SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL SERVICES

Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory

About us

The SPM Lab offers 2.300 hours yearly of SPM related experiments to people inside and outside the ICMAB, without including maintenance, development of new equipment, setups, calibration and implementation of new modes.

The ICMAB groups who use the service are:

Superconducting Materials & Large Scale
Nanostructured Molecular Nanoscience and Organic Materials (NANOMOL)
Multifunctional Oxides and Complex Structures
Molecular Chirality
Surfaces and Nanomaterials

These groups make up 65% of the work done by the service. To a lesser extent, the service is also used by the following groups Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites, Inorganic Materials and Catalysis and Optoelectronic Nanostructured Materials. Besides ICMAB groups, service groups performs measurements of the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (Micro & Nano Tools group, Integrated Circuits and Systems (ICAS), Department of Micro i Nanosistemes. Grup Biosensors & BioMEMs) groups the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Sensors and Biosensors Group, Department of Chemistry, Reliability of electronic devices and circuits) as well as to outside companies such as Henkel (Chemical sector) or Kostal (automotive sector). In total, more than 60 different users ICMAB and 13 have used the SPM external service over the past two years.

We also carry on outreach activities inside the ICMAB that brought international attention.

Training personnel (mainly PhD) in the AFM technique is another part of the tasks done at the lab.
What is the Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory?
The Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory is a 28m² facility located inside the Institute of Material Science of Barcelona. The service is focused in providing state-of-the-art technologies to characterize materials at the nanoscale. Based in the SPM principale, the service is specialized in providing reliable, fast and low cost Topography images as well as advanced modes. We can perform the following experiments:
Dynamic and Contact Atomic Force Microscopy

Piezoresponse Force Microscopy

Electrostatic Force Microscopy

Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Scanning Thermal Microscopy (from 2Q 2016)

Current Atomic Force Microscopy

Photoconductive Atomic Force Microscopy

The Lab is divided in 5 different subsections:

SPM1 : Keysight 5100 available for topographic images in contact and dynamic mode, in liquid, ambient air or low humidity enviroments.

SPM2: Keysight 5500LS available for PFM, EFM, KPFM, SthM, CSAFM, PCAFM with versatile accesories.

SPM3: Keysight 5500 available for PFM, topography images and new modes development.

SPM4: Nanotec Cervantes available for Topographic images as well as a nano positioning system.

EDD: Electronic Devices Developments, special area to develop new accessories for existing SPMs.

Technicians

Andrés Gómez

Technician

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Tel. +34 935801853 Ext. 388

Maite Simón

Technician

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Tel. +34 935801853 Ext. 388

Scientists in charge

User's Commission

Equipment

Keysight 5100 AFM (aka Leia)

Keysight 5100 AFM comprises a scanner of 60 x 60 microns in X / Y and 6 microns in the Z axis. The equipment can use a special liquid cell and controlled environment chamber for conducting scanners at low humidity or in nitrogen. The maximum sample size is 3x3 cm in X / Y and 2 cm thick. The equipment works in the Constant Amplitude Dynamic mode for obtaining topographic images, however Contact mode is also a possibility. The equipment uses an external generator module that can apply in-plane magnetic fields upto + -800 Oe. The equipment is specifically employed to acquired topographic images, having a low noise architecture that allow the acquisition of 500 nm size images.

SPM2: Keysight 5500 LS AFM (aka Darth Vader)

Keysight 5500 LS, it has a 90x90 microns in X / Y and 15 microns in the Z axis closed loop scanner. The SPM is equipped with three independent Lock-in amplifiers that can be fully configured through the use of an external Signal Access Box. The equipment can be used with the following modes: Piezoresponse Force Microscopy, Electrostatic Force Microscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, Scanning thermal Microscopy (from 2Q2016), Current Sensing Atomic Force Microscopy, PhotoConductive Atomic Force Microscopy, Bimodal Atomic Force Microscopy. It also has Closed Loop capability that significantly improves the positioning in X and Y as well as a motorized stage, with accuracy of + -3 microns, and a range of + -15cm in X / Y and 3cm in Z axis, so sample size may reach up to 25 x 25 cm and 3 cm thick. A Q-Control is also available to enhance images in liquid. It has a separate accessory for measuring humidity and temperature inside SPM box. A sample cooler and heater with a range of -60ºC to 90ºC and a separate heater up to 350ºC can be used in this equipment. A special current-to-voltage amplifier "Resiscope II" from CSI instruments can be used to acquire topography images. A separate accessory for illuminating samples in the Visible and UV spectra is also available.

