Håkan Olin

Preparation and characterization of electrochemically etched W tips for STM

We have investigated methods for cleaning dc-etched polycrystalline tungsten tips for scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The cleaning methods include Ar-ion sputtering, heating, chemical treatments and Ne-ion self-sputtering. We correlate transmission electron microscopy images of the tip, field-emission data from the tip and images of a clean Cu(111) surface to find an optimum procedure for STM imaging. Clean and sharp tips are made by sputtering, combined with careful heating by electron bombardment. We found that optimum sputtering was obtained either by use of a 4 keV Ar-ion gun for a few seconds or by self-sputtering with Ne ions for a few seconds or until decapitation occurs.

Compact design of a transmission electron microscope-scanning tunneling microscope holder with three-dimensional coarse motion

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with a compact, three-dimensional, inertial slider design is presented. Inertial sliding of the STM tip, in three dimensions, enables coarse motion and scanning using only one piezoelectric tube. Using the same electronics both for scanning and inertial sliding, step lengths of less than 5% of the piezo range were achieved. The compact design, less than 1 cm3 in volume, ensures a low mechanical noise level and enables us to fit the STM into the sample holder of a transmission electron microscope (TEM), while maintaining atomic scale resolution in both STM and TEM imaging.

Bistable nanoelectromechanical devices

A combined transmission electron microscopy-scanning tunneling microscopy (TEM-STM) technique has been used to investigate the force interactions of silicon and germanium nanowires with gold electrodes. The I(V) data obtained typically show linear behavior between the gold electrode and silicon nanowires at all contact points, whereas the linearity of I(V) curves obtained for germanium nanowires were dependent on the point of contact. Bistable silicon and germanium nanowire-based nanoelectromechanical programmable read-only memory (NEMPROM) devices were demonstrated by TEM-STM. These nonvolatile NEMPROM devices have switching potentials as low as 1 V and are highly stable making them ideal candidates for low-leakage electronic devices.

Force interactions and adhesion of gold contacts using a combined atomic force microscope and transmission electron microscope

Force interactions and adhesion of gold contacts using a combined atomic force microscope and transmission electron microscope

Electrical Sintering of Silver Nanoparticle Ink Studied by In-Situ TEM Probing

Metallic nanoparticle inks are used for printed electronics, but to reach acceptable conductivity the structures need to be sintered, usually using a furnace. Recently, sintering by direct resistive heating has been demonstrated. For a microscopic understanding of this Joule heating sintering method, we studied the entire process in real time inside a transmission electron microscope equipped with a movable electrical probe. We found an onset of Joule heating induced sintering and coalescence of nanoparticles at power levels of 0.1–10 mW/m3. In addition, a carbonization of the organic shells that stabilize the nanoparticles were found, with a conductivity of 4 105 Sm−1.

Rubbed polyimide films studied by scanning force microscopy

The surfaces of rubbed polyimide films for aligning liquid crystal have been studied by atomic force microscopy. The unrubbed films consisted of randomly distributed polyimide clusters of different sizes. On the rubbed surface, however, the clusters are aligned in long chains along the rubbing direction. The cluster chains were separated by about 100 nm for small rubbing strength. For higher strength the cluster chains coalesced into wider ones.

Simple synthesis of clay-gold nanocomposites with tunable color.

Clay-based nanocomposites have been studied for several decades, mainly focusing on clay-polymer nanocomposites. Here, we report on a simple wet chemical method to synthesize clay-APTES-Au (CAAu) nanocomposites, where 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) acts as the linkage. The silane terminal of APTES formed bonds with the clay surface, while the other -NH(2) terminal bonds to gold nanoparticles. The color of clay changed when these CAAu nanocomposites were formed. By changing the size of the gold nanoparticles, the color of CAAu could be adjusted, simply by changing process parameters. TEM characterization of the synthesized nanocomposites showed an even distribution of gold nanoparticles on the clay surfaces. The nanocomposites were stable in strong acid and high concentration of salt conditions, while strong basic solution like NaOH could slightly influence the status of the gold nanoparticles due to the rupture of the Si-O-Si bonds between APTES and clay. To demonstrate the potential for label free sensing application of CAAu nanocomposites, we made hybrids of clay-APTES-Au-HD-Au (CAAuHAu), where hexamethylene diamine (HD) served as links between CAAu nanocomposites and the gold nanoparticles. The color of the composites changed from red to blue, when the hybrids were formed. Moreover, hemoglobin was loaded on the CAAu nanocomposites, which can potentially be used as a biosensor. These synthesized nanocomposites may combine the catalytic properties of clay and the well-known excellent properties of gold nanoparticles, such as the ability to anchor biological and chemical molecules. Furthermore, the color change of CAAu, when the CAAuHAu hybrids were observed, suggests the applications of these nanocomposites in biochemical and chemical sensing.

MEMS Sensor for In Situ TEM Atomic Force Microscopy

Here, we present a MEMS atomic force microscope sensor for use inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). This enables direct in situ TEM force measurements in the nanonewton range and thus mechanical characterization of nanosized structures. The main design challenges of the system and sensor are to reach a high sensitivity and to make a compact design that allows the sensor to be fitted in the narrow dimensions of the pole gap inside the TEM. In order to miniaturize the sensing device, an integrated detection with piezoresistive elements arranged in a full Wheatstone bridge was used. Fabrication of the sensor was done using standard micromachining techniques, such as ion implantation, oxide growth and deep reactive ion etch. We also present in situ TEM force measurements on nanotubes, which demonstrate the ability to measure spring constants of nanoscale systems.

Porous Gold Films—A Short Review on Recent Progress

Porous gold films have attracted increasing interest over the last ten years due to the unique properties of high specific surface area and electrical conductivity combined with chemical stability and ability to alter the surface chemistry. Several methods have been developed to synthesize porous gold films such as de-alloying, templating, electrochemical, and self-assembling. These porous gold films are used in diverse fields, for example, as electrochemical and Raman sensors or for chemical catalysis. Here, we provide a short review on the progress of porous gold films over the past ten years, including the synthesis and applications of such films.

Improved step edges on LaAlO3 substrates by using amorphous carbon etch masks

We report a technique for the fabrication of sharp and straight step edges on LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates by ion milling. An electron beam lithography defined amorphous carbon film was used as an etch mask. It had very low ion milling rate and was easily prepared and removed. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine the step profile. YBa2Cu3O7 step edge junctions fabricated at the LAO steps show promising results. An IcRn product of 1 mV was obtained at 30 K. A Fraunhofer‐like magnetic field dependence of Ic was obtained up to ±2 Φ0. One weak link or possibly identical weak links in series for these step edge junctions were observed from the current‐voltage (I‐V) curves as well as from the magnetic field dependence of the I‐V curves.