ICSPI NGauge AFM Manuale utente

User Manual

Version 1.1

Atomic Force Microscope

nGauge AFM User Manual 2

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................3

1.0 Safety and Precautions ........................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 Overview .................................................................................................................................................5

2.1 AFM Basics .......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 sc-AFM Basics...................................................................................................................................... 5

2.3 nGauge AFM Components.................................................................................................................. 6

2.4 nGauge AFM Capabilities and Limitations .......................................................................................... 6

3.0 Setup .......................................................................................................................................................6

3.1 Where to set it up ...............................................................................................................................6

3.2 How to set it up...................................................................................................................................7

3.3 Installing the Software ........................................................................................................................ 9

4.0 Basic Operation.....................................................................................................................................10

4.1 Software Overview............................................................................................................................10

4.2 Preparation and Approach................................................................................................................11

4.3 Imaging..............................................................................................................................................12

4.4 Analyzing Data ..................................................................................................................................14

5.0 Post-Processing..................................................................................................................................... 14

5.1 Gwyddion.......................................................................................................................................... 14

6.0 Troubleshooting....................................................................................................................................15

7.0 Advanced Controls................................................................................................................................17

7.1 Frequency Sweep - Advanced Controls ............................................................................................ 17

7.2 Approach - Advanced Controls .........................................................................................................18

7.3 Scan - Advanced Controls ................................................................................................................. 18

7.4 Menu Button - Advanced Controls ...................................................................................................19

nGauge AFM User Manual 3

Introduction

Congratulations on purchasing the world’s first single-chip Atomic Force Microscope (sc-AFM)

system! nGauge achieves magnification that far surpasses that of an optical microscope, so that you may

explore the world with nanometer-scale resolution.

The most up-to-date instruction manual can always be downloaded from

www.icspicorp.com/resources.

Please read this instruction manual before operating your new instrument to learn how it works,

how to set up and operate the hardware and software, how to prepare samples, and how to visualize

your data. The nGauge team has made every effort to improve the ease-of-use of AFMs, and we

welcome any feedback that may improve your experience.

1.0 Safety and Precautions

The following warnings and precautions should be observed to ensure the safety of the user and

the instrument:

Use only the power supply provided. The driving electronics are designed to accept 7.5Vdc, and

an internal fuse prevents the input current from exceeding 1A.

The stage contains moving parts that could pinch. To avoid minor injury, be aware of the moving

parts.

Avoid disassembling the system. If not done properly, this could result in damage to the

electronics or the mechanical components.

Be extremely careful when handling an AFM chip. They are very fragile and will break if the tip is

touched. AFM chips should be stored in their box with the tip facing DOWN, and removed using

the tweezers provided. If necessary, the AFM chip can be placed on a flat surface with the tip

facing up. The AFM chip can be picked up by hand by the board as long as you are careful to

avoid touching the tip.

The tip, located at the edge of the

board, is extremely fragile.

nGauge AFM User Manual 4

AFM chips should be stored with the tip

facing DOWN in the storage box. Use

tweezers to pick them up.

The AFM chip can be placed on a flat

surface with the tip facing up.

The AFM chip can be picked up by hand

as long as you don't touch the tip.

This is a zoomed-in photo of the AFM

chip. The chip is extremely fragile.

nGauge AFM User Manual 5

2.0 Overview

2.1 AFM Basics

Unlike optical microscopes that use light and lenses to magnify, or electron microscopes which

use electron beams to generate an image, Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs) use a very sharp tip to

measure tip-sample interaction forces and generate a 3D reconstruction of a sample surface. The tip is

raster scanned over a 2D area while a controller maintains a constant tip-sample force by adjusting the

tip's Z height. The control effort then represents the height of the features on the sample.

Conventional AFMs typically use a probe comprising a sharp tip on a silicon cantilever. A laser

beam is reflected off the backside of the cantilever onto a 4-quadrant photodetector that measures any

small displacements of the cantilever. A piezoelectric Z-scanner controls the height of the probe while a

piezoelectric XY stage raster scans the sample in X and Y.

2.2 sc-AFM Basics

A single-chip AFM (sc-AFM) operates in almost exactly the same manner as a conventional AFM

except that all of the essential components are integrated onto a chip. The chip is a

MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) device that uses the most advanced manufacturing process in

the world to produce tiny, ultra-precise scanners and sensors on a ~1x1mm silicon chip.

