User`s guide

Temperature Control 13
Agilent 5500 SPM User’s Guide 208
11
On the Lakeshore controller press Heater Range and select Low.
12 Press the Setpoint button and enter the desired final temperature.
13 Allow the temperature to stabilize.
14 Initiate an approach.
Tips for Temperature Controlled Imaging
• Make sure there is good thermal contact between the sample and the
sample plate. If possible, mount the sample using the liquid cell even
for ambient imaging.
• Double-sided tape reduces thermal conductivity as well as
introducing sample drift. Therefore it should not be used to mount
samples for temperature controlled experiments.
• It is possible to ramp the temperature while imaging. Use slow
ramps, typically less than 1 C per minute.
• Every sample will react differently to temperature control. A thin
piece of graphite is a good test sample to use while setting up the
temperature control system.
• Temperature fluctuations due to excessive gains will cause the
surface to appear wavy. Reduce gains on the Lakeshore controller to
reduce this waviness.
• Imaging in the environmental chamber is recommended as it will
help keep the temperature stable. Purging the environmental cell
with a dry gas such as nitrogen will help control the sample
environment if condensation from cooling to below the dew point
becomes an issue.