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Nanoscale characterization
TOOLS & TECHNIQUES UPDATE
Nanopositioner family Newport’s new NanoPZ™ family of nanopositioners includes the PZA12 compact linear actuator, PZC200 controller, and PZC-SB switchbox. The PZA12’s piezo stepping motor provides 12 mm travel with 30 nm motion sensitivity at up to 0.2 mm/s for loads of up to 50 N with no loss of position when power is removed. Also, the NanoPZ design does not rely on varying static and dynamic friction forces, which can provide inconsistent performance and limited lifetime. The PZC-SB provides control of up to eight PZA12 actuators with a single controller via either the ergonomic handheld interface or a RS232 port. Contact: www.newport.com
Long-travel positioner The NTS100 linear nanopositioning stage from DTI-NanoTech has a piezoelectric rotary motor and precision optical encoder, and provides 100 mm travel, 0.4 nm resolution, and long-term stability (<2 nm drift/hr) at 20°C. Control is via a digital signal processor controller with Windows®-XP graphical user interface, enabling a wide dynamic range and high measurement accuracy in both open- and closed-loop mode. Features include a multichannel controller, velocity range (stepped to continuous, 0.5 nm/s to 2000 mm/s), rapid response (10 ms), and high load capacity (3 kg). Adapters and universal mounting plates allow various multichannel configurations (e.g. XY, XYZ). An optional joystick enables the precise, simultaneous control of up to three stages. Contact: www.dti-nanotech.com
DSP gaussmeters Lake Shore Cryotronics has launched the Model 455 gaussmeter. Features including digital signal processing (DSP) technology, dc to 20 kHz ac frequency response, peak field detection to 50 µs pulse widths, dc accuracy of 0.075%, 5¾ digits of display resolution, and temperature compensation. Frequently used functions are accessible via one or two keystrokes from the front panel. The easy-to-read message-based display shows probe temperature as well as frequency when operating in root-mean-square mode. For added functionality, a standard Lake Shore Hall probe is included. Contact: www.lakeshore.com
puck that allows lateral translation by up to several millimeters for finding the optimum imaging region. This enables easy, simple changing of both the sample and its experimental environment without needing to dismantle the cell, so throughput is increased. Accessories allow scanning in either gases or liquids. Contact: www.pacificnano.com
Variable-field AFM module Nanoscale characterization Veeco Instruments has introduced two new highperformance, low-noise application modules for nanoscale electrical characterization using the Digital Instruments CP-II scanning probe microscope. Conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) measures local current-voltage or current-force spectra and generates two-dimensional (2D) maps of conductivity and sample quality/integrity. This allows the direct correlation of structural features with electrical characteristics for analyzing variations in film thickness and locating electrical defects. Scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) measures variations in carrier concentration on semiconductor structures. Applications include 2D dopant profiling and the polarization measurement of small ferroelectric capacitors and single grains. It also enables electrostatic force microscopy and surface potential imaging.
Asylum Research is offering a Variable Field Module™ for its MFP-3D™ atomic force microscope (AFM). For magnetic force microscopy, conductance, and other applications where a sample exhibits a dependence on magnetic field, it applies an in-plane magnetic field exceeding +2000 Oe with <1 Oe resolution. Adjustable pole tips allow the maximum value of applied field to be varied. The design incorporates rare-earth magnets, so there is no heating or drift with field change. Field intensity is easily controlled through the software interface. Also, the new Digital Access Module optional hardware accessory, which plugs into the front of the MFP-3D controller, gives users access to applications such as photon counting, synchronization of experiments to the AFM scan, and general-purpose digital input/output control. Contact: www.asylumresearch.com
Contact: www.veeco.com
Auto structure determination Autostructure™ software from Bruker AXS allows the automated determination of three-dimensional crystal structures of organic, mineralogical, and inorganic molecules from X-ray data. While mainly targeted for chemical crystallography, it can also handle peptide and small protein structures of moderate resolution. The software requires only approximate information on elemental composition. It then processes diffraction intensity data and cascades through Patterson, direct, and dual-space methods to propose a structure model within seconds. Subsequent refinement cycles of atomic position and displacement parameters yield a highly accurate representation. Contact: www.bruker-biosciences.com
Environmental cell for AFM The Environmental Cell is a new option for Pacific Nanotechnology’s Nano-R™ Light Lever atomic force microscope (AFM) that enables in situ characterization of surface properties. The chamber is formed by a flexible latex seal between the AFM scanner and the top of the sample holder or
Customizable, portable SPMs The new Nanosurf easyScan2® portable scanning probe microscope (SPM) has a customizable design owing to modular inserts into a single electronic box and various scan heads and software modules. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) module allows quick atomic-resolution imaging on a normal table without vibration isolation. The atomic force microscope (AFM) module has cantilever-alignment chip technology, enabling adjustment-free tip changes. Intelligent electromagnetic scan-head technology has low noise and power consumption. The head’s duallens system allows top and side video views for easy sample positioning. Dynamic AFM and multimode packages enable imaging of soft or sensitive samples. Contact: www.nanosurf.com
