Patent ID: 7934417

Claim:
A scanning probe microscope comprising: a base frame, to which a probe holder with a probe as well as a sample mount are attached or can be attached, in which case the probe and the sample mount can be moved relative to one another in order to obtain information about the surface of the sample by scanning a sample which is arranged on the sample mount; wherein a reaction chamber attached to the base frame of the scanning probe microscope, with the sample mount arranged in it, with the reaction chamber having an opening on its side facing the probe, through which the probe can enter the reaction chamber; whereby the probe is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the investigation plane (xy plane) through a defined movement distance between a measurement position P M inside the reaction chamber and a withdrawn sample preparation position P V outside the reaction chamber; whereby a closure device, in particular a cover or a cover plate, is provided in order to make it possible to close the opening of the reaction chamber after the probe has been moved from a measurement position P M to a withdrawn sample preparation position P V ; and whereby the reaction chamber is adapted to enable a treatment of the surface of the sample within the reaction chamber when the reaction chamber is closed, particularly a treatment by the specific influence of fluids, particle flows, a plasma, and/or of electromagnetic, electrical and/or magnetic fields over a predetermined reaction time.