Double sample holder for efficient high-resolution studies of an insulator and a metal surface

A double sample holder supporting both a metal sample and an insulator crystal for high-resolution scanning probe microscopy experiments is described. The metal sample serves as a substrate for tip preparation and tip functionalization to efficiently and reliably enable high-resolution studies of the adjacent insulator surface. Imaging of Ag(111)/mica, Au(111)/mica, CaF₂(111), and calcite(104) surfaces is demonstrated at 5 K, including images on calcite(104) produced with a CO terminated tip, which was prepared on the adjacent metal sample.