Simple and reliable method of conductive SPM probe fabrication using carbon nanotubes

Abstract

We demonstrate the procedure of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) conductive probe fabrication with a single multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) on a silicon cantilever pyramid. The nanotube bundle reliably attached to the metal-covered pyramid is formed using electrophoresis technique from the MWNT suspension. It's shown that the dimpled aluminium sample can be used both for shortening/modification of the nanotube bundle by applying pulse voltage between the probe and the sample, and for controlling the probe shape via Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging the sample. It allows to fabricate a probe suitable for SPM imaging in the contact and modulation regimes. The majority of such probes are conductive with conductivity not degrading within hours of SPM imaging.