A method for preparing a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample is provided which includes removing a portion of a substrate using a focused ion beam tool and securing the removed portion to a support structure to form a grafted structure. The method further includes forming an opening within the support structure to expose an underside of the removed portion and thinning the exposed underside using an ion beam miller tool. In some cases, the step of securing the removed portion to the support structure may include placing the substrate specimen upon a film attached to a mesh grid, positioning the mesh grid upon a framework comprising the support structure such that the substrate specimen is above the support structure, and pushing the substrate specimen through the film onto the support structure. A TEM sample resulting from such methods is also provided.