Horizontal scanning tunneling microscope structure used at normal temperature and normal pressure

Abstract

The utility model discloses a horizontal scanning tunnel microscope structure used at normal temperature and normal pressure, comprising a scanning assembly and a controller, the scanning assembly and the controller are connected through a plug-in type connecting line, the scanning assembly comprises a damping mounting seat, the surface of the damping mounting seat is provided with a positioning mounting groove, the positioning mounting groove is internally provided with a fixing seat, and the fixing seat is provided with a through hole. A scanning head is arranged on the fixing seat and fixed through a bridge connector, a front connecting plate and a rear tail supporting block are arranged at the two ends, in the axial direction of the scanning head, of the fixing seat respectively, the front connecting plate and the rear tail supporting block are matched to limit the position of the scanning head in the axial direction, a micrometer head is installed on the rear tail supporting block, and the micrometer head is connected with a moving part in the scanning head. The front connecting plate is fixedly connected with the outer shell of the scanning head through a plurality of studs; and the plurality of studs are also connected with the sample holder. The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, large integral structure rigidity after assembly, improved scanning effect, small electromagnetic interference and strong expansibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of scanning tunneling microscope technology, specifically to a structure for a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope used at room temperature and pressure. Background Technology

[0002] Conventional STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) has a complex structure and limited operating space. The compact layout of the adjustment structure and scanning head assembly can make it difficult for operating tools (such as probe changers and sample holders) to be inserted, especially when changing samples or adjusting probes, as they are prone to colliding with surrounding components. This results in low adjustment accuracy and insufficient rigidity. However, the compact design places extremely high demands on the rigidity of the materials. If the strength of the metal column or connectors is insufficient, especially after long-term use, it may cause minute deformation, affecting atomic-level resolution.

[0003] Furthermore, in existing STMs, the controller is integrated under the instrument, resulting in significant electromagnetic interference. There is also a lack of expandability, making it difficult to integrate additional functional modules, such as spectral electrodes and optical microscope linkages, while modern research often requires multimodal operation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve and upgrade existing STMs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope structure for use at room temperature and pressure. The structure is simple, the overall structure has high rigidity after assembly, which improves the scanning effect, and it has low electromagnetic interference and strong expandability.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model provides a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope structure for use under normal temperature and pressure, comprising a scanning assembly and a controller. The scanning assembly and the controller are connected via a pluggable connecting cable. The scanning assembly includes a shock-absorbing mounting base with a positioning mounting groove on its surface. A fixing base is disposed within the positioning mounting groove. A scanning head is mounted on the fixing base and fixed by a bridge connector. A front connecting plate and a rear tail support block are respectively disposed at both ends of the fixing base along the axial direction of the scanning head. The front connecting plate and the rear tail support block cooperate to restrict the axial position of the scanning head. A micrometer head is mounted on the rear tail support block and is connected to a moving tube inside the scanning head. The front connecting plate is fixedly connected to the outer shell of the scanning head by multiple studs, which are also connected to a sample holder.

[0006] Furthermore, the shock-absorbing mounting base is connected to the annular adapter via a shock-absorbing block. The annular adapter is locked in the mounting groove of the marble platform. A retaining ring is provided on the surface of the annular adapter, and the inner diameter of the retaining ring is larger than the outer diameter of the shock-absorbing mounting base.

[0007] Furthermore, a rubber ring is also provided between the retaining ring and the mounting groove.

[0008] Furthermore, a closed chamber is provided at the bottom of the marble platform, and an interface is provided on the wall of the closed chamber. A fixed bracket is provided at the bottom of the shock-absorbing mounting base, and the fixed bracket passes through the marble platform into the closed chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom of the marble platform is provided with several adjustable support feet.

[0010] Furthermore, the surface of the shock-absorbing mounting base is provided with a shielding cover, the surface of the shock-absorbing mounting base corresponding to the shielding cover is provided with a positioning groove, and a level is provided on the top of the shielding cover.

[0011] Furthermore, a glass cover is provided on the mounting groove of the marble platform.

[0012] Furthermore, the movable tube is connected to the outer casing by a triangularly arranged ceramic stack, and the end of the movable tube is provided with a clamp for holding the probe.

[0013] Furthermore, a positioning groove is provided on the fixing seat corresponding to the outer shell of the scanning head.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0015] 1. Separating the controller from the device to form an independent scanning component and controller effectively reduces electromagnetic interference from the controller and frees up space within the scanning component, making it easier to optimize the design. It also makes the scanning component lighter, facilitating the replacement of wiring and components within the controller.

[0016] 2. By using a fixed base, bridge connector, front connecting plate and rear tail support block, the scanning head can be wrapped and fixed in multiple directions, which can greatly improve the rigidity and stability of the overall connection.

