PRODUCTS | STM Tip Etcher | ZETCHER™

Zyvex Labs Zetcher is an electrochemical etcher that gives users the ability to tune/sharpen tungsten wire with a Radius of Curvature between 50-250nm roc.

Background

In scanning tunneling microscopy, sharper tips offer higher performance, and repeatable tips allow for greater certainty in operational characteristics. The motivation for this instrument is to improve upon commercially available STM tips, which are relatively costly and have undesirable variability in sharpness. In addition, static etching results in inconsistent tip shapes, so consistency in the micron range is also an important requirement.

The following images show example of tips that have been electrochemically etched using the Zetcher.

Control Software

The Zetcher system comes preloaded with software designed to produce repeatable tungsten tips with a smooth shank and less than 50nm radius of curvature. However, if the user desires to change etched tip characteristics
or even etch conditions for materials other than 0.010” polycrystalline tungsten, the control software can easily be changed.

For more information, please contact us at 972.235.7881.

 

 

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