A Unique Self-Sensing, Self-Actuating AFM Probe at Higher Eigenmodes

Sensors

Zhichao Wu²  Tong Guo¹  Ran Tao²  Leihua Liu²  Jinping Chen²  Xing Fu²  Xiaotang Hu² 

[1] State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China;

关键词: AFM;    quartz tuning fork;    higher eigenmode;    non-contact;    finite element analysis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s151128764

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

With its unique structure, the Akiyama probe is a type of tuning fork atomic force microscope probe. The long, soft cantilever makes it possible to measure soft samples in tapping mode. In this article, some characteristics of the probe at its second eigenmode are revealed by use of finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments in a standard atmosphere. Although the signal-to-noise ratio in this environment is not good enough, the 2 nm resolution and 0.09 Hz/nm sensitivity prove that the Akiyama probe can be used at its second eigenmode under FM non-contact mode or low amplitude FM tapping mode, which means that it is easy to change the measuring method from normal tapping to small amplitude tapping or non-contact mode with the same probe and equipment.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.