[0017] 3. The micro-head provides power to the coarse feed needle of the scanning head. Its simple structure effectively reduces structural complexity and facilitates operation and installation. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the scanning structure of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second-view scanning structure of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the shock-absorbing mounting base and the annular adapter of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 5This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the scanning component of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the scanning component of this utility model, in conjunction with the shielding cover.

[0024] The following are the labeling instructions in the diagram: 1. Scanning component; 2. Controller; 3. Vibration damping mount; 4. Positioning mount; 5. Fixing base; 6. Bridge connector; 7. Front connecting plate; 8. Rear tail support block; 9. Micrometer head; 10. Stud; 11. Sample holder; 12. Vibration damping block; 13. Annular adapter; 14. Retaining ring; 15. Rubber ring; 16. Enclosed chamber; 17. Interface; 18. Fixing bracket; 19. Adjustable support foot; 20. Shielding cover; 21. Positioning slot; 22. Clamp; 23. Glass cover; 111. Marble platform; 112. Sample holder; 113. Scanning head. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0026] Reference Figures 1 to 5 As shown, one embodiment of the horizontal scanning tunneling microscope structure for use under normal temperature and pressure according to this utility model includes a scanning component 1 and a controller 2. The scanning component and the controller are connected by a pluggable connecting cable, which is not shown in the figure. The pluggable method facilitates effective separation of the two. It is convenient to assemble and transport separately, and can also be used independently to replace different controllers or different scanning components, which greatly reduces the cost of equipment use and provides high flexibility.

[0027] The aforementioned scanning assembly includes a vibration-damping mounting base 3, with a positioning mounting groove 4 on its surface. A fixing base 5 is located within the positioning mounting groove, and a scanning head 113 is mounted on the fixing base and secured by a bridge connector 6. The bridge connector radially engages with the fixing base to limit and fix the scanning head. A positioning groove is provided on the fixing base corresponding to the outer shell of the scanning head, further determining the radial relative position of the scanning head and the fixing base. The scanning head includes an outer shell and a movable tube located in the middle of the outer shell. The movable tube is connected to the outer shell by a triangularly arranged ceramic stack. A clamp 22 for holding the probe is provided at the end of the movable tube. The ceramic stack engages to move the movable tube axially, thereby moving the probe to the sample surface for scanning.

[0028] To further improve the fixing effect, a front connecting plate 7 and a rear tail support block 8 are respectively provided at both ends of the fixing base along the axial direction of the scanning head. The front connecting plate and the rear tail support block cooperate to restrict the position of the scanning head in the axial direction. Based on the above radial fixing, the scanning head is fixed in a fully restricted space by axial limiting and fixing. Although the rear tail support block is connected to the fixing base, its part protrudes in the axial direction of the outer shell of the scanning head. Limiting and fixing can be achieved by locking. Furthermore, the front connecting plate is fixedly connected to the outer shell of the scanning head by multiple studs 10. The front connecting plate is not only locked to the fixing base, but also protrudes in the axial direction of the outer shell of the scanning head. By locking with studs, one end of the scanning head is clamped and fixed to the front connecting plate as a whole, so that the overall structural connection strength is stable and the problem of slight displacement during use is solved.

[0029] A micrometer head 9 is also installed on the aforementioned rear support block. The micrometer head connects to the moving tube inside the scanning head. During use, the sample head needs to advance rapidly. Once it reaches the tunneling zone, it cannot move significantly further. At this point, a ceramic stack is used to continue controlling the movement, thus greatly reducing the requirements for the ceramic stack and lowering manufacturing costs. The aforementioned studs are also connected to the sample holder 11, which holds the sample tray 112. The scanning sample is fixed to the sample tray. The sample holder has a vertically placed slot structure. The sample tray is inserted into the slot structure from top to bottom, and then screws or plungers are installed laterally. The pressure from the contact secures the sample tray within the slot structure. This stud installation method allows the sample tray to move synchronously with the scanning head, improving detection accuracy. The front connecting plate limits movement and suppresses vibration between the two, further improving detection accuracy.

[0030] In operation, the sample is manually fixed onto the sample holder, then transferred to the sample tray and secured. The microhead is then operated, causing the probe on the scanning head to move significantly towards the sample, rapidly entering the tunneling region. Upon arrival, the probe is moved forward by the ceramic stack to scan a region of the sample. In this scanning method, the positions of the probe and sample do not require lateral movement. During scanning, the probe can scan atoms at local locations on the sample. Single-point scanning of local images is existing technology and will not be detailed. When scanning different locations on the sample, the sample holder needs to be manually moved and then secured to scan different areas.

