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A small scanning tunnelling microscope with large scan range for biological studies
Author(s) -
Emch R.,
Descouts P.,
Niedermann Ph.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1988.tb01365.x
Subject(s) - scanner , microscope , optics , voltage , materials science , scanning tunneling microscope , optical microscope , scanning hall probe microscope , scanning probe microscopy , resolution (logic) , tube (container) , scanning electron microscope , optoelectronics , conventional transmission electron microscope , nanotechnology , physics , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science , composite material , scanning transmission electron microscopy
SUMMARY We have developed a scanning tunnelling microscope specially designed for biological applications presenting some new features: the scanner tube is mounted parallel to the surface of the sample which enables a high resolution optical microscope to be brought close to the sample when working in air or liquids. The maximum scan range is 5×20 μm with a vertical range of 20 μm and the total size of the system does not exceed 10×40 mm. The piezo‐sensitivity of the scanner tube versus applied voltage was analysed by interferometry measurements and by using scanning tunnelling microscopes. We found a value for the piezoelectric constant d 13 of −1·71 Å/V at low voltages (under a few volts) going up to −2 Å/V for higher voltages. Large‐scale images of a carbon grid showed a surprisingly good linearity of the scanner tube.