Improvements to atomic force microscopy cantilevers for increased stability

A modification of commercially manufactured atomic force microscopy cantilevers which reduces the bending of the V-shaped legs due to changes in temperature is described. Gold-coated silicon nitride cantilevers are a bimorph system in which the different thermal expansion coefficients of the materials comprising the system can produce a temperature-dependent change in curvature. Other stress-related effects might also be responsible for the observed bending. By removing the gold film and redepositing gold only at the end of the V-shaped legs, a reduction in the bending of the cantilever is accomplished while the required optical reflectivity for the laser deflection system is retained. Imaging x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and changes in the detector photodiode signal related to bending of the cantilever are shown for modified and unmodified tips.