Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 558-566 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Ultramicroscopy |
| Volume | 108 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2008 |
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Safe fabrication of sharp gold tips for light emission in scanning tunnelling microscopy. / Boyle, M.G.; Feng, Lei; Dawson, Paul.
In: Ultramicroscopy, Vol. 108, No. 6, 05.2008, p. 558-566.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Safe fabrication of sharp gold tips for light emission in scanning tunnelling microscopy
AU - Boyle, M.G.
AU - Feng, Lei
AU - Dawson, Paul
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - Gold is the optimal tip metal for light emission in scanning tunnelling microscopy (LESTM) under ambient conditions. Sharp Au-tips of similar to 10nm radius were produced reliably using a safe, two-step etching method in 20% (w/w) CaCl2 solution. Previous CaCl2-based methods have tended to produce blunter tips, while other etching techniques that do produce sharp Au-tips, do so with the use of toxic or hazardous electrolytes. The tips are characterised using scanning electron microscopy and their efficacy in LESTM is evidenced by high-resolution, simultaneous topographic and photon mapping of Au(1 1 1)- and polycrystalline Au-surfaces. Spectra of the optical emission exhibit only one or two peaks with etched tips in contrast to the more complex spectra typical of cut tips; this feature, together with the highly symmetric geometry of the tips, facilitates a definitive analysis of the light emission process. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V.. All rights reserved.
AB - Gold is the optimal tip metal for light emission in scanning tunnelling microscopy (LESTM) under ambient conditions. Sharp Au-tips of similar to 10nm radius were produced reliably using a safe, two-step etching method in 20% (w/w) CaCl2 solution. Previous CaCl2-based methods have tended to produce blunter tips, while other etching techniques that do produce sharp Au-tips, do so with the use of toxic or hazardous electrolytes. The tips are characterised using scanning electron microscopy and their efficacy in LESTM is evidenced by high-resolution, simultaneous topographic and photon mapping of Au(1 1 1)- and polycrystalline Au-surfaces. Spectra of the optical emission exhibit only one or two peaks with etched tips in contrast to the more complex spectra typical of cut tips; this feature, together with the highly symmetric geometry of the tips, facilitates a definitive analysis of the light emission process. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V.. All rights reserved.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=41949107564&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2007.08.012
DO - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2007.08.012
M3 - Article
VL - 108
SP - 558
EP - 566
JO - Ultramicroscopy
JF - Ultramicroscopy
SN - 0304-3991
IS - 6
ER -