
46 Nanosensors: Physical, Chemical, and Biological
How does the tip of AFM affect its resolution? The sharper the AFM tip, the
better is the resolution. A CNT serves as a good material for AFM tip. As
it is cylindrical in shape, it provides a more accurate prole of the sample
surface because it can penetrate into deep crevices on the surface where a
pyramidal-shaped tip cannot reach; a pyramid is a structure where the outer
surfaces are triangular and converge at a point. Moreover, it is more exible
and stronger than common silicon or silicon nitride tips.
Table 1.9 displays the characteristic features of various microscopes in a
nutshell. The ...