This application note thoroughly characterizes the oxygen-elimination capability of the standard environmental chamber of the Agilent 5500 AFM. The note provides measurements of liquid imaging and atomic resolution in oxygen-free environment. The well-known transition between Au (1 x 1) atomic lattice and Cu (√3 x √3) under potential deposition (UPD) structure on Au (111) surface at different electrochemical potentials is demonstrated with the in situ high-resolution capability.
This document characterizes the oxygen-elimination capability of the standard environmental chamber of the Agilent 5500 AFM. It details the setup using a TPI 708 oxygen analyzer and high-purity nitrogen gas to reduce oxygen concentrations to below 0.1%.
It takes less than 5 minutes of continuous nitrogen purge at a pressure of 10 to 20 psi.
An additional 15-minute purge is needed to reach a level where oxygen is not detectable.
Oxygen becomes detectable again after 20 to 30 minutes once the nitrogen flow stops.