Instrument and method for combined surface topography and spectroscopic analysis

A method of spectroscopically analyzing the surface of a sample, comprising the steps of:

• (i) effecting relative movement between an electron emitter tip and the surface of the sample so as to scan the surface in two dimensions;
• (ii) causing electronics emitted from the tip to impinge against the surface and be back-scattered thereby;
• and
• (iii) analyzing the back-scattered electrons;
• wherein the back-scattered electrons which are travelling at an angle of less than 20° with respect to the sample surface are analyzed.

A combined surface topography and spectroscopic analysis instrument comprising:

• (i) a scanning tunnelling microscope tip;
• (ii) a sample carrier adapted to carry a sample so that a surface thereof to be analysed is presented towards the tip;
• (iii) means for effecting relative movement between the carrier and the tip so as to enable the distance between the tip and the surface to be varied in use and so as to enable the sample surface to be scanned in two dimensions by the tip;
• and
• (iv) an electron analyzer positioned to detect electrons from the tip which have been back-scattered off the sample surface in use;
• characterised in that voltage control means are provided for selectively operating the tip in a first voltage range in scanning tunnelling mode, to enable spatial resolution imaging of the sample surface, and for selectively operating the tip in a second voltage range higher than the first, so that the tip -is operated in electron field emission mode whereby to permit the electron analyzer to analyze the back-scattered electrons;
• wherein the electron analyzer is positioned so as to detect back-scattered electrons travelling at an angle of less than 20° with respect to the sample surface when the tip is operated in field emission mode.

A method of effecting combined surface topographic and spectroscopic analysis of a sample comprising the steps of:

• (i) effecting relative movement between a surface of a sample and a scanning tunnelling microscope tip;
• (ii) selectively operating the tip in a first voltage range, in scanning tunnelling mode, to enable spatial resolution imaging of the sample surface;
• (iii) selectively operating the tip in a second voltage range higher than the first voltage range, so that the tip is operated in electron field emission mode;
• and
• (iv) analyzing back-scattered electrons so as perform spectroscopic analysis of the sample surface when the tip is operated in field emission mode;
• wherein, when the tip is operated in field emission mode, the back-scattered electrons which are travelling at an angle of less than 200 with respect to the sample surface are analyzed.

A spectrometer comprising:

• (i) an electron emitter tip which in use is operated to cause electrons to be emitted with a beam energy of between 10 and 200 eV;
• (ii) a sample carrier adapted to carry a sample so that a surface thereof to be analyzed is presented towards the tip;
• (iii) means for effecting relative movement between the sample carrier and the tip so as to enable the distance between the tip and the surface of the sample to be varied in use and so as to enable the sample surface to be scanned in two dimensions by the tip;
• and
• (iv) an electron analyzer positioned to analyze electrons emitted from the tip and which have been back-scattered off the sample surface in use whereby to perform spectroscopic analysis of the sample;
• characterised in that the electron analyzer is positioned so as to detect back-scattered electrons travelling at an angle of less than 20° with respect to the sample surface.