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Robert Gordon University

Application of scanning micro-tip and UHV Kelvin probes in surface and material characterisation.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In this thesis we present work utilising the scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) for surface potential mapping and monitoring changes in work function due to environmental influences in ambient and UHV conditions. The SKP is a truly non-contact technique which determines local work function changes and surface states on conductors, semiconductors and even insulators. It measures the contact potential difference of a sample relative to the tip. We compare the reproducibility of freshly cleaved highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with freshly sputtered Gold surfaces for ambient environment tip calibration. A new actively shielded upsilon-tip (200 upsilon m diameter) is introduced to increase spatial resolution for CPD and topographic scans in order resolve features in the upsilon m region. The upsilon-SKP has been applied in ambient to multi-crystalline Si; we show variations in work function between different poly-types, surface charging effects and series resistance (shunts). For comparison single-crystalline germanium and gallium arsenide is investigated by means of surface photovoltage measurements. We have utilised a UHV Kelvin probe to optimise high and low work function materials for hyperthermal surface ionisation (HSI), a new mass spectrometer technique that reduces ion fragmentation.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
Robert Gordon University
Year dc:date.issued
2002

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Dirscherl, Konrad Maximilian
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • I. Baikie

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807363
https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2807363
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:rgu-repository.worktribe.com:2807363

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Robert Gordon University
Base URL
rgu-repository.worktribe.com/oaiprovider
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Dirscherl, Konrad Maximilian. Application of scanning micro-tip and UHV Kelvin probes in surface and material characterisation.. Robert Gordon University, 2002. https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/2807363/1/DIRSCHERL%202002%20Application%20of%20scanning%20micro-tip