Scanning probe microscopy tips composed of nanoparticles and methods to form same
US7282710B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/254
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A structure and method for improving the spatial resolution of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) tip, which has been coated with a layer of chemically-synthesized nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are either single-species or heterogeneous, such that the single-species nanoparticles can be either ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, magneto-optic, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, superconducting, semiconducting, magnetically-doped semiconducting, insulating, fluorescent, or chemically catalytic. The layer of nanoparticles is at least two nanoparticles thick, or alternatively, is a single layer of nanoparticles thick, or alternatively, is a single layer of nanoparticles thick and covers only the tip apex portion of the tip, or alternatively, only a single nanoparticle is affixed to the tip apex. Alternatively, the layer of nanoparticles is transformed into an electrically-continuous magnetic film by annealing at a high temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.