AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Monday Sessions
       Session NS-MoM

Paper NS-MoM8
Ultra High-Stability SPM to Study Molecules at Variable Temperature

Monday, November 13, 2006, 10:20 am, Room 2016

Session: Nanoscale Imaging Techniques
Presenter: Y.A. Bobrov, Nanotechnologies America, Inc.
Authors: A.V. Belyayev, NTMDT, Russia
S.A. Saunin, NTMDT, Russia
Y.A. Bobrov, Nanotechnologies America, Inc.
Correspondent: Click to Email
AFM experiments are subject to noise, image distortion, and long term drift caused by environmental temperature variation, creep, and mechanical and acoustic vibrations. A newly designed AFM system significantly reduces thermal and vibration sensitivity. Capable of imaging in contact and non contact modes the new system is available in two versions: the low temperature (thermal range from -300 C to 800 C) or the high temperature versions (from ambient to 2000 C). Both versions exhibit thermal drift less then 15 nm/C in XY and 10 nm/C in Z direction and temporal drift in X, Y and Z direction less then 3 nm per hour. These extremely low thermal drifts and noise parameters significantly improve image quality, even during long term experiments (force spectroscopy, thermal properties of polymers, lithography, etc). A key feature of this design is a copper cell which encloses the sample and cantilever. The two are heated simultaneously and kept at the same temperature within 0.0050C during all measurements. The special triangular design further minimizes drift caused by thermal expansion and its asymmetry. Minimizing air flow around the cantilever, coupled with small temperature gradients, significantly reduces noise compared to conventional open configuration. Designed for 10x10x5micron â?oscan-by-sampleâ? imaging, the scanner is equipped with special low-noise capacitance sensors that enable atomic lattice resolution even in closed-loop scanning mode. Additionally, its high resonant frequencies significantly reduce sensitivity to external mechanical and acoustic vibration. The unmatched properties of this device are illustrated with several examples.