GaN nanowire tips for nanoscale atomic force microscopy.

Nanotechnology

Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM), University of New Mexico (UNM), MSC01 04-2710, 1313 Goddard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106-4343, United States of America.

Published: May 2017

AI Article Synopsis

  • Imaging high-aspect-ratio nanostructures using atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been difficult because most commercial tips are not suitable due to their mechanical properties and shape.
  • This study presents the development of Gallium Nitride (GaN) probes that are specifically designed for better resolution and durability when measuring these complex structures.
  • The GaN probes, created through both bottom-up and top-down methods and attached to silicon cantilevers, performed well in scanning uneven surfaces, offering improved image quality and longevity over typical silicon tips.

Article Abstract

Imaging of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures with sharp edges and straight walls in nanoscale metrology by atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been challenging due to the mechanical properties and conical geometry of the majority of available commercial tips. Here we report on the fabrication of GaN probes for nanoscale metrology of high-aspect-ratio structures to enhance the resolution of AFM imaging and improve the durability of AFM tips. GaN nanowires were fabricated using bottom-up and top-down techniques and bonded to Si cantilevers to scan vertical trenches on Si substrates. Over several scans, the GaN probes demonstrated excellent durability while scanning uneven structures and showed resolution enhancements in topography images, independent of scan direction, compared to commercial Si tips.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aa6c0bDOI Listing

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