Fabrication of probe tips via the FIB method for nanodiagnostics of the surface of solids by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

In this work, we carried out an investigation of commercial atomic force microscope (AFM) probes for contact and semi-contact modes, which were modified by focused ion beam (FIB). This method was used to modify the original tip shape of silicon AFM probes, by ion-etching and ion-enhance gas deposition. we show a better performance of the FIB-modified probes in contrast with the non-modified commercial probes. These results were obtained after using both probes in semi-contact mode in a calibration grating sample.