EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L48232/01
Title: A MULTIPLE-TIP STM FOR SURFACE IMAGING AND NANOFABRICATION
Principal Investigator: Prewett, Professor PD
Other Investigators:
Huq, Dr SE Laitenberger, Dr P Palmer, Professor RE
Hatfield, Dr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Central Microstructure Facility
Organisation: STFC Laboratories (Grouped)
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 22 December 1997 Ends: 21 June 1999 Value (£): 42,347
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The Scanning Tunnelling Microscope is a serial instrument. This limits the rate at which images can be acquired, restricts typical scan areas to no more than a few 100 square microns and makes it hard to envisage the use of the instrument in realistic device fabrication schemes. A parallel, multiple-tip STM would, in principle, be able to overcome these limitations. In this proposal, which hinges on employing the latest techniques in lithography, microfabrication technology, and integrated circuit design, we bring together a team of researchers from three UK institutions to make a concerted attack on this demanding, but very exciting, problem. We seek to build a microfabricated 6 tip STM (operating initially in air) with individual z control of the tips - first a linear array, or atomic comb, then a 2D array, or atomic toothbrush - and also to develop the integrated control electronics (to be mounted ultimately on the STM head) which will allow the subsequent extension of the instrument to a large number of tips (e.g. 64 as the next step). No such multiple-tip STM has yet been reported.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: