Development of Insulated Conductive AFM Probes for Experiments in Electrochemical Environment

Abstract

In this work, we developed a process to make insulated conductive AFM probes. The process is based on a previously reported PtxSiy CP-AFM. Following this fabrication, a feedback controlled electrochemical deposition of Au in a HAuCl4 based electrolyte is applied to coat a homogeneous gold cluster layer exclusively on the conductive tip apex. This modified device has the potential for connecting molecules and to measure their properties, which include both the mechanical force and the charge transport between the tip and a conducting substrate.