title: Scanning MWCNT-Nanopipette and Probe Microscopy: Li Patterning and Transport Studies.
abstract: A carbon-nanotube-enabling scanning probe technique/nanotechnology for manipulating and measuring lithium at the nano/mesoscale is introduced. Scanning Li-nanopipette and probe microscopy (SLi-NPM) is based on a conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever with an open-ended multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) affixed to its apex. SLi-NPM operation is demonstrated with a model system consisting of a Li thin film on a Si(111) substrate. By control of bias, separation distance, and contact time, attograms of Li can be controllably pipetted to or from the MWCNT tip. Patterned surface Li features are then directly probed via noncontact AFM measurements with the MWCNT tip. The subsequent decay of Li features is simulated with a mesoscale continuum model, developed here. The Li surface diffusion coefficient for a four (two) Li layer thick film is measured as D=8(±1.2)×10(-15) cm(2) s(-1) (D=1.75(±0.15)×10(-15) cm(2) s(-1)). Dual-Li pipetting/measuring with SLi-NPM enables a broad range of time-dependent Li and nanoelectrode characterization studies of fundamental importance to energy-storage research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742-4111, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742-4454, USA.|US Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen, MD, 21005, USA.
authors.forename: Satyaveda C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bharath
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742-4111, USA.|National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-1070, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742-4454, USA.
authors.forename: Janice E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Reutt-Robey
keywords: carbon nanotubes; energy storage; lithium; microscopy; nanopipettes; scanning probe microscopy; surface diffusion