All-in-one static and dynamic nanostencil atomic force microscopy/scanning tunneling microscopy system

The nanostencil is a tool for resistless lithography. It allows the direct patterning of complex nanometer-sized structures composed of a wide range of materials in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. This is combined with state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy techniques (atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy) and an electronic four-point probe. Moreover, all these capabilities are in situ and autoaligned in the field of view. The direct patterning is based on the shadow-mask technique and allows multimask processes in a static and dynamic manner. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.