Ambient dynamic mode (tapping mode or intermittent-contact mode) AFM imaging has been used extensively for
the characterization of the topography of nano structures. However, the results are beset with artifacts, because hard
tapping of the AFM tip on sample surface usually causes premature tip damage. Through careful study of the
cantilever amplitude and phase signals as functions of tip-to-sample distance, principle of non-contact AFM
operation was discovered to enable high resolution and low tip damage AFM image acquisition [1, 2]. However,
current study discovers that the conventional way of acquiring amplitude and phase versus distance curves gives
erroneous non-contact operating range, because the tip gets damaged during the data acquisition process. A new
technique is developed to reliably map the operating parameters of an intact tip that ensures the AFM be operated
with the correct non-contact settings. Two examples are given to illustrate the successful applications of this new
technique. The first example involves the size characterization of polystyrene latex (PSL) nano particles used for
light scattering tool calibration. The second example is the development of robust recipes for the measurement of
the depth of phase-shift mask trenches.
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