APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR GROWING NANOFIBRES AND NANOTIPS

摘要

This invention relates to heating apparatus and methods with particular applications for growing a nanofibre (exampled by nanotube or nanowire) on a metallic tip. The invention also relates to apparatus and methods for growing nanofibres on metallic tips, and to nanotips fabricated by such methods and apparatus. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for providing nanotips for electron gun sources and scanning probe microscopy. A heater for heating an object in the presence of an electric field, in particular incorporated in nanotip fabrication apparatus. The heater comprises: a substantially planar electrically conductive heating element configured to define at least one aperture; a support to mount the heated object such that it protrudes through said aperture; and at least one electrical connection to said heating element; whereby, in use, the heating element is biassable by said at least one electrical connection such that the electric field in the vicinity of the object is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the element.