Heating Stage for Nano-RT AFM

A simple heating stage can be made for the Nano-RT AFM that will heat samples from room temperature to as high as 70 °C. The stage is built on the Nano-RT sample puck and requires six additional parts.

Most of the parts are available from commercial vendors.

• Minco Products, Inc.
• Omega Engineering, inc.
• McMaster-Carr Supply Company
• Digi-Key Corporation

Part List:

1	Temperature Controller	Minco Products, Inc.	CT16A2030
2	Thermocouple	Omega Engineering, Inc.	K Type
3	Heater Element	Minco Products, Inc.	HK5572R13.9L12B
4	Insulator(Alumina)	McMaster-Carr Supply Comp.	8464K27
5	DC Power Supply(0-20V)	Lambda	LA-200
6	Metal Plate
7	Connector Strip	Digi-Key Corporation

The metal plate should be magnetic and should be larger than the samples that will be imaged with the microscope. An adequate metal plate can be fabricated by cutting a section out of a metal washer. It is necessary to connect the thermocouple to the metal plate. To do this; first cut a slot in the plate with a metal saw. Then, insert the thermocouple into the slot. The thermocouple must be rigidly attached to the metal plate to assure good temperature control.

The heating stage is constructed on the top of the Nano-R™ sample puck in the following configuration:

The thickness of the entire sample heating stage "T" must be less than ¼" so that there is enough space for tip approach. The alumina plate can be glued to the top of the sample puck. The heater element from Minco Products, Inc. includes adhesive to bond to the top of the Alumina. Because the metal plate is magnetic, it is held to the top of the heater element magnetically because of the magnet in the top of the sample puck.

The sample can either be held on the sample plate by gravity, or if necessary, use heat resistant glue to bond the sample to the metal plate.

Below is a wiring diagram for the heating stage. The instructions from the supplier of the temperature controller explain the correct locations for attaching the wires to the controller.

Below is a picture of the heating stage that was constructed specifically for the Nano-R™. After constructing the heater stage it can be placed directly into the Nano-R™ AFM. The temperature of the sample will be held constant within around +/- 1 degree. When measuring images in the microscope with the heater on, you can expect to see thermal drift in the AFM images.