[0031] Based on the above structure, it can effectively suppress vibrations during scanning operation. However, external interference still exists during use. To solve this problem, the vibration damping mounting base is connected to the annular adapter 13 via the vibration damping block 12. The annular adapter is locked in the mounting groove of the marble platform 111. The marble platform, through its vibration damping performance, can effectively absorb and attenuate external vibrations and noise. The vibration damping block further reduces the impact of external vibrations on the scanning operation. A retaining ring 14 is provided on the surface of the annular adapter, and a rubber ring 15 is also provided between the retaining ring and the mounting groove to reduce vibration displacement. The retaining ring can effectively limit the installation position of the vibration damping block, and the inner diameter of the retaining ring is larger than the outer diameter of the vibration damping mounting base, so no collision will occur when the vibration damping mounting base is displaced.

[0032] Since the scanning head needs to transmit the collected data outwards, a closed chamber 16 is set at the bottom of the marble platform. Interfaces 17 are provided on the walls of the closed chamber. These interfaces can be standardized interfaces, such as BNC or SMA interfaces, offering good compatibility and suitability for use with different controllers. A fixing bracket 18 is provided at the bottom of the vibration-damping mounting base to secure the wiring harness. The fixing bracket passes through the marble platform into the closed chamber, forming a recessed wiring route, thus keeping the upper space uncluttered.

[0033] Four adjustable support feet 19 are also provided at the bottom of the marble platform. When the equipment is not placed on a level surface, the levelness can be ensured by adjusting the adjustable support feet.

[0034] Reference Figure 6 As shown, to reduce electromagnetic interference, a shielding cover 20 is installed on the surface of the vibration-damping mounting base. The shielding cover covers the scanning unit inside the scanning assembly. The shielding cover is made of metal, and a positioning groove 21 is provided on the surface of the vibration-damping mounting base corresponding to the shielding cover for easy installation. A level is provided on the top of the shielding cover to assist in adjusting the levelness. Alternatively, an opening can be provided on the side of the shielding cover located on the micrometer head side, allowing for convenient and reliable operation of the micrometer head by inserting it through the opening during rapid scanning head movement. A glass cover 23 is installed on the mounting groove of the marble platform to isolate dust, moisture, etc., stabilizing the scanning environment. The glass cover is mounted on a rubber ring, ensuring a fixed position and good sealing effect.

[0035] This application simplifies the structure, making it easier to operate and install. The modular design allows for lightweight independent modules, facilitating assembly and maintenance. The modular design also allows for compatibility with more different controllers to achieve varying scanning effects. Furthermore, the modular design reduces electromagnetic interference, improving scanning performance. The rigidity of the scanning head's fixing structure is significantly enhanced, further improving scanning results.

[0036] The above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments provided to fully illustrate the present utility model, and the protection scope of the present utility model is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the present utility model are all within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A structure for a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope used at room temperature and pressure, characterized in that, The device includes a scanning assembly and a controller, which are connected via a pluggable cable. The scanning assembly includes a shock-absorbing mounting base with a positioning mounting groove on its surface. A fixing seat is located within the positioning mounting groove, and a scanning head is mounted on the fixing seat and secured by a bridge connector. A front connecting plate and a rear tail support block are respectively provided at both ends of the fixing seat along the axial direction of the scanning head. The front connecting plate and the rear tail support block cooperate to restrict the axial position of the scanning head. A micrometer head is mounted on the rear tail support block and is connected to a moving tube inside the scanning head. The front connecting plate is fixedly connected to the outer shell of the scanning head by multiple studs, which are also connected to a sample holder.

2. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shock-absorbing mounting base is connected to the annular adapter via a shock-absorbing block. The annular adapter is locked in the mounting groove of the marble platform. A retaining ring is provided on the surface of the annular adapter, and the inner diameter of the retaining ring is larger than the outer diameter of the shock-absorbing mounting base.

3. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A rubber ring is also provided between the retaining ring and the mounting groove.

4. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the marble platform is equipped with a closed chamber, the walls of the closed chamber are provided with interfaces, and the bottom of the shock-absorbing mounting base is equipped with a fixed bracket, which passes through the marble platform into the closed chamber.

5. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The marble platform is equipped with several adjustable support feet at its bottom.

6. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The surface of the shock-absorbing mounting base is provided with a shield, the surface of the shock-absorbing mounting base corresponding to the shield is provided with a positioning groove, and a level is provided on the top of the shield.

7. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A glass cover is installed in the mounting groove of the marble platform.

8. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The movable tube is connected to the outer shell by a triangularly arranged ceramic stack, and the end of the movable tube is provided with a clamp for holding the probe.

9. The structure of a horizontal scanning tunneling microscope for use at room temperature and pressure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing of the scanning head is provided with a positioning groove on the corresponding mounting base.

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