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'Cooking' sharper AFM tips in a microwave oven
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques utilize tiny, nanometer-sharp tips to manipulate nanostructures and devices by scanning or rather sliding in very close proximity over the surface – similar to the way the needle of a record player on a record (if you are old enough to remember record players...). These techniques are established tools for scientists to explore the nanocosmos and to achieve the highest possible resolution allowing research on the molecular or even atomic scale.
In atomic force microscopy, tip quality depends mainly on the dimensions and shape of the probe, the durability of the tip apex, and the nature of the interaction between sample and probe. With this in mind, researchers have experimented with mounting ultra sharp and high aspect ratio carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles onto the apex of an AFM tip to improve spatial and potential resolution (see for instance: "High resolution surface potential imaging with ultrasharp carbon nanotubes").
Although AFM tips functionalized with a carbon nanotube have attracted considerable attention, attaching CNTs to scanning probes is not a trivial matter (see for instance: "Nanotechnology gets a grip"), which limits their practical use. An alternative approach, whereby a CNT is grown onto the AFM tip (see for instance: "Nanotechnology listening device for neuronal talks"), also can be very time-consuming and requires a costly set-up.
A team at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena in Germany has now demonstrated a fast and cheap process for the fabrication of carbon nanotube AFM tips with the help of microwave ovens.
"Our new technique allows the fabrication of carbon nanotube AFM probes utilizing the microwave-assisted growth of CNTs directly on the apex of a commercially available AFM tip" Tamara Druzhinina, PhD student in the group, tells Nanowerk.
Individual CNT grown on the tip apex of an atomic force microscopy tip
Individual CNT grown on the tip apex of an atomic force microscopy tip. The tube extends the probe and improves the resolution of the tip due to the small diameter and large aspect ratio of the tube. (Image: Schubert Lab, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)
"This approach benefits from the selective heating of tip mounted catalyst particles due to a preferential absorption of the microwave irradiation, which results in a strong, local increase of the temperature that is sufficient to grow multiwall carbon nanotubes in the presence of ethanol vapor within very short time scales of a few minutes only."



Stephanie Höppener, heading the 'Nanolithography and Surface Functionalization' group in Ulrich S. Schubert's laboratory at Jena points out that the technical requirements are relatively low compared to other approaches (no furnace is needed) and it is safe to work with just a little amount of liquid ethanol (no acetylene, no hydrogen is required).



The team reported their findings in a recent issue of Nano Letters "Microwave-Assisted Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube AFM Tips").



Previously, the team had observed that in particular on the edges of silicon wafers treated in a normal kitchen microwave, melting of the silicon wafer can occur. Considering the high temperatures which are required to melt silicon, they concluded that potentially suitable conditions for the growth of CNTs could be generated as well (see: "The Selective Heating of Iron Nanoparticles in a Single-Mode Microwave for the Patterned Growths of Carbon Nanofibers and Nanotubes").
By experimenting with different amounts of catalyst material, the researchers managed to optimize the the catalyst deposition process to ultimately be able to grow individual CNTs on an AFM tip.
Pressure vial loaded with a silicon wafer and AFM tips mounted
Pressure vial loaded with a silicon wafer and AFM tips mounted. (Image: Schubert Lab, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)
During the course of further, detailed investigations the microwave-assisted growth of CNTs was applied to other problems as well. These included the growth of structured CNT films with pattern sizes of a few micrometers showing excellent selectivity of the process. The microwave process was applied also to chemical reactions on self-assembled monolayers (e.g. click chemistry performed on functional bromine terminated silane monolayers) and was found to highly accelerate the reaction speed.



Due to its relative simplicity, a microwave-assisted approach could lead to much cheaper CNT-functionalized scanning probe tips. Today, high resolution probes for Scanning Force Microscopy can easily cost 350 euros or more.



"With our process we can reach a price level that would justify the use of such tips also just for routine measurements," says Höppener.



One challenge that the team is working on is controlling the growth direction of the CNTs. Whereas that issue has been solved in bulk and microstructured films, it still poses a problem for single carbon nanotubes on AFM tips.
Michael Berger By – Michael is author of three books by the Royal Society of Chemistry:
Nano-Society: Pushing the Boundaries of Technology,
Nanotechnology: The Future is Tiny, and
Nanoengineering: The Skills and Tools Making Technology Invisible
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