An experimentally proved method for the automatic correction of drift-distorted surface topography obtained with a scanning probe microscope (SPM) is suggested. Drift-produced distortions are described by linear transformations valid for the case of rather slow changing of the microscope drift velocity. One or two pairs of counter-scanned images (CSIs) of surface topography are used as initial data. To correct distortions, it is required to recognize the same surface feature within each CSI and to determine the feature lateral coordinates. Solving a system of linear equations, the linear transformation coefficients suitable for CSI correction in the lateral and the vertical planes are found. After matching the corrected CSIs, topography averaging is carried out in the overlap area. Recommendations are given that help both estimate the drift correction error and obtain the corrected images where the error does not exceed some preliminarily specified value. Two nonlinear correction approaches based on the linear one are suggested that provide a greater precision of drift elimination. Depending on the scale and the measurement conditions as well as the correction approach applied, the maximal error may be decreased from 8-25% to 0.6-3%, typical mean error within the area of corrected image is 0.07-1.5%. The method developed permits us to recover drift-distorted topography segments/apertures obtained by using feature-oriented scanning. The suggested method may be applied to any instrument of the SPM family.

A real-time scanning algorithm is suggested which uses features of the surface as reference points at relative movements. Generally defined hill-or pit-like topography elements are taken as the features. The operation of the algorithm is based upon local recognition of the features and their connection to each other. The permissible class of surfaces includes ordered, partially ordered, or disordered surfaces if their features have comparable extents in the scan plane. The method allows one to exclude the negative influence of thermodrift, creep, and hysteresis over the performance of a scanning probe microscope. Owing to the possibility of carrying out an unlimited number of averages, the precision of measurements can be considerably increased. The distinctive feature of the method is its ability of topography reconstruction when the ultimate details are smaller than those detectable by a conventional microscope scan. The suggested approach eliminates the restrictions on scan size. Nonlinearity, nonorthogonality, cross coupling of manipulators as well as the Abbé offset error are corrected with the use of scan-space-distributed calibration coefficients which are determined automatically in the course of measuring a standard surface by the given method. The ways of precise probe positioning by local surface features within the fine manipulator field and the coarse manipulator field, automatic probe return into the operational zone after sample dismounting, automatic determination of exact relative position of the probes in multiprobe instruments, as well as automatic successive application of the whole set of probes to the same object on the surface are proposed. The possibility of performing accurately localized low-noise spectroscopy is demonstrated. The developed methodology is applicable for any scanning probe devices.

A new model description and type classification carried out on its base of a wide variety of practical hysteresis loops are suggested. An analysis of the loop approximating function was carried out; the parameters and characteristics of the model were defined -coersitivity, remanent polarization, value of hysteresis, spontaneous polarization, induced piezocoefficients, value of saturation, hysteresis losses of energy per cycle. It was shown that with piezomanipulators of certain hysteresis loop types, there is no difference in heat production. The harmonic linearization coefficients were calculated, and the harmonically linearized transfer function of a nonlinear hysteresis element was deduced. The hysteresis loop type was defined that possesses minimum phase shift. The average relative approximation error of the model has been evaluated as 1.5%-6% for real hysteresis loops. A procedure for definition of the model parameters by experimental data is introduced. Examples of using the results in a scan unit of a scanning tunneling microscope for compensation of raster distortion are given.

A practical method is described to find automatically the calibration coefficients and residual nonorthogonality of a tunneling microscope scanner. As initial data, the coordinates of three atoms were used forming a triangle in a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface appearing in the form of a spatially geometrical measure. A recognition procedure is described which can be applied to determine the lateral coordinates of the atoms. Length and orientation distortions were calculated, estimates of calibration errors were given and the requirement on the nonorthogonality limit was formulated for manipulator a given that ensures measurements of the predetermined accuracy. The sensitivity of the method to a noise in atom coordinates was determined. Experimental data showing the practical suitability of the method developed are presented.

The modification of the surface of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyurethane (PU) by means of the pulsed ion-plasma deposition of nanostructural carbon coatings at 20-60°C has been studied. The effect of this low temperature treatment on the biocompatibility of the LDPE and PU has been assessed. Optimum technological parameters for the formation of mosaic carbon nanostructures with a thickness of 0.3-15 nm and a cluster lateral size of 10-500 nm are determined. These structures give the polymer surface increased hemocompatible properties. The surface of samples was studied by methods of scanning electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of the UV light of a krypton lamp (λ = 123.6 nm) and white synchrotron radiation on the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) preliminarily treated in an oxygen containing RF discharge plasma has been investigated by varying the dura tion of exposure (from several minutes to several dozen minutes) and the residual gas pressure (2 and 100 Pa). This processing ensures the smoothing of the surface relief on micro and nanoscale levels, which can improve the biocompatibility of the modified PMMA film surface. The principles of a two stage technology for rendering the titanium (implant) surface biocompatible are developed. This technology consists of the chemical pretreatment of the surface for creating a microrelief (2-3 μm roughness), followed by the deposi tion of a titanium oxide film with controlled composition (TiO 2) and thickness (10-60 nm). The influence of the mechanisms and technological parameters of the oxide film deposition on its composition, structure, uni formity (conformal coating of involved shapes), and biocompatibility of the modified surface have been stud ied.