The manufacturing of a metallic nano-cluster at a tip apex for field-sensitive microscopy applications

• Published in: Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol. 10; no. 7; p. 4459
• Main Authors: Lin, Hung-Min, Chang, Mao-Nan, Lin, Yue-Sheng, Cheng, Chao-Chia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2010
• ISSN: 1533-4880; 1533-4899
• DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2010.2372

Using a conductive atomic force microscopic setup, a metallic nano-cluster at a tip apex was successfully manufactured by an electrochemical redox process from an anodic aluminum oxide template. The diameter of the metallic nano-clusters ranged from 15 nm to 200 nm. The diameters of the nano-clusters could be well-controlled by adjusting the pore size of the templates. The formation of a variety of metallic nano-clusters at the tip apex was accomplished by preparing the electrolyte solution from different metallic salts. The formation mechanism for the nano-cluster is outlined and discussed. Moreover, we were able to enhance the performance of the nano-cluster tips for field-sensitive scanning probe microscopy, including electrostatic force microscopy and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy by laser annealing. Our experimental results indicated that for applications in field-sensitive scanning probe microscopy the stray field effect was significantly suppressed by the nano-cluster tip and hence the spatial resolution was improved.