Method of and apparatus for forming a micromelt structure on an electrically-conductive probe tip
AssigneeForschungszentrum Julich GmbH
InventorsHeiko Lemke, Thomas Goddenhenrich, Hans-Peter Bochem, Uwe Hartmann
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Abstract
A micromelt structure is provided on a probe tip by contacting the probe tip with a foil of the material from which the micromelt structure is to be formed and passing an electric current through the contact point to melt the foil and cause the molten foil material to collect on the tip of the probe where, by surface tension, it is drawn into a microsphere shape and homogeneously solidifies. The probe with the micromelt tip is highly reproducible and uniform and is particularly effective for use as a probe in scanning microscopy.
Claims18
A method of forming a micromelt structure on an electrically conductive probe tip, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting an electrically conductive probe tip with a stretched-out foil of a conductive material adapted form a micromelt structure on said tip;
- (b) applying a voltage across said foil as an electrode and said tip as a counterelectrode to pass an electric current through said electrode and counterelectrode at a contact point between then of a magnitude and for a duration sufficient to melt said foil at said point and transfer an amount of molten material from said foil to said tip;
- and
- (c) solidifying said molten material in the form of a ball on said tip to form a micromelt structure thereon.
An apparatus for forming a micromelt structure on an electrically conductive probe tip, comprising:
- a support for holding a stretched-out foil of a conductive material adapted to form a micromelt structure on said tip;
- a support for said probe tip juxtaposing said tip with said foil;
- means for moving one of said supports relative to the other of said supports to bring said tip into contact with said foil;
- and
- a voltage source connected across said foil and said tip for applying a voltage across said foil as an electrode and said tip as a counterelectrode to pass an electric current through said electrode and counterelectrode at a contact point between then of a magnitude and for a duration sufficient to melt said foil at said point and transfer a predetermined amount of molten material from said foil to said tip whereby upon solidifying, said molten material forms a ball on said tip of a micromelt structure thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.