Toward Mechanosynthesis of Diamondoid Structures: VII. Simple Strategy of Building Atomically Perfect SPM Tip Through Attachment of C₆₀ Molecule to Commercial Silicon Tip by Controlled Hydrogen Atom Desorption from Tip Asperity Si(111) Silicon Surface

Author: Herman, Aleksander

Source: Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience, Volume 8, Number 9, September 2011 , pp. 1703-1709(7)

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $113.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Tip manufacturers offer micro-fabricated silicon tips in three geometries, i.e., pyramidal, tetrahedral and conical. Conical tips can be made sharp, with high aspect ratios and radii as small as 50 Å. Pyramidal tips have lower aspect ratios and nominal tip radii of a few hundred angstroms, but they are more durable. However, even commercial conical tip manufacturers supply the tip structure only at the micrometer scale, and there is no direct method for imaging the very end of the tip, i.e., the “nano-tip.“ In this paper a very simple strategy of building atomically defined asperity on Si(111) surface of the commercial silicon tip is described. The strategy consists of four simple steps. In the first step, the silicon tip is irradiated with ultraviolet light in the atmosphere of oxygen to remove carbon contaminants. During the second step, a thermally oxidized SiO₂ layer is eliminated by HF etching to sharpen the tip apex and hydrogenation of its surface. In the third step, controlled electron-stimulated desorption of hydrogen from the tip asperity surface is applied. Finally, in the step four, the C₆₀ molecule docking to surface dangling bonds is performed. In the final part of this work PM6 modeling was used to show positional mechano-synthetic capabilities of the described SPM tip.

Keywords: ELECTRON-STIMULATED DESORPTION OF HYDROGEN; HYDROGEN PASSIVATED SILICON SURFACE; C60 MOLECULE DOCKING; UHV-SPM TIP; EXPLORATORY ENGINEERING; SILICON; INTERMEDIATE GENERATION OF NANO-SYSTEMS

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jctn.2011.1869

Publication date: 2011-09-01

More about this publication?

Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience is an international peer-reviewed journal with a wide-ranging coverage, consolidates research activities in all aspects of computational and theoretical nanoscience into a single reference source. This journal offers scientists and engineers peer-reviewed research papers in all aspects of computational and theoretical nanoscience and nanotechnology in chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering and biology to publish original full papers and timely state-of-the-art reviews and short communications encompassing the fundamental and applied research.
Editorial Board
Information for Authors
Submit a Paper
Subscribe to this Title
Terms & Conditions
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites