Temperature-dependent nanoscale contact potential measurement technique and device

摘要

The present invention provides a microcantilever capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a surface with nanometer scale position resolution. The present invention also provides methods of manipulating, imaging, and/or mapping a surface or the properties of a surface with a microcantilever. The microcantilevers of the present invention are also capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a gas or liquid. The devices and methods of the present invention are useful for applications including gas, liquid, and surface sensing, micro- and nano-fabrication, imaging and mapping of surface contours or surface properties.