Variable-temperature Scanning Probe Microscope for Ultra-High Vacuum

用于超高真空的变温扫描探针显微镜

• 批准号: 531220212
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Major Research Instrumentation
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2022-12-31 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/531220212?language=en
• 关键词: Variable; temperature; Scanning; Probe; Microscope

The research of the group focusses on molecular nanoscience and surface physics of interfaces. The controlled environment of ultra-high vacuum enables the application of highly accurate characterisation methods, which comes at the cost of limitations posed by vacuum sample preparation. Over the last decade, a sophisticated experimental set-up named electrospray controlled ion beam deposition system (ES-CIBD) was developed in-house, which became fully operational recently. With this instrument, one of a small number existing internationally, we could expand the class of molecular systems studied to macromolecular species, which opens previously inaccessible playgrounds in the chemistry and physics of adsorbed functional molecules and their nanoscale assemblies on surfaces. To enable the further development of this novel, highly promising research direction, a dedicated and versatile characterisation tool is requested, namely a variable temperature scanning probe microscope integrating both tunnelling and atomic force (STM and AFM) measurement modes. The main purpose of the requested instrumentation is to be able to provide an optimised work flow for acquisition of (i) high-resolution topographic maps of soft-landed macromolecules (ii) characterisation of the molecular conformation, environment and molecular self-assembly, (iii) electronic maps featuring local contact potential difference or surface density of states and (iv) characterisation of nanomechanical properties and exploration of molecular manipulation protocols. This will be achieved by a combined scanning tunnelling and atomic force microscope. Additionally, the data acquisition at variable temperatures enables to capture dynamic effects, determine the thermal stability of nanoscale organisations, and activation barriers of surface reactions and processes. In this respect, an operational temperature regime of ~ 100 to 400 K is expected to provide adequate versatility to investigate the dynamics of the relevant nanoscale phenomena. Importantly, the AFM capabilities are decisive to explore (ultra-)thin films of macromolecular species and study ES-CIBD preparations on nonconductive substrates, which are frequently of scientific and technological interest or relevance.

该小组的研究重点是分子纳米科学和界面表面物理。超高真空的受控环境使得高精度表征方法的应用成为可能，但这是以真空样品制备带来的限制为代价的。在过去的十年中，内部开发了一种名为电喷雾控制离子束沉积系统（ES-CIBD）的复杂实验装置，并于最近全面投入运行。借助该仪器（国际上现有的少数仪器之一），我们可以将研究的分子系统类别扩展到大分子物种，这为吸附功能分子及其表面纳米级组装的化学和物理领域开辟了以前无法进入的领域。为了进一步发展这一新颖且极具前景的研究方向，需要一种专用且多功能的表征工具，即集成隧道和原子力（STM 和 AFM）测量模式的变温扫描探针显微镜。所需仪器的主要目的是能够提供优化的工作流程，用于获取（i）软着陆大分子的高分辨率地形图（ii）分子构象、环境和分子自组装的表征，（ iii）以局部接触电位差或表面状态密度为特征的电子图，以及（iv）纳米力学特性的表征和分子操纵协议的探索。这将通过扫描隧道和原子力显微镜相结合来实现。此外，可变温度下的数据采集能够捕获动态效应，确定纳米级组织的热稳定性以及表面反应和过程的激活势垒。在这方面，约 100 至 400 K 的操作温度范围预计将提供足够的多功能性来研究相关纳米级现象的动力学。重要的是，AFM 能力对于探索大分子物质的（超）薄膜和研究非导电基底上的 ES-CIBD 制剂至关重要，这些通常具有科学和技术兴趣或相关性。