Advanced fabrication process for combined atomic force-scanning electrochemical microscopy (AFM-SECM) probes
- PMID: 25259683
- DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.08.008
Advanced fabrication process for combined atomic force-scanning electrochemical microscopy (AFM-SECM) probes
Abstract
An advanced software-controlled focused ion beam (FIB) patterning process for the fabrication of combined atomic force-scanning electrochemical microscopy (AFM-SECM) probes is reported. FIB milling is a standard process in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) for specialized SPM probe fabrication. For AFM-SECM, milling of bifunctional probes usually requires several milling steps. Milling such complex multi-layer/multi-material structures using a single milling routine leads to significantly reduced fabrication times and costs. Based on an advanced patterning routine, a semi-automated FIB milling routine for fabricating combined AFM-SECM probes with high reproducibility is presented with future potential for processing at a wafer level. The fabricated bifunctional probes were electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry, and their performance for AFM-SECM imaging experiments was tested. Different insulation materials (Parylene-C and SixNy) have been evaluated with respect to facilitating the overall milling process, the influence on the electrochemical behavior and the long-term stability of the obtained probes. Furthermore, the influence of material composition and layer sequence to the overall shape and properties of the combined probes were evaluated.
Keywords: AFM tip-integrated electrode; AFM-SECM; Atomic force-scanning electrochemical microscopy; FIB milling; Steady-state current simulation.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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