Sample Preparation

The newest addition to the nanofabrication facility.  The LatticeAx is a fundamentally new way to approach cleaving of samples.  With the simple mechanical mechanism the success rate vs manual cleaving is near 100%.  This means anyone can be a cleaving expert!   A small indent is precisely placed into the surface of the sample using a diamond tipped indenter. The sample is then moved under the cleaving bar and cleaved in a slow and controllable fashion.  This method allows for very high quality cross sections to be created in less than 5 minutes. Positional accuracy of the cleave is ~10µm when using the attached microscope. The tool can also be used for downsizing of samples with reduced contamination relative to manual cleaving or dicing.  This process is compatible with both crystalline materials and glass.