Patent ID: 7921465

Claim:
A system for characterizing surfaces, comprising: a nanotip microscope disposed in a first pressure envelope at a first pressure, said microscope having at least one electrically conductive nanotip mounted thereon for characterizing a sample surface; an ion imaging system disposed within a second pressure envelope at a second pressure, said second pressure less than or equal to said first pressure, said first and said second pressure envelopes separated by at least one pressure limiting aperture (PLA); at least one gas source for introducing into the first pressure envelope at least one gas; and a voltage supply coupled to said nanotip for generating an electric field between said nanotip and said PLA; wherein said electric field repels and ionizes molecules or atoms of said gas in proximity to said nanotip, and wherein said ion imaging system collects at least a portion of said repelled and ionized molecules or atoms traversing said PLA to image said nanotip.