SPM3: Keysight 5500 AFM (aka Luke)

Keysight 5500, it has a 90x90 microns in X / Y and 15 microns in the Z axis closed loop scanner. The SPM is equipped with three independent Lock-in amplifiers that can be fully configured through the use of an external Signal Access Box. The equipment can be used with the following modes: Piezoresponse Force Microscopy, Bimodal Atomic Force Microscopy and Dynamic Topography. It also has aClosed Loop capability that significantly improves the positioning in X and Y. Sample size is limited to 3 x 3 cm in the X and Y directions and 1 cm in the Z direction. A Q-Control is also available to enhance images in liquid. It has a separate accessory for measuring humidity and temperature inside SPM box. A separate heater up to 350ºC can be used in this equipment.

SPM4: Nanotech Cervantes (aka Jabba)

Nanotec Cervantes FullMode SPM System is a modular, open and versatile microscope, designed not only for obtaining the highest quality images, but also for those applications that require a characterization of other physical properties of your sample. Currently we use this equipment for topography, and as a separate equipment for nano positioning systems.

Services

We offer a broad range of services, including Topography, PFM, EFM, KPFM, CSAFM, PCAFM and SThM. Send us the Request Form to get a quotation.

We are open to possible new requests through the EU project NFFA.

Publications

2018

[18] Iglesias, L., Gómez, A., Gich, M., Rivadulla, F., (2018) . Tuning Oxygen Vacancy Diffusion through Strain in SrTiO3 Thin Films. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2018, 10 (41), pp 35367–35373

[17] del Moral, A., González-Rosillo, J. C., Gómez, A., Puig, T., & Obradors, X. (2018). Thermoelectric stack sample cooling modification of a commercial atomic force microscopy. Ultramicroscopy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.10.014

[16] Daniel Suarez, Eden Steven, Elena Laukhina, Andres Gomez, Anna Crespi, Narcis Mestres, Concepció Rovira, Eun Sang Choi & Jaume Veciana (2018) 2D organic molecular metallic soft material derived from BEDO-TTF with electrochromic and rectifying properties. npj Flexible Electronicsvolume 2, Article number: 29 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-018-0041-1

[15] Vila-Fungueiriño, J. M., Gómez, A., Antoja-Lleonart, J., Gázquez, J., Magén, C., Noheda, B., & Carretero-Genevrier, A. (2018). Direct and converse piezoelectric responses at the nanoscale from epitaxial BiFeO 3 thin films grown by polymer assisted deposition. Nanoscale. 10.1039/c8nr05737k

[14] Sandoval, S., Kepic, D., Pérez del Pino, A., Gyorgy, E., Gómez, A., Pfannmoeller, M., … & Tobias, G. (2018). Selective Laser-Assisted Synthesis of Tubular van der Waals Heterostructures of Single-Layered PbI2 within Carbon Nanotubes Exhibiting Carrier Photogeneration. ACS nano, 12(7), 6648-6656. 10.1021/acsnano.8b01638

[13] A.Gomez, T.Puig, X.Obradors, Diminish electrostatic in piezoresponse force microscopy through longer or ultra-stiff tips, Applied Surface Science
Volume 439, 1 May 2018, Pages 577-582, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.01.080
2017

[12] A.Gomez, S.Sanchez, Mariano Campoy-Quiles, A.Abate, Topological distribution of reversible and non-reversible degradation in perovskite solar cells, Nano Energy Volume 45, March 2018, Pages 94-100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.12.040

[11] A. Gomez, M. Gich, A. Carretero-Genevrier, T. Puig, X. Obradors, Piezo-generated charge mapping revealed through direct piezoelectric force microscopy, Nature Communicationsvolume 8, Article number: 1113 (2017) doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01361-2

[10] Alberto Quintana, Andrés Gómez, Maria Dolors Baró, Santiago Suriñach, Eva Pellicer, Jordi Sort, Self-templating faceted and spongy single-crystal ZnO nanorods: Resistive switching and enhanced piezoresponse, In Materials & Design, Volume 133, 2017, Pages 54-61, ISSN 0264-1275, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2017.07.039.

