Growth of Carbon Nanofibers on Tipless Cantilevers for High Resolution Topography and Magnetic Force Imaging

Carbon nanofibers are grown on tipless cantilevers as probe tips for scanning probe microscopy. A catalyst dot pattern for carbon nanofiber growth is formed on the surface of the tipless cantilevers using electron beam lithography, and the growth of carbon nanofibers is performed in a direct-current plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. Atomic force surface imaging and magnetic force-gradient imaging have been demonstrated using these probe tips.