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Updated: May 23, 2026

Large-area Scanning Probe Nanolithography Facilitated by Automated Alignment and Its Application to Substrate Fabrication for Cell Culture Studies
Published on: June 12, 2018
Synthesis and electroplating of high resolution insulated carbon nanotube scanning probes for imaging in liquid
N A Roberts1, J H Noh, M G Lassiter
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
Abstract:
High resolution and isolated scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is in demand for continued development of energy storage and conversion systems involving chemical reactions at the nanoscale as well as an improved understanding of biological systems. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have large aspect ratios and, if leveraged properly, can be used to develop high resolution SPM probes. Isolation of SPM probes can be achieved by depositing a dielectric film and selectively etching at the apex of the probe. In this paper the fabrication of a high resolution and isolated SPM tip is demonstrated using electron beam induced etching of a dielectric film deposited onto an SPM tip with an attached CNT at the apex.

