A simple method for AFM tip characterization by polystyrene spheres.
An AFM image would not be the true topography of a surface because of the limitation of a finite size of the tip. The true topography of the surface can be deduced if we can know the tip shape. In this paper a simple method has been established to determine the profile of an AFM tip. A geometrical model for the tip and a spherical object has been proposed to show the procedure for deducing the tip shape from AFM images. Isolated spheres and closely packed spheres with different diameters have been observed to confirm the tip shape by this method. It is a non-destructive method to determine the tip shape and the results can be used for future reconstruction of an AFM image.
Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Zeng
Guo-dong
GD
Zhu
Zhang
Z
Guo
Li
L
Zhang
Xue-jian
XJ
Yan
Qiang-guo
QG
Du
Ran
R
Liu