Patent ID: 6958124

Claim:
A monolithic SPM sensor ( 20 , 120 ) comprising a holding element ( 4 , 104 ), cantilever ( 17 , 117 ) and a three-surface sensor tip ( 18 , 118 ), which projects out of a surface of the cantilever at a free end of the cantilever, wherein the holding element ( 4 , 104 ), the cantilever ( 17 , 117 ) and the three surface sensor tip ( 18 , 118 ) are made from one monocrystalline (100)-silicon, wherein the cantilever ( 17 , 117 ) is made from the monocrystalline (100)-silicon with an arm region ( 21 , 121 ), which is substantially rectangular when seen from above; and an adjoining triangular tip region ( 22 , 122 ) which tapers to a point, the tip region ( 22 , 122 ) being formed by inclined, slow-etching crystal planes ( 10 , 11 ; 110 , 111 ), which are produced by wet-chemical means, wherein the tip region includes an angle of approximately 62°, and a sensor tip ( 18 , 118 ), which is arranged on the top side of the cantilever ( 17 , 117 ), is made from (100)-silicon and comprises three surfaces, of which two surfaces ( 10 , 11 ; 110 , 111 ) face away from the cantilever ( 17 , 117 ) and one surface ( 19 , 119 ) faces toward the arm region ( 21 , 121 ), the two surfaces being defined by the two inclined, slow-etching crystal planes ( 10 , 11 ; 110 , 111 ), and the one third surface ( 19 , 119 ) being defined by a (111)-crystal plane.