Carbon Nanospikes: Synthesis, characterization and application for high resolution AFM.

We present a detailed study of synthesis, structural characterization of sharp, spike-like carbon structures and its application for high-resolution atomic-force microscopy (AFM) measurements of biological molecules. The probes are obtained by chemical vapor deposition of spike-like carbon structures on the apexes of common AFM silicon probes. The deposition process is carried out in carbonaceous gas mixture activated by a direct-current discharge.