AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Tuesday Sessions
       Session MI-TuP

Paper MI-TuP1
Facile Fabrication of High Resolution Magnetic Force Microscopy Probes via Localized Electrochemical Reduction of Cobalt Species

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 6:00 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Poster Session
Presenter: M. Rolandi, University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Authors: M. Rolandi, University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
S.A. Backer, University of California, Berkeley
D. Okawa, University of California, Berkeley
J.M.J. Fréchet, University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is a scanning probe technique capable of characterizing the ever smaller nanostructures developed for the next generation data storage. Advancements in imaging resolution require new approaches in probe design and fabrication, an ideal probe consists of an ultra-sharp tip with magnetic material confined only at the apex. We propose a novel technique for fabricating high resolution MFM probes based on the localized electrochemical reduction of Cobalt (II) species in solution. Specific Co deposition at the apex of the tip is obtained by localizing the reaction in the small gap between the negatively biased probe and the sample while the probe is immersed in an AFM fluid cell. We demonstrate that specific deposition also occurs in a macroscopic electrochemical cell geometry when a high frequency alternating potential is applied. Once fabricated, the functional probes are characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion elemental analysis. MFM is performed on the track of a longitudinal recording medium and features as small as 50 nm are clearly resolved. Power spectral density analysis of the images suggests a resolution as high as 25 nm can be achieved. In conclusion, we have developed a facile method for MFM tip fabrication easily scalable for parallel production.