DECEMBER 2005 | VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 12
69
Nanopositioner family Newport’s new NanoPZ™ family of nanopositioners includes the PZA12 compact linear actuator, PZC200 controller, and PZC-SB switchbox. The PZA12’s piezo stepping motor provides 12 mm travel with 30 nm motion sensitivity at up to 0.2 mm/s for loads of up to 50 N with no loss of position when power is removed. Also, the NanoPZ design does not rely on varying static and dynamic friction forces, which can provide inconsistent performance and limited lifetime. The PZC-SB provides control of up to eight PZA12 actuators with a single controller via either the ergonomic handheld interface or a RS232 port. Contact: www.newport.com
Long-travel positioner The NTS100 linear nanopositioning stage from DTI-NanoTech has a piezoelectric rotary motor and precision optical encoder, and provides 100 mm travel, 0.4 nm resolution, and long-term stability (<2 nm drift/hr) at 20°C. Control is via a digital signal processor controller with Windows®-XP graphical user interface, enabling a wide dynamic range and high measurement accuracy in both open- and closed-loop mode. Features include a multichannel controller, velocity range (stepped to continuous, 0.5 nm/s to 2000 mm/s), rapid response (10 ms), and high load capacity (3 kg). Adapters and universal mounting plates allow various multichannel configurations (e.g. XY, XYZ). An optional joystick enables the precise, simultaneous control of up to three stages. Contact: www.dti-nanotech.com
DSP gaussmeters Lake Shore Cryotronics has launched the Model 455 gaussmeter. Features including digital signal processing (DSP) technology, dc to 20 kHz ac frequency response, peak field detection to 50 µs pulse widths, dc accuracy of 0.075%, 5¾ digits of display resolution, and temperature compensation. Frequently used functions are accessible via one or two keystrokes from the front panel. The easy-to-read message-based display shows probe temperature as well as frequency when operating in root-mean-square mode. For added functionality, a standard Lake Shore Hall probe is included. Contact: www.lakeshore.com
puck that allows lateral translation by up to several millimeters for finding the optimum imaging region. This enables easy, simple changing of both the sample and its experimental environment without needing to dismantle the cell, so throughput is increased. Accessories allow scanning in either gases or liquids. Contact: www.pacificnano.com
Variable-field AFM module Nanoscale characterization Veeco Instruments has introduced two new highperformance, low-noise application modules for nanoscale electrical characterization using the Digital Instruments CP-II scanning probe microscope. Conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) measures local current-voltage or current-force spectra and generates two-dimensional (2D) maps of conductivity and sample quality/integrity. This allows the direct correlation of structural features with electrical characteristics for analyzing variations in film thickness and locating electrical defects. Scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) measures variations in carrier concentration on semiconductor structures. Applications include 2D dopant profiling and the polarization measurement of small ferroelectric capacitors and single grains. It also enables electrostatic force microscopy and surface potential imaging.
Asylum Research is offering a Variable Field Module™ for its MFP-3D™ atomic force microscope (AFM). For magnetic force microscopy, conductance, and other applications where a sample exhibits a dependence on magnetic field, it applies an in-plane magnetic field exceeding +2000 Oe with <1 Oe resolution. Adjustable pole tips allow the maximum value of applied field to be varied. The design incorporates rare-earth magnets, so there is no heating or drift with field change. Field intensity is easily controlled through the software interface. Also, the new Digital Access Module optional hardware accessory, which plugs into the front of the MFP-3D controller, gives users access to applications such as photon counting, synchronization of experiments to the AFM scan, and general-purpose digital input/output control. Contact: www.asylumresearch.com
Contact: www.veeco.com
Auto structure determination Autostructure™ software from Bruker AXS allows the automated determination of three-dimensional crystal structures of organic, mineralogical, and inorganic molecules from X-ray data. While mainly targeted for chemical crystallography, it can also handle peptide and small protein structures of moderate resolution. The software requires only approximate information on elemental composition. It then processes diffraction intensity data and cascades through Patterson, direct, and dual-space methods to propose a structure model within seconds. Subsequent refinement cycles of atomic position and displacement parameters yield a highly accurate representation. Contact: www.bruker-biosciences.com
Environmental cell for AFM The Environmental Cell is a new option for Pacific Nanotechnology’s Nano-R™ Light Lever atomic force microscope (AFM) that enables in situ characterization of surface properties. The chamber is formed by a flexible latex seal between the AFM scanner and the top of the sample holder or
Customizable, portable SPMs The new Nanosurf easyScan2® portable scanning probe microscope (SPM) has a customizable design owing to modular inserts into a single electronic box and various scan heads and software modules. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) module allows quick atomic-resolution imaging on a normal table without vibration isolation. The atomic force microscope (AFM) module has cantilever-alignment chip technology, enabling adjustment-free tip changes. Intelligent electromagnetic scan-head technology has low noise and power consumption. The head’s duallens system allows top and side video views for easy sample positioning. Dynamic AFM and multimode packages enable imaging of soft or sensitive samples. Contact: www.nanosurf.com
DECEMBER 2005 | VOLUME 8 | NUMBER 12
69