Effect of Fabrication Process Parameters on the Apex-Radius of STM Tungsten Nanotip (original) (raw)

This research investigates the impact of fabrication process parameters on the apex radius of tungsten nanotips used in scanning tunneling microscopes (STM). It is established that the apex radius significantly affects the resolution of STM images, with smaller radii providing higher resolutions. A range of electrochemical etching process parameters was tested, including wire immersion length, which was found to influence the apex radius. The study utilized an L16 orthogonal array experimental layout to evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio and analyzed variance to establish the optimal conditions for tip fabrication, highlighting the importance of process control in achieving desired nanotip characteristics.