A new method of STM tip fabrication for in-situ electrochemical studies

A new method of STM tip fabrication utilizing the electrophoresis technique and the ability of mercury to expand and shrink upon changing the temperature is introduced, and experimental details for tip etching and tip plating are described. Tips electrophoretically plated in 601 water-soluble electrophoretic varnish at 40 V for more than 30 min show good insulation behavior with exposed tip electrode disk radii around 0.8 μm. The apices of the plated tips remain undestroyed and clean after undergoing the mercury-touching procedure and the electrophoretic process. The characterization of ultramicroelectrode behaviors and the STM imaging capability of the plated tips are demonstrated.