NT-MDT Solver Next Instruction Manual
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NT-MDT Solver Next Instruction Manual

Solver platform fluid measurement scanning probe microscope
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SOLVER platform
SOLVER NEXT
Instruction Manual
Fluid Measurement
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  • Page 1 SOLVER platform SOLVER NEXT Instruction Manual Fluid Measurement www.ntmdt-si.com...
  • Page 3 Scanning Probe Microscope Solver NEXT Fluid Measurements Instruction Manual 2012 - 2018, Copyright © NT-MDT SI NT-MDT Spectrum Instruments Proezd 4922, 4/3 Zelenograd, Moscow 124460, Russia Tel.: + 7 (499) 110-2050 www.ntmdt-si.com...
  • Page 5 Read me First! Observe safety measures for operation with devices containing sources of laser radiation. Do not stare into the beam. A label warning about the presence of laser radiation is attached to the laser sources (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Before you start working with the instrument, get acquainted with the basic safety measures and the operation conditions for the instrument! If you are a beginner in scanning probe microscopy, we recommend you to familiarize with...
  • Page 7 User’s documentation set The following manuals are included into the user’s documentation set: - Instruction Manual – is the guidance on preparation of the instrument and other equipment for operation on various techniques of Scanning Probe Microscopy. The contents of the user’s documentation set may differ depending on the delivery set of the instrument.

  • Page 9: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements Table of Contents 1. OVERVIEW .............................. 3 1.1................3 ESIGNATION AND EASUREMENT ECHNIQUES 1.2......................5 ESIGN OF THE IQUID 1.3......................6 ESIGN OF THE IQUID 2. PREPARATION FOR OPERATION ..................... 7 2.1.
  • Page 10 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements...

  • Page 11: Overview

    The measuring head for operation in liquid (hereafter - liquid head) is designed for measurements in liquid environment with basic AFM techniques. The liquid head is a replaceable part of the SOLVER NEXT instrument. The liquid head consists of the following parts (Fig. 1-1): ●...
  • Page 12 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements The liquid head provides measurements with the following techniques: ● Contact AFM; ● Semicontact AFM; ● Lateral Force Imaging; ● Adhesion Force Imaging; ● Force Modulation Mode; ● Phase Imaging Mode; ● AFM Lithography. Table 1-1. Specifications...

  • Page 13: Design Of The Liquid Head

    The support balls serve for placing the liquid head in its mounting seats in the measuring unit of the SOLVER NEXT. The magnetic fasteners provide stable securing of the head. Design of the liquid cell provides high stability of its position so that the probe tip comes to the same position relative to the sample when the head is remounted after removal.

  • Page 14: Design Of The Liquid Cell

    SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 1.3. Design of the Liquid Cell The liquid cell contains (Fig. 1-4): ● titanium-made base for keeping liquid from entering the scanner; ● fluoroplastic housing for placing the sample and for filling with the liquid;...

  • Page 15: Preparation For Operation

    The explanations below assumes that the user is well aware of procedures on preparing for measurements and on performing measurements with contact and semicontact AFM techniques in air (see «SPM SOLVER NEXT. Instruction manual»). The basic operations performed when preparing for the work: 1.

  • Page 16: Sample Installation

    SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 2.2. Sample Installation Details of sample installation depend on how the liquid is used (in bulk or in droplets). Further those details are explained. Mounting Sample in Liquid Cell ATTENTION! Be utmost careful, when operating with liquid. The scanner is not protected against penetrating the liquid inside it while this liquid can damage the scanner.
  • Page 17 Sample installation for operation in a droplet is basically the same as that for operation in air (see book “SPM Solver NEXT. User’s manual”). Here, only steps specific for operation in a droplet are given. Those are: 1.
  • Page 18 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements Setting the sample height value For better accuracy of scanning along X and Y directions in the scanning-by-sample mode, the total height of the assembly of the sample with the liquid cell or with the substrate should be properly considered.
  • Page 19 Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation For setting the sample height in the program, perform the following steps: ScanSettings 1. Open the window by clicking the button in the Scanning window (Fig. 2-6). Fig. 2-6. Settings SampleHeight 2. In the input field (Fig. 2-7), enter the desired composite sample height. Fig.

  • Page 20: Probe Installation

    SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 2.3. Probe Installation To install probe, do the following: 1. Verify that the glass pedestal is clean. If necessary, remove the clip from its slot on the base and then wipe the pedestal with a lint-free tissue moistened with alcohol.
  • Page 21 Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation 5. Using tweezers put the probe on the beveled side of the glass pedestal under the spring. The length of the chip part extending above the upper side of the glass pedestal should be about 0.5–0.8 mm, i.e. the chip edge with the cantilever should be approximately above the centre of the glass pedestal upper side see (Fig.

  • Page 22: Installing The Liquid Head

    SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 2.4. Installing the Liquid Head ATTENTION! The scanner with the liquid cell installed on it should stay at its lowest position before starting installation of the liquid head because the cell can prevent proper installation. Re-installation of the liquid head does not require such positioning of the scanner.
  • Page 23 Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation Installing the liquid head The support balls serve for placing the liquid head in its mounting seats in the measuring unit. The magnetic fasteners provide stable securing of the head. Arrangement of the mounting seats is shown on Fig. 2-14. Fig.
  • Page 24 3. Connect the liquid head to the socket on the base of the measuring unit of the Solver NEXT instrument (see Fig. 2-17). Fig. 2-17. Connecting the socket of the liquid head 4.

