EP0318289A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for detecting tunnel current and electro-chemical reaction
Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1988-11-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for detecting both electro-chemical reaction and tunnel current in an electro-chemical cell. The electro-chemical cell includes a sample (1), at least one electrode (2,3) and a scanning tip (4) in a solution (6). Means (7) are provided for controlling a potential difference applied between the sample and the electrode and for detecting current flowing between the sample and the electrode due to electro-chemical reaction within the cell. Further means (10) are provided for controlling a potential difference applied between the scanning tip and the sample and for detecting a tunnel current thereby generated between the scanning tip and the sample. By controlling the potential difference between the sample and the electrode and between the scanning tip and the sample, the electro-chemical reaction may be analysed and changes in the surface of the sample to be monitored.
Inventors
- 👤 Eisuke Tomita
- 👤 Toshihiko Sakuhara
- 👤 Kingo Itaya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q60/00; G01Q60/02; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y35/00; G01Q60/10; G01Q60/16; G01Q60/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/852
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for detecting both electro-chemical reaction and tunnel current characterised by at least one electrode (2,3) and a scanning tip (4) arranged to co-operate, in use, with a sample (1) in a solution (6) in an electro-chemical cell so as to generate respectively a first output representing current flowing between the sample and the electrode due to electro-chemical reaction within the cell and a second output representing a tunnel current flowing between the scanning tip and the sample, and means (7,10) for detecting the first and second outputs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for detecting both electro-chemical reaction and tunnel current characterised by at least one electrode (2,3) and a scanning tip (4) arranged to co-operate, in use, with a sample (1) in a solution (6) in an electro-chemical cell so as to generate respectively a first output representing current flowing between the sample and the electrode due to electro-chemical reaction within the cell and a second output representing a tunnel current flowing between the scanning tip and the sample, and means (7,10) for detecting the first and second outputs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised by means (7) for controlling a potential difference applied between the sample and the electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the means for controlling the potential difference applied between the sample and the electrode comprise means for scanning the electric potential of the sample relative to the electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 characterised by means for controlling a potential difference applied between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the means for controlling the potential difference applied between the scanning tip and the sample comprise means for scanning the electric potential of the scanning tip relative to the sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by means (12) for positioning the scanning tip close to the sample to enable tunnel current to flow between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised by first fine adjustment means (26) for adjusting the position of the scanning tip vertically relative to the sample surface, first fine adjustment control means (28) for controlling the distance between the scanning tip and the sample surface so as to maintain the detected second output substantially constant, second fine adjustment means (27) for adjusting the position of the scanning tip in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, second fine adjustment control means for controlling scanning of the scanning tip over the sample surface, and means (30) for graphically displaying the spatial co-ordinates of the scanning tip to produce a topological map of the sample surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the at least one electrode comprises a reference electrode (2) and a counter electrode (3).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the reference electrode and the counter electrode are united into one electrode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for detecting both electro-chemical reaction and tunnel current in an electro-chemical cell containing at least one electrode (2,3), a scanning tip (4) and a sample (1) in a solution (6), characterised by the steps of generating a first output representing current flowing between the sample and the electrode due to electro-chemical reaction within the cell, generating a second output representing a tunnel current flowing between the scanning tip and the sample, and detecting the first and second outputs.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for detecting both electro-chemical reaction and tunnel current in an electro-chemical cell containing at least one electrode (2,3), a scanning tip (4) and a sample (1) in a solution (6), characterised by the steps of generating a first output representing current flowing between the sample and the electrode due to electro-chemical reaction within the cell, generating a second output representing a tunnel current flowing between the scanning tip and the sample, and detecting the first and second outputs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for measuring tunnel current simultaneously with electro-chemical reaction, characterised by an electro-chemical cell holding a scanning tip (4), a counter electrode (3), a reference electrode (2) and a sample (1) in a solution (6), first control means (7) for controlling an electric potential of the sample, first detecting means (7) for detecting the value of the current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode, positioning means (12) for positioning the scanning tip close to the sample surface so that tunnel current flows between the scanning tip and the sample surface, second control means (10) for controlling a potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample, and second detecting means (10) for detecting the tunnel current flowing due to the potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus for measuring tunnel current simultaneously with electro-chemical reaction, characterised by an electro-chemical cell holding a scanning tip (4), a counter electrode (3), a reference electrode (2) and a sample (1) in a solution (6), first control means (7) for controlling an electric potential of the sample, first detecting means (7) for detecting the value of the current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode, positioning means (12) for positioning the scanning tip close to the sample surface so that tunnel current flows between the scanning tip and the sample surface, second control means (10) for controlling a potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample, and second detecting means (10) for detecting the tunnel current flowing due to the potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for measuring tunnel current simultaneously with electro-chemical reaction in an electro-chemical cell which has a sample (1), a counter electrode (3), a reference electrode (2) and a scanning tip (4) in a solution (6), characterised by the steps of determining an electro-chemical reaction by setting the electrode potential of the sample, detecting the value of the current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode, positioning the scanning tip close to the sample surface so that tunnel current flows between the scanning tip and the sample surface, setting the electrode potential of the scanning tip, and detecting the tunnel current flowing due to the potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for measuring tunnel current simultaneously with electro-chemical reaction in an electro-chemical cell which has a sample (1), a counter electrode (3), a reference electrode (2) and a scanning tip (4) in a solution (6), characterised by the steps of determining an electro-chemical reaction by setting the electrode potential of the sample, detecting the value of the current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode, positioning the scanning tip close to the sample surface so that tunnel current flows between the scanning tip and the sample surface, setting the electrode potential of the scanning tip, and detecting the tunnel current flowing due to the potential difference between the scanning tip and the sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the tunnel current measurement is carried out under constant sample electrode potential.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the tunnel current measurement is carried out under constant potential between the sample and the scanning tip while scanning the sample potential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the tunnel current measurement is carried out under constant sample electrode potential while scanning the scanning tip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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