Note: Automated electrochemical etching and polishing of silver scanning tunneling microscope tips

作者：Sasaki Stephen S; Perdue Shawn M; Perez Alejandro Rodriguez; Tallarida Nicholas; Majors Julia H; Apkarian V Ara; Lee Joonhee^*

来源：Review of Scientific Instruments, 2013, 84(9): 096109.

DOI：10.1063/1.4822115

Fabrication of sharp and smooth Ag tips is crucial in optical scanning probe microscope experiments. To ensure reproducible tip profiles, the polishing process is fully automated using a closed-loop laminar flow system to deliver the electrolytic solution to moving electrodes mounted on a motorized translational stage. The repetitive translational motion is controlled precisely on the mu m scale with a stepper motor and screw-thread mechanism. The automated setup allows reproducible control over the tip profile and improves smoothness and sharpness of tips (radius 27 +/- 18 nm), as measured by ultrafast field emission.

• 出版日期2013-9