Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
A unique self-actuating and self-sensing probe, which is based on a quartz tuning fork and a microfabricated cantilever, is presented for dynamic scanning probe microscopy. The probing tip can be electrically connected to an external source or measure unit. The sensitivity of the drain-source current of an ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) was investigated as a function of the probe position in order to assess the potential of the probe in device testing, where its non-optical read-out mechanism may proof to be a particular advantage.