On the Origin of Extended Resolution in Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with a Worn Tip Apex

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Y. Luchkin ◽  
Keith J. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Electrostatic Force ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force Microscopy Probe ◽  
Kelvin Probe ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Potential Sensitivity

AbstractIn this work we analyzed the effect of the atomic force microscopy probe tip apex shape on Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) potential sensitivity and spatial resolution. It was found that modification of the apex shape from spherical to planar upon thinning of the conductive coating leads to enhanced apex contribution to the total electrostatic force between the probe and the sample. The effect results in extended potential sensitivity and spatial resolution of KPFM. Experimental results were supported by calculations.

scholarly journals Measurement of electrostatic tip–sample interactions by time-domain Kelvin probe force microscopy

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 911-921
Author(s):  
Christian Ritz ◽  
Tino Wagner ◽  
Andreas Stemmer
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Shift ◽  
Surface Potential ◽  
Electrostatic Force ◽  
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy ◽  
Kelvin Probe ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Dc Component ◽  
Lock In

Kelvin probe force microscopy is a scanning probe technique used to quantify the local electrostatic potential of a surface. In common implementations, the bias voltage between the tip and the sample is modulated. The resulting electrostatic force or force gradient is detected via lock-in techniques and canceled by adjusting the dc component of the tip–sample bias. This allows for an electrostatic characterization and simultaneously minimizes the electrostatic influence onto the topography measurement. However, a static contribution due to the bias modulation itself remains uncompensated, which can induce topographic height errors. Here, we demonstrate an alternative approach to find the surface potential without lock-in detection. Our method operates directly on the frequency-shift signal measured in frequency-modulated atomic force microscopy and continuously estimates the electrostatic influence due to the applied voltage modulation. This results in a continuous measurement of the local surface potential, the capacitance gradient, and the frequency shift induced by surface topography. In contrast to conventional techniques, the detection of the topography-induced frequency shift enables the compensation of all electrostatic influences, including the component arising from the bias modulation. This constitutes an important improvement over conventional techniques and paves the way for more reliable and accurate measurements of electrostatics and topography.

scholarly journals Elemental Identification by Combining Atomic Force Microscopy and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

ACS Nano ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 5274-5283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Schulz ◽  
Juha Ritala ◽  
Ondrej Krejčí ◽  
Ari Paavo Seitsonen ◽  
Adam S. Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy ◽  
Kelvin Probe ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force
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