October 31, 2008: Nanoscience Instruments, a US-based distributor of nanotechnology instrumentation and supplies, is the first worldwide distributor of Advanced Diamond Technologies’ (ADT) NaDiaProbe line of all-diamond atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes.

NaDiaProbes are constructed entirely of diamond. They differ greatly from diamond-coated silicon or silicon nitride probes in that both the cantilever and tip are 100% UNCD, a thin-film form of nanocrystalline diamond manufactured exclusively by ADT. NaDiaProbes benefit from the unsurpassed hardness of diamond, and they will outlast standard silicon probes by more than 100× when imaging hard surfaces without sacrificing tip sharpness. NaDiaProbes also provide enhanced imaging performance on soft, sticky samples because of the low adhesion and low surface energy of diamond. They are suited for a wide variety of standard imaging applications as well as for applications in nanoscale metrology, inspection, and manufacturing.

“NaDiaProbes have clear advantages for many applications, especially where tip durability is concerned. They will be instrumental in solving current and future challenges in nanotechnology R&D,” said Nanoscience cofounder Mark Flowers, in a statement.

“We developed NaDiaProbes not only to make superior AFM probes but also to enable many new applications for probes due to diamond’s unmatched durability such as non-volatile memory devices and nanomanufacturing. We look forward to