[Spm] Smears in AFM scans -advice needed

[Lisa Fukunaga]

Dear Noam,

Is it possible that the tip might be picking up particles as it scans, which is why in the beginning you get good images, but later on the artifact (smears) appear?

Are the smears always horizontal?  If they are, then it is a good chance the artifacts are scan related.

Just a couple of thoughts without actually having seen the artifact you are talking about.  If you have an image you can send me, I might be able to help you out more.

Sincerely,
Lisa Fukunaga
Applications Engineer
Veeco Instruments
805-967-2700 x2281


>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.