Thesis-PDF - IAP/TU Wien

Figure 3.13: The above force curve is a typical calibration force curve on
glass. Once the cantilever tip has contact with the hard glass surface lowering
the cantilever base further results in displacement of the tip relative to
its normal position by the same amount (see also above Fig. 3.11). The red
curve corresponds to the lowering of the cantilever, the blue to its retraction.
Values on the abscissa correspond to the height of the cantilever base,
ordinate values correspond to the calculated displacement of the cantilever
tip (zero points are arbitrarily chosen).
The combination of the information gathering methods from the previous
section and the methods to manipulate things at the nanoscale represents a strong
toolset for investigating and building small structures. Eventually, scientists will
have a great collection of these tools to their disposal arranged in a large database
combined with smart software, managing all this knowledge. One could imagine
a Lego T M -like building kit for thorough investigation, simulation and creation of
robust and versatile nano- and microstructures.
A selection of important manipulation techniques follows.
3.4.1 Rearrangement of Matter
- AFMs have been used for manipulation of individual atoms of
Xenon(STM) , molecules ([71]), silicon surfaces ([72]), and polymer surfaces.
- STMs have been used for formation of nanofeatures by localized heating
or by inducing chemical reactions under the STM tip ([73], [74], [75]) and
nanomachining. ([76])
- AFM Nanopatterning processes.
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