Micro tips

Our technological know-how in the manufacturing of micro-tips permits the realization of tips with different functions. This allows us to produce electrically conductive silicon micro tips or optically transparent micro tips. Depending on the material and manufacturing process tip radii of a few nanometers can be achieved. Beyond the simple tip, we are able to provide micro tips with additional coatings that can be opened at the very apex again. This enables us to produce optically transparent tips which have an aperture for the light, which is significantly smaller than the wavelength of light. In addition, coaxial tips can be fabricated which have an electrically conductive core and an electrical shield.

In combination with other processes, we can fabricate microtips on thin cantilevers, which are used as sensors in scanning probe microscopy.

Due to the small tip radii strong electric fields can be achieved when an electrical voltage is applied. This enables applications in the use as electrical field emitter. Also the option to add further coatings offers the possibility to use the tips in the field of electron optics.