Characterization of local electric properties of oxide materials using scanning probe microscopy techniques: A review

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (05) ◽  
pp. 1830002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanheng Lu ◽  
Kaiyang Zeng

The structure-function relationship at the nanoscale is of great importance for many functional materials, such as metal oxides. To explore this relationship, Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM)-based techniques are used as powerful and effective methods owing to their capability to investigate the local surface structures and multiple properties of the materials with a high spatial resolution. This paper gives an overview of SPM-based techniques for characterizing the electric properties of metal oxides with potential in the applications of electronics devices. Three types of SPM techniques, including conductive AFM ([Formula: see text]-AFM), Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), and Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM), are summarized with focus on their principles and advances in measuring the electronic transport, ionic dynamics, the work functions and the surface charges of oxides.

Author(s):  
Christophe De Nardi ◽  
Romain Desplats ◽  
Philippe Perdu ◽  
Félix Beaudoin ◽  
Jean Luc Gauffier

Abstract A method to measure “on site” programmed charges in EEPROM devices is presented. Electrical Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) based techniques such as Electric Force Microscopy (EFM) and Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy (SKPM) are used to directly probe floating gate potentials. Both preparation and probing methods are discussed. Sample preparation to access floating gate/oxide interfaces at a few nanometers distance without discharging the gate proves to be the key problem, more than the probing technique itself. Applications are demonstrated on 128 kbit EEPROMs from ST Microelectronics and 64 kbit EEPROMs from Atmel.


2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pall Thordarson ◽  
Rob Atkin ◽  
Wouter H. J. Kalle ◽  
Gregory G. Warr ◽  
Filip Braet

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques, including atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), have revolutionized our understanding of molecule–surface interactions. The high resolution and versatility of SPM techniques have helped elucidate the morphology of adsorbed surfactant layers, facilitated the study of electronically conductive single molecules and biomolecules connected to metal substrates, and allowed direct observation of real-time processes such as in situ DNA hybridization and drug–cell interactions. These examples illustrate the power that SPM possesses to study (bio)molecules on surfaces and will be discussed in depth in this review.


2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 070703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Dong Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Wei Wang ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Sheng-Nan Wang ◽  
Zhi-Hai Cheng ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
А.Е. Почтенный ◽  
А.Н. Лаппо ◽  
И.П. Ильюшонок

AbstractSome results of studying the direct-current (DC) conductivity of perylenetetracarboxylic acid dimethylimide films by cyclic oxygen thermal desorption are presented. The microscopic parameters of hopping electron transport over localized impurity and intrinsic states were determined. The bandgap width and the sign of major current carriers were determined by scanning probe microscopy methods (atomic force microscopy, scanning probe spectroscopy, and photoassisted Kelvin probe force microscopy). The possibility of the application of photoassisted scanning tunneling microscopy for the nanoscale phase analysis of photoconductive films is discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 522-523
Author(s):  
S. Magonov

The evolution of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) into atomic force microscopy (AFM) have led to a family of scanning probe techniques which are widely applied in fundamental research and in industry. Visualization of the atomic- and molecular-scale structures and the possibility of modifying these structures using a sharp probe were demonstrated with the techniques on many materials. These unique capabilities initiated the further development of AFM and related methods generalized as scanning probe microscopy (SPM). The first STM experiments were performed in the clean conditions of ultra-high vacuum and on well-defined conducting or semi-conducting surfaces. These conditions restrict SPM applications to the real world that requires ambient-condition operation on the samples, many of which are insulators. AFM, which is based on the detection of forces between a tiny cantilever carrying a sharp tip and a sample surface, was introduced to satisfy these requirements. High lateral resolution and unique vertical resolution (angstrom scale) are essential AFM features.


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