[9] Gómez, A., Vila-Fungueiriño, J. M., Moalla, R., Saint-Girons, G., Gázquez, J., Varela, M., Bachelet, R., Gich, M., Rivadulla, F. and Carretero-Genevrier, A. (2017), Semiconducting Films: Electric and Mechanical Switching of Ferroelectric and Resistive States in Semiconducting BaTiO_3–_δ Films on Silicon (Small 39/2017). Small, 13: n/a. doi:10.1002/smll.201770208
2016

[8] A Carretero‐Genevrier, R Bachelet, G Saint‐Girons, R Moalla, JM Vila‐Fungueiriño, B Rivas‐Murias, F Rivadulla, J Rodriguez‐Carvajal, A Gomez, J Gazquez, M Gich, N Mestres, Ashutosh Tiwari, Rosario A Gerhardt, Magdalena Szutkowska. Development of Epitaxial Oxide Ceramics Nanomaterials Based on Chemical Strategies on Semiconductor Platforms (2016) Advanced Ceramic Materials

[7] David Kiefer, Liyang Yu, Erik Fransson, Andrés Gómez, Daniel Primetzhofer, Aram Amassian, Mariano Campoy-Quiles, Christian Müller (2016). A Solution-Doped Polymer Semiconductor:Insulator Blend for Thermoelectrics Advanced Science

[6] Marta Riba-Moliner, Narcis Avarvari, David. B. Amabilino , Arántzazu González-Campo, and Andrés Gómez* (2016). Distinguishing between Mechanical and Electrostatic Interaction in Single Pass Multi Frequency Electrostatic Force Microscopy Measurements on a Molecular Material. Langmuir, 2016, 32 (51), pp 13593–13599, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03390

[5] Marta Riba-Moliner, Andrés Gómez-Rodríguez, David B. Amabilino, Josep Puigmartí-Luis, Arántzazu González-Campo, (2016). Functional supramolecular tetrathiafulvalene-based films with mixed valences states. Polymer
2015

[4] Oliveras-González, C., Di Meo, F., González-Campo, A., Beljonne, D., Norman, P., Simón-Sorbed, M., … & Amabilino, D. B. (2015). Bottom-up hierarchical self-assembly of chiral porphyrins through coordination and hydrogen bonds. Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[3] Bernhard Dörling, Jason D. Ryan, Matthew C. Weisenberger, Andrea Sorrentino, Ahmed El Basati, Andrés Gomez, Miquel Garriga, Eva Pereiro, John E. Anthony, Alejandro R. Goñi, Christian Müller*, Mariano Campoy-Quiles* (2015) Photoinduced p- to n-type switching in thermoelectric polymer-carbon nanotube composites – Advanced Materials 10.1002/adma.201505521

[2] A. Queraltó, A. Pérez del Pino, M. de la Mata, J. Arbiol, M. Tristany, A. Gómez, X. Obradors and T. Puig (2015). Growth of ferroelectric Ba0.8Sr0.2TiO3 epitaxial films by ultraviolet pulsed laser irradiation of chemical solution derived precursor layers. Applied Physics Letters 106, 262903

[1] Coll, M., Gomez, A., Mas-Marza, E., Almora, O., Garcia-Belmonte, G., Campoy-Quiles, M., & Bisquert, J. (2015). Polarization Switching and Light-Enhanced Piezoelectricity in Lead Halide Perovskites. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 6(8), 1408-1413.
2013

*Carretero-Genevrier, A., Gich, M., Picas, L., Gazquez, J., Drisko, G. L., Boissiere, C., ... & Sanchez, C. (2013). Soft-chemistry–based routes to epitaxial α-quartz thin films with tunable textures. Science, 340(6134), 827-831. ISO 690

*Carretero-Genevrier, A., Gich, M., Picas, L., Gazquez, J., Drisko, G. L., Boissiere, C., ... & Sanchez, C. (2013). Soft-chemistry–based routes to epitaxial α-quartz thin films with tunable textures. Science, 340(6134), 827-831.
ISO 690

*SCIENTIFIC PAPERS WHERE SPM IMAGES FROM OUR LAB HAVE BEEN INCLUDED