 19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises adjusting the SEM system based on the calibration measurement. claim 18 20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein using the calibration measurement to calibrate the SEM comprises: claim 18 obtaining a sample measurement by employing the SEM system in measuring a dimension of a sample; and  interpreting the sample measurement with the aide of the calibration measurement. 21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the feature is formed of the coating comprising a transition metal oxide. claim 18 22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the feature comprises a second material and the coating comprising a transition metal oxide forms a coating over the second material. claim 18 23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coating has a thickness from about 1 nm to about 100 nm. claim 18 24. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising setting the coating a positive potential to electrochemically induce oxidation of carbon deposits on the calibration standard. claim 18 25. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising exposing the calibration standard to ultraviolet light to induce oxidation of deposits on the calibration standard. claim 18