[Spm] cleaning procedure for AFM calibration gratings

[Gerard Oncins]

Hi all,
>
> I would like to know if there is any procedure to clean silicon AFM
>
> calibration gratings. I am using NT-MDT TGG1 (lateral calibration for
>
> friction measurements) and TGT1 (for tip shape reconstruction with
>
> SPIP). I experienced two different problems:
>
>  
>
> TGG1 grating: while performing friction on the ridges, I notice that
>
> friction signal is not homogeneous at all. I have tried in air, under
>
> nitrogen environment and also in liquid (saline buffer). I have

cleaned

> >
> > the grating with acetone, ethanol, milliQ water and also with a UV
>   
ozone

> >
> > cleaner. I also tried with piranha solution (H2SO4 + H2O2) which helps
> >
> > quite a lot but not enough. Nevertheless, phase imaging after piranha
> >
> > treatment reveals that there is contamination on top of the sample.
> >
> >  
> >
> > TGT1 grating: it is really hard to get a clean and crisp image of the
> >
> > spikes with a silicon nitride tip (triangular, 0.08N/m), both in air
> >
> > (contact) and liquid (tapping). I assume that it is due to
>   
contamination

> >
> > but I am not that sure. Have you experienced problems imaging this 
> > grating?
> >
> >  
> >
> > Any comment about that would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance
> >
-- 
Gerard Oncins

Scientific-technical Services
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University of Barcelona

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