  • Page 25: Initial Approach And Selecting Relevant Area

    Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation 2.5. Initial Approach and Selecting Relevant Area NOTE. To avoid formation of air bubbles between the cantilever and the holder pedestal during dipping into liquid, it is recommended to spill some liquid on the probe holder. The sample approaches initially to the probe to the distance of 0.5÷1 mm.
  • Page 26 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements Camera 4. Open the window (Fig. 2-20) by clicking the button . Enable viewing by clicking the button. An image of the sample surface and of the probe will appear in the window. Fig. 2-20. Video image from the videomicroscope 5.

  • Page 27: Adjusting The System For Detecting The Cantilever Deflections

    Proper alignment of the detection system requires that the initial laser beam falls on the cantilever end and the reflected beam comes to the center of the photodiode and illuminates uniformly all its quarters. The SPM SOLVER NEXT is equipped with the Adjusting Detection System in Automatic Mode.
  • Page 28 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 2. Open the window for adjusting the detection system (Fig. 2‑23) by clicking the Aiming Movers button in the Control panel of the window. Laser-Diode Scanning Fig. 2‑23. window for adjusting the detection system Liquid 3.

  • Page 29: Adjusting Detection System By Videoimage

    Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation 2.6.1. Adjusting Detection System by Videoimage Contact Semicontact 1. Verify that methods are selected in the Main Parameters panel. Fig. 2‑25 2. Open the window for viewing the videoimage by clicking 3. Start displaying the videoimage by clicking button in the Control panel of the Camera window.

  • Page 30: Adjusting Detection System Through Laser-Diode Scanning Window

    If the procedure fails to adjust the detection system, recalibration of stepper motors of the SOLVER NEXT is required. 8. The adjusting procedure completes with a message box (Fig. 2‑27). Close this box by clicking the button.
  • Page 31 Chapter 2. Preparation for Operation 1. For defining parameters of the area for searching for the cantilever (hereafter, the search area), perform the following steps: a) Enable modifications of size and position of the search area by clicking the Laser-Diode Scanning button in the Control panel of the window (Fig.
  • Page 32 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements cantilever bevel face of the chip (laser beam misses the photodiode) chip Fig. 2‑29. Laser intensity distribution in the search area 3. Make the search area narrower so as it covers only the laser spot on the cantilever.

  • Page 33: Performing Measurements

    Chapter 3. Performing Measurements 3. Performing Measurements 3.1. Contact AFM When operating in contact AFM modes, use measurement procedures for operation in air (see book “SPM Solver NEXT. User’s manual”). 3.2. Semicontact AFM Initial state The following steps are assumed to be done: ●...

  • Page 34: Approach The Sample To The Probe

    SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements 3.2.1. Approach the Sample to the Probe For operation in liquid with semicontact modes, it is recommended to apply the approach procedure for measurements in the contact modes. Approach procedure for contact modes: Contact 1. Select in the controller configuration menu on the Main Parameters panel of Main program window (Fig.

  • Page 35: Taking Resonance Curve And Adjusting Parameters Of Generator Output

    Chapter 3. Performing Measurements SetPoint When the approach procedure completes, the signal will reach the level (Fig. 3-4), and the feedback system will keep the Z scanner at a position at which SetPoint equal to (this position corresponds approximately to the middle of the range of the scanner extension).
  • Page 36 1. Open the feedback loop by clicking the button. The button will come to the state. 2. Switch the SOLVER NEXT for operating in the Semicontact mode by selecting Semicontact in the controller configuration list (see Fig. 3-5) in the Main Program window.
  • Page 37 Chapter 3. Performing Measurements Fig. 3-7. Piezodrive adjustable parameters panel Hardware 6. In the group, adjust the generator output to its maximum as follows: Gen1Amp a. Set the parameter at its maximum. b. In the drop-down list of the Gen1×10 parameter, select ×10. 7.
  • Page 38 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements Set Point 8. Enter a value of parameter that exceeds the current value by 1.5 2 nA. Find Resonance 10. Click the button in the (Fig. 3-6) panel (opens by clicking the button). This will plot the cantilever resonance curve. As can be seen in Fig.
  • Page 39 Chapter 3. Performing Measurements Any frequency at which the cantilever oscillation amplitude increases when the cantilever is propped can be chosen for the measurements. Select the peak for which the decrease is the largest. 13. Open the feedback loop by clicking the button.

  • Page 40: Preparation For Scanning

    3.2.4. Scanning Setting up the scanner parameters (selection of SPM mode, scan region and scanning speed) and the measuring procedures are similar to those in air (see SPM SOLVER NEXT. User’s manual). Given below is the sequence of the basic procedures performed when starting the scan process: 1.

  • Page 41: Operation Completing

    (Fig. 3-14). Fig. 3-14. Measurement heads control panel 5. Disconnect the connector of the liquid head from the socket on the base of the measuring unit of the Solver NEXT instrument. 6. Remove the liquid head 7. Remove the liquid cell.
  • Page 42 SOLVER NEXT SPM. Fluid Measurements Post-operation procedures with the liquid cell After using, disassemble the cell and rinse it in a solution of a surfactant (in proportion of 1 ml surfactant to 100 ml of distilled water). Blow out the cell with warm air. It is also recommended to dry the dismantled cell in a thermostat at a temperature below 80 °C.

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