An sc-AFM has a cantilever and a sharp tip, but instead of a laser it has an integrated

piezoresistive strain sensor to measure tip displacements. The tip and sensor are attached to a MEMS

scanner that can position them in X, Y, and Z with sub-nanometer resolution.

nGauge AFM User Manual 6

2.3 nGauge AFM Components

The nGauge AFM system includes all of the following components. A computer (not included)

with a USB port is required.

1. Stage

2. Sample Platform

3. Thumb Nut

4. AFM Chips

5. Power Supply

6. USB Cable

7. Tweezers

2.4 nGauge AFM Capabilities and Limitations

The nGauge AFM operates in tapping mode, in which the cantilever oscillates at its resonant

frequency and makes intermittent contact, or “taps” the sample surface. It can scan areas of up to

20x20x10um in X, Y, and Z respectively with <1nm RMS Z noise.

Any solid sample can be imaged, including both conductive and non-conductive, but the AFM

cannot operate in liquid and cannot image liquid samples. Some samples, particularly polymers, may be

difficult to image due to surface charging.

3.0 Setup

3.1 Where to set it up

The nGauge AFM is small, simple, and portable, and can be set up just about anywhere.

However, for best results, it is recommended that you adhere to the following guidelines:

Flat surface: The system should be set up on a flat, level surface, like a desk or tabletop, with

enough space to ensure that the stage does not get bumped or moved while imaging.

Vibrations: The unique design of the nGauge AFM minimizes the effects of common sources of

vibrations, such as those caused by people walking by, doors opening and closing, and building

vibrations. However, it is best to set the system up on a solid, stable surface away from as many

sources of vibration as possible.

Air Drafts: The system is not immune to air drafts and should be set up away from air vents,

drafty windows, etc. If air drafts are unavoidable and present a significant problem, a box or

enclosure around the system may be required.

nGauge AFM User Manual 7

Electrical Noise: The system meets the FCC guidelines for electrical interference, but it is best to

avoid setting it up near sources of electrical noise, such as server rooms or rooms operating

high-power equipment.

3.2 How to set it up

Setup of the nGauge AFM is very simple.

1. Remove the

components from the

carrying case. Set the

stage upright on a flat

surface.

2. Plug the power supply

into a wall outlet and

into the power

connector in the

stage.

nGauge AFM User Manual 8

3. Connect the USB

cable to a computer

and to the USB

connector in the

stage.

4. Completely unscrew

and remove the

thumb nut from the

stage

nGauge AFM User Manual 9

5. Open up the AFM chip

box and pick up an

AFM chip using the

tweezers

6. Carefully place the

AFM chip onto the

alignment pins on the

stage with the tip

facing down. During

this step, the sample

platform should be

retracted sufficiently

to avoid any contact

between the tip and

platform.

7. Replace the thumb

nut and firmly tighten

it.

3.3 Installing the Software

The software required to operate the AFM can be found on the USB stick provided, or

downloaded from www.icspicorp.com/resources. To install the software for windows, run the

executable installer “nGauge_setup_x.x.x.x_windows.exe”. To install the software on Mac OS, simply

mount the disk image “nGauge_setup_x.x.x.x_mac.dmg” and drag the nGauge application into the

applications folder.

nGauge AFM User Manual 10

If network connection is available, the software will automatically check for updates from the

ICSPI server. This information is displayed on both the home screen and in the updates section of the

menu. To manually query the ICSPI update server for new updates, click Check Updates under the

updates section of the menu.

The open source AFM post-processing software called Gwyddion is a very useful tool and should

also be installed. You can download it from the Gwyddion website: http://gwyddion.net/download.php.

See section 5.1 Gwyddion for more details.

4.0 Basic Operation

4.1 Software Overview

Launch the software by double-clicking on the nGauge program on your desktop or searching for

nGauge in the start menu. If the AFM is powered up and connected to the computer with the USB cable,

the splash screen should display the message "AFM Ready". If not, refer to section 6.0 Troubleshooting.

The setup and imaging workflow is divided into three ordered tabs: Sweep, Approach, and Scan.

To navigate between the three tabs, click on the desired tab in the progress bar at the top of the page.

The menu button at top-right of the page brings out a detailed settings menu for all aspects of AFM

configuration. The settings in this menu are not required for normal operation and most users will never

need to use these controls. Please review section

7.4 Menu Button - Advanced Controls for details.

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