1. A multimode local probe microscope comprising:
a resonator (1) having an input first electrode (8) and an output second electrode (9) arranged on the resonator (1);
excitation means (19) adapted to generate mechanical resonance in the resonator (1);
a metal or metal-plated tip (4) having an end of nanometer dimensions, the tip (4) being fastened to the resonator (1); and
movement means for imparting relative movement between the resonator (1) and a sample (5), the movement means being adapted to bring the end of the tip (4) up to a distance Z lying in the range 0 to 100 nm from the surface of the sample;
characterized in that:
said tip (4) is electrically connected to said output second electrode (9), said output second electrode (9) forming a common electrical contact point for collecting firstly a first electrical signal representative of friction forces between the end of the tip (4) and the surface of the sample (5), and secondly a second electrical signal relating to a tunnelling current between the end of the tip (4) and the surface of the sample (5); and
in that the microscope includes:
amplifier means (25) electrically connected to said output second electrode (9), said amplifier means being adapted to amplify the second signal relating to the tunnelling current;
processor means (23, 24, 33, 34) adapted to process separately firstly the first signal relating to friction forces and secondly the second signal relating to the tunnelling current; and
regulator means adapted to regulate the distance Z between the end of the tip (4) and the surface of the sample (5), regulation in a first mode being as a function of the first signal representative of friction forces, and regulation in a second mode being as a function of the second signal relating to the tunnelling current.
2. A multimode local probe microscope according to claim 1, wherein said processor means comprise active or passive filter means (23, 24, 33, 34), said filter means being adapted to separate firstly the first signal relating to friction forces and secondly the second signal relating to the tunnelling current as a function of their respective frequencies.
3. A multimode local probe microscope according to claim 2, wherein said filter means (23, 24, 33, 34) comprise a bandpass filter (23, 33) adapted to filter said first signal relating to friction forces spectrally, and a lowpass filter (24, 34) adapted to filter said second signal relating to the tunnelling current spectrally.
4. A multimode local probe microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tip (4) is made of or covered in a metal preferably selected from gold and silver.
5. A multimode local probe microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said microscope including means for scanning the tip (4) relative to the surface of the sample (5).
6. A multimode local probe microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the quartz resonator in the form of a tuning fork having a first branch (10) and a second branch (11), the input first electrode (8) being arranged on the first branch (10), and the output second electrode (9) being arranged on the second branch (11).
7. A tip enhanced Raman microscope having a multimode local probe microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said Raman microscope comprising a Raman spectrometer, means for focusing an excitation laser beam on the end of the tip (4) of the microscope, and detector means for detecting a Raman diffusion signal generated by the sample (5) in the vicinity of said tip.
8. A tip enhanced Raman microscope according to claim 7, said microscope comprising means for triggering detection of the Raman diffusion signal and synchronisation means that are connected firstly to the means for triggering detection and secondly to the means for regulating the distance Z between the tip and the sample in such a manner as to synchronise said means for triggering detection of the Raman diffusion signal and said regulator means while bringing the tip to a predetermined distance Z0-\u0394Z.
9. A method of regulating the distance Z between the surface of the sample (5) and the end of the tip of a multimode local probe microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the calibration method comprises the following steps:
generating mechanical resonance in the resonator (1) suitable for producing vibration at the end of the local probe tip (4);
bringing the tip towards the surface of a reference sample;
simultaneously detecting a first electrical signal relating to friction forces between the end of the tip (4) and the surface of the reference sample, and a second signal relating to a tunnelling current generated between the end of the tip (4) and the surface of the reference sample;
for said reference sample, determining a reference distance at which a reference tunnelling current appears, said reference distance corresponding to a distance for which said second signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined tunnelling current threshold for said reference sample;
measuring a reference value of the first signal relating to friction forces on said reference sample at said reference distance at which tunnelling current appears; and
regulating the first signal relating to friction forces for any type of sample of the same nature as the reference sample as a function of said reference value for the first signal relating to friction forces on said reference sample at said reference distance at which tunnelling current appears.
10. Regulation method according to claim 9, wherein the reference distance is greater than zero and less than or equal to 10 nm.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A photoelectric transfer material comprising:
an electrically conductive polymer;
an electron acceptor; and
an antenna porphyrin aggregate.
2. A method of manufacturing a photoelectric transfer material comprising forming the photoelectric transfer material by using an electrically conductive polymer, an electron acceptor and an antenna porphyrin aggregate.
3. A photoelectric transfer element comprising:
a photoelectric transfer material including an electrically conductive polymer, an electronic acceptor and an antenna porphyrin aggregate.
4. A photoelectric transfer according to claim 3 wherein the photoelectric transfer element is a solar cell.
5. A photoelectric transfer element according to claim 3 wherein the photoelectric transfer element is an optical sensor.
6. A method of manufacturing a photoelectric transfer element comprising forming a photoelectric transfer element by using an electrically conductive polymer, an electron acceptor and an antenna porphyrin aggregate.
7. An electronic device comprising a photoelectric transfer material comprising an electrically conductive polymer, an electron acceptor and an antenna porphyrin aggregate.
8. A method of manufacturing an electronic device comprising forming a photoelectric transfer material by using an electrically conductive polymer, an electron acceptor and an antenna porphyrin aggregate.