Patent ID: 7137291

Claim:
A scanning probe microscopy (SPM) tool, comprising: an oscillator portion; a nanotube tip portion extending from said oscillator portion; said oscillator portion comprising a first resonant mode defined by at least one of, a selected shape of said oscillator portion, a selected dimensions ratio of said oscillator portion, a selected material composition of said oscillator portion, and a selected location of said nanotube tip portion on said oscillator portion, such that when said oscillator portion is oscillated at a first natural resonant frequency of said oscillator portion while said nanotube tip apex is at a surface of a sample, said SPM tool is sensitive to a first component of a resultant surface force interaction between said nanotube tip portion and said sample surface in a first direction, wherein said first force interaction component causes detectable alterations in said first natural resonant frequency; and said oscillator portion comprising a second resonant mode defined by at least one of, said selected shape of said oscillator portion, said selected dimensions ratio of said oscillator portion, said selected material composition of said oscillator portion, and said selected location of said nanotube tip portion on said oscillator portion, such that when said oscillator portion is oscillated at a second natural resonant frequency of said oscillator portion while said tip apex is at said sample surface, said SPM tool is sensitive to a second component of said resultant surface force interaction in a second direction, wherein said second force interaction component causes detectable alterations in said second natural resonant frequency, and wherein said second direction is different from said first direction; an excitation system adapted to vibrate said oscillator portion at said resonant modes; a sensing system adapted to detect and measure movements of said oscillator portion; a mechanical actuation system adapted to position said nanotube tip and said sample surface relative to each other; and a feedback control system adapted to control said actuation system based on outputs of said sensing system.