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AFM For Dummies: A Step-by-Step Procedure For Surface Profiling With The Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R AFM

The document provides a 10-step procedure for performing atomic force microscopy (AFM) surface profiling using a Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R AFM. The key steps include: 1) turning on the equipment and software; 2) mounting a sample and probe tip; 3) loading the sample and selecting an imaging mode; 4) aligning the laser; 5) positioning the sample under the probe tip; 6) lowering the tip to scan the surface; 7) adjusting frequency for close contact mode; 8) scanning the sample and processing the image; 9) retracting the tip and shutting down.

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Mauro Fittipaldi
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236 views2 pages

AFM For Dummies: A Step-by-Step Procedure For Surface Profiling With The Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R AFM

The document provides a 10-step procedure for performing atomic force microscopy (AFM) surface profiling using a Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R AFM. The key steps include: 1) turning on the equipment and software; 2) mounting a sample and probe tip; 3) loading the sample and selecting an imaging mode; 4) aligning the laser; 5) positioning the sample under the probe tip; 6) lowering the tip to scan the surface; 7) adjusting frequency for close contact mode; 8) scanning the sample and processing the image; 9) retracting the tip and shutting down.

Uploaded by

Mauro Fittipaldi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

AFM for Dummies:

A Step-by-Step Procedure for Surface Profiling


with the Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R AFM
[Link]
17 December 2004
M. S. Tillack
1) Turn on the equipment
a. Turn PC on
b. Turn controller on
c. Start SPM Cockpit software

2) Mount a Sample
Samples are mounted using sticky tape on a set of hockey
pucks. The pucks should be clean and stacked using an Allen
wrench so that the mounted sample surface is within 5-10 mm
of the probe tip.

3) Mount a Probe tip


a. Using the SPM Cockpit software,
select [Stage] [Change Tip] [Start]
and wait for the motors to stop
b. Push the two black knobs back
c. Pull the tip carrier out and rotate to
expose the magnetic receiver
d. Use forceps to drop a tip into the magnetic
receiver. Seat the tip against the right and
bottom guides.
e. Slide the tip carrier back into place, turn the
knobs forward and lock, and then click on
[Restore] in the SPM Cockpit

4) Load the Sample Into the AFM


a. Click [Load Sample] and wait for the stage to move out
toward the user
b. Slide the sample puck into the device, being very
careful that the probe tip doesnt touch the sample
c. Close [Stage] Click [Start] [Load Configuration]
d. You need to select the config file at this point either
contact or close contact. Configuration files are in:
C:/ProgramFiles/pacific nanotechnology/PSScan2002/
e. Click [Select Mode] and verify that the selection here
matches the configuration chosen; Contact or Close Contact and click [OK].
5) Align the Laser
a. Click [Align Laser]
b. Use the focus control to place the probe tip into focus beforehand using [Stage]
c. Use the manual laser controls (on the AFM) to position the laser on the tip end
d. Use the manual detector controls to place the red dot in the green box
e. Use the manual microscope objective controls to position the image as desired
f. Close [Align Laser]
6) Position the Sample
a. open [Stage]
b. Bring the tip carrier about 1 mm from the surface using the z-position control
c. Focus onto the surface
d. Use the trackball to position the sample so that the area of interest is left of the tip.
7) Lower the Tip
a. Try to lower tip within 0.5 mm of the surface if you can (without contact)
b. Use [Tip Approach]
c. Use [Stage] to bring the surface back into focus/zoom if you want to view the scan
8) Frequency Adjustment (close contact mode only)
a. THIS NEEDS TO BE DESCRIBED
9) Scan the sample and analyze
a. [Scan Sample]
b. [Image Processing]
10) Retract Tip and Quit
a. Choose [Tip Retract]
b. Use [Stage] to move stage in the full up position
c. Remove the tip
d. Quit SPM Cockpit
e. Shut down controller

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