Comparison of piezoresistive and thermal detection approaches to atomic force microscopy topography measurement

William P. King, Thomas W. Kenny, Kenneth E. Goodson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers with integrated heaters can topographically map a surface with sub-nanometer vertical resolution, and lateral resolution defined by the shape of the tip. As a resistively heated atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever scans over a surface, the conductance from the cantilever depends upon the distance between the cantilever to the substrate. By measuring the cantilever electrical resitance signal, which is a function of cantilever temperature, it is possible to topographically map surfaces based. This paper models thermal conductance from the cantilever to make predictions of cantilever sensitivity that compare well with data. The model also predicts noise-limited resolution. Comparing the thermal cantilever with an identically-sized piezoresistive cantilever, the thermal cantilever provides two to four orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and up to two orders of magnitude resolution improvement over the piezoresistive cantilever.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMicroelectromechanical Systems
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages111-116
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)0791836428, 9780791836422
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering

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