Resonator combined with a piezoelectric actuator for chemical analysis by force microscopy.

A high frequency silicon resonator for dynamic scanning force microscopy is combined with an integrated piezoelectric actuation element for large displacements. A high resonance frequency is required for imaging on the nanometer scale, and a large displacement is needed for the chemical analysis of the material at the end of the probe. The small piezoelectric resonator is formed at the end of a long piezoelectric actuator using a silicon micromachining technology. The resonator can be oscillated at 96.4 kHz, and the actuator generates a maximum displacement of 15 microm at the end of the probe. The dynamic-mode scanning force microscopy capability, using the integrated piezoelectric resonator, is demonstrated on a 2 microm pitch Au grating.