NANOCLEANTIP

Nanostructured surfaces for in-situ checking and cleaning of AFM tips

General information

Summary

The project will develop a platform which offers AFM users the possibility to directly check the state of their probes, and to clean potentially contaminated probes. Checking and cleaning are performed in-situ, leading to a reduction of wasted time and materials. The proposed platform integrates two components, both based on nanostructured materials.

The tip checking part is a layer of nanostructured ceria (CeO2), in the form of sharp pyramid-shaped spikes. These structures will be grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), as already reported at INFLPR by the host group, “Photonic Processing of Advanced Materials” (PPAM).
The tip cleaning part is made of nanostructured carbon in the form of nanowalls (CNWs, or vertical graphene sheets), which will act like a nano-brush. CNWs will be deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), which was also reported at INFLPR, by the group “Plasma Processes, Materials and Surfaces” (PPMS). The innovative association of the two nanostructured materials will allow AFM users to conveniently perform in-situ both checking and potential cleaning of the tips.

Project ID: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-4069

Contract no.: 513 PED / 10.11.2020

Value of contract: 600.000 lei

Duration: 24 months

Host institution: INFLPR

Project manager: Antoniu Moldovan

Stages

Stage 1

Preliminary characterization of used AFM tips for the identification of the ones which can be subjected to the cleaning procedures

10.11.2020 - 31.12.2020

During the first stage of the project previously used AFM tips were analyzed based on two main criteria:

- contaminants positioned at the tip apex so that their presence affects the tip-sample interaction during use in AFM;
- relatively low mechanical wear of the apex, so that the tip can still be used after a potentially successful cleaning.

Stage 2

Preliminary cleaning tests on used tips and on new tips with controlled contamination; deposition of CeO2 and CNW nanostructures

01.01.2021 - 31.12.2021

The second stage of the project focused on the preliminary cleaning tests. To enable these, supporting activities were essential:

- morphological analysis (mainly SEM): to continue the evaluation of the collection of used AFM tips; to evaluate new tips before/ after controlled contamination; to evaluate tips after the cleaning procedures; to examine the CeO2 and CNW nanostructures;

- controlled contamination of new AFM tips;

- deposition of CeO2 and CNW nanostructures.

Results obtained up to this point are the basis of a manuscript currently being prepared for submission. Work on the manuscript is expected to end before the completion of the current stage.

Stage 3

Final validation of the testing and cleaning structures and procedures, in laboratory environment

01.01.2022 - 09.11.2022

During the third stage of the project, the testing and cleaning platform was effectively built and the detailed procedures for the testing and cleaning experiments were developed. Additional tests were carried out for the optimization of the tip cleaning nanostructures.

The working principle of the testing and cleaning procedure is schematically shown below.

TRL

The technology readiness level upon completion of the project is 4: the prototype of the testing and cleaning platform was built and tested in laboratory environment; based on results and observations during the tests, the checking and cleaning procedures were also developed.

Estimated impact

The NANOCLEANTIP platform has the potential to improve the usability of AFM tips, providing means both for the relatively easy verification of their morphology during operation, and for their cleaning when needed. Regular tip testing should reduce the risk of working with a contaminated or excessively worn tip. Also, the ability to clean the tips should reduce the tendency to unnecessarily discard tips that could still be used after cleaning.

INFLPR, Lasers Department
Atomistilor 409
Magurele 077125, Ilfov
Romania

Dissemination

Results regarding the tip checking have been disseminated at the First Central and Eastern European Conference on Physical Chemistry & Materials Science – 26-30 July 2022, Split, Croatia (CEEC-PCMS1).

One paper is under review, a second paper and a patent application are currently in preparation.