Patent ID: 8756710

Claim:
A method for constructing a cantilever for use with a scanning probe microscope (SPM), the method comprising: (a) obtaining a multilayer structure comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an interior layer, a first separation layer, and a second separation layer, wherein the first separation layer is situated between the upper substrate and the interior layer, the second separation layer is situated between the lower substrate and the interior layer, and wherein the first and the second separation layers are differentially etchable with respect to the upper and the lower substrates, respectively and with respect to the interior layer; (b) selectively removing material from the upper substrate to form a probe tip structure having a sharp point facing away from the first separation layer and to expose a top surface of the first separation layer; (c) after (b), selectively removing material from the first separation layer to expose a top surface of the interior layer; (d) selectively removing material from the lower substrate to expose a bottom surface of the second separation layer; (e) after (d), selectively removing material from the second separation layer to expose a bottom surface of the interior layer; (f) selectively removing material from the interior layer to pattern a cantilever arm therefrom.