Can you explain how the NanoMaker aids in growing a carbon tip on Silicon? I am still having some problem understanding the tips, "NanoMaker is able to grow carbon tip on a standard silicon cone tip. These tips are used for scanning sonde microscopy." Can you explain how the NanoMaker aids in growing a carbon tip on Silicon?
A:
There is a phenomenon in SEM known as contamination at intensive exposure traces of organic molecules (oil) are decomposed up to carbon (or carbon like state). In principal this is an e-beam induced chemical decomposition. In IMT RAS a special technique based on the contamination is developed to grow fine carbon tip on a commercial Si tip. The technique includes rather complicated regime of exposure with e-beam consisting of oscillations and beam movement. NanoMaker is used to realize this complicated e-beam trajectory. Because it is dynamical process in the space the task is rather complicated, but NanoMaker allows to make it rather routine. One can call the technique as 3D writing. Examples of 3D writing you can find at our site. Si cantilever is used just as a substrate.
Commercial carbon tips called "Whisker Type" probes made by NanoMaker can be found at the site of company producer
NT-MDT Co.
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