[Spm] Re: smears in AFM scans

[Rackaitis, Mindaugas]

Hi, Noam,

most probably it is particles moving on the surface due to the tip
pushing them. I had the same problem but only with loose nanoparticles
on the surface. Try to fix nanoparticles to the surface or scan slower
and less force. I hope that helps.

Mindaugas Rackaitis


Original message:
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:34:58 +0200
From: Noam <nsidelman at gmail.com>
Subject: [Spm] Smears in AFM scans -advice needed
To: spm at spmlist.di.com
Message-ID:
	<c81c33e40801160634n5c0c9db8xc42c3d3c65734167 at mail.gmail.com>
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Hello,
We have MI PICOSPM-II, SMENA and a MultiMode IV.
A repeating problem that occurs with all AFMs is that we get smears.
by smears I mean that when scanning a particle (e.g.), we get an image
of a "tube".
At first we thought it was a software issue, but the "scan the same
line"
option (slow axis scan disabled) was not the reason.
We thought it might be tip related problem, so we bought tips from other
vendors (including Veeco tips) - the issue was not resolved.

The fact that this occurs with 3 separate AFMs means it can't be a
faulty machine issue...
it is also frustrating that must scan we receive smears, but sometimes
we can get a very good scan, and a few minutes later -  smears.


I would really appreciate any advice.
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