Transplanting assembly of carbon-nanotube-tipped atomic force microscope probes

摘要

Carbon-nanotube (CNT)-tipped atomic force microscope (AFM) probes were assembled in a deterministic and reproducible manner by transplanting a CNT bearing polymeric carrier to a microelectromechanical systems cantilever. Single-strand CNTs were grown vertically at predefined locations where each CNT was encapsulated into a cylindrical polymer carrier block. Double-layer carners were used for controlling the release of blocks and the exposed length of CNT tips after the assembly. Much reduced complexity in assembly was achieved by transplanting individual CNTs to AFM probes, which could scan nanotrenches and biostructures with little probe artifacts.