Dependence of Electrostatic Patch Force Evaluation on the Lateral Resolution of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Shi, Kun, Luo, Pengshun, Liu, Jinquan, Yin, Hang, Zhou, Zebing
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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_version_ 1866915109223268352
author Shi, Kun
Luo, Pengshun
Liu, Jinquan
Yin, Hang
Zhou, Zebing
author_facet Shi, Kun
Luo, Pengshun
Liu, Jinquan
Yin, Hang
Zhou, Zebing
contents Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) is widely used to measure the surface potential on samples, from which electrostatic patch force can be calculated. However, since the KPFM measurements represent a weighted average of local potentials on the sample, the accuracy of the evaluation critically depends on the precision and lateral resolution of the method. In this paper, we investigate the influence of this averaging effect on patch force estimations using both analytic and numerical methods. First, we derive the correlation functions of patch potential and establish the formulas for calculating the electrostatic patch forces in the parallel-plate geometry, with and without consideration of the KPFM measurement effect. Thus, an analytic method is established to determine the accuracy of patch force evaluation when the statistical parameters of the patch potential and the lateral resolution of the KPFM are given. Second, numerical simulations are employed to explore the dependence of estimated patch forces on the KPFM's lateral resolution under more realistic conditions. Both analytic and numerical results show a similar dependence of the patch force estimation on the patch characteristic size, potential fluctuation and the lateral resolution of the KPFM. It is also found that the underestimation of the patch force becomes less sensitive to the KPFM's resolution as the separation between plates increases. The results of this study could provide useful guidance for the accurate evaluation of electrostatic patch forces using KPFM.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_01733
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dependence of Electrostatic Patch Force Evaluation on the Lateral Resolution of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy
Shi, Kun
Luo, Pengshun
Liu, Jinquan
Yin, Hang
Zhou, Zebing
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Applied Physics
Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) is widely used to measure the surface potential on samples, from which electrostatic patch force can be calculated. However, since the KPFM measurements represent a weighted average of local potentials on the sample, the accuracy of the evaluation critically depends on the precision and lateral resolution of the method. In this paper, we investigate the influence of this averaging effect on patch force estimations using both analytic and numerical methods. First, we derive the correlation functions of patch potential and establish the formulas for calculating the electrostatic patch forces in the parallel-plate geometry, with and without consideration of the KPFM measurement effect. Thus, an analytic method is established to determine the accuracy of patch force evaluation when the statistical parameters of the patch potential and the lateral resolution of the KPFM are given. Second, numerical simulations are employed to explore the dependence of estimated patch forces on the KPFM's lateral resolution under more realistic conditions. Both analytic and numerical results show a similar dependence of the patch force estimation on the patch characteristic size, potential fluctuation and the lateral resolution of the KPFM. It is also found that the underestimation of the patch force becomes less sensitive to the KPFM's resolution as the separation between plates increases. The results of this study could provide useful guidance for the accurate evaluation of electrostatic patch forces using KPFM.
title Dependence of Electrostatic Patch Force Evaluation on the Lateral Resolution of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.01733