METHOD OF MAKING NEEDLES FOR SCANNING TUNNEL MICROSCOPY Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC G01Q60/16 B82B3/00 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method of making needles involves selection of modes for electrochemical pickling in an electrolyte solution of a wire made from tungsten, platinum or platinum-containing alloys. The wire undergoes pickling in a cell in which the said wire is polarised using a counter electrode in the gap between two glass capillaries worn at the ends of the wire. Due to the additional weight of the thick-walled glass capillary and the arising gravitational action on the re-pickled needle which forms a tip, there is instantaneous breaking of the needle, which prevents its pickling, and maximum sharpness of its tip is provided.

EFFECT: prevention of pickling of the tip of the needle, using an available non-toxic electrolyte for this purpose, provision for accurate electrochemical control of the pickling process.

14 cl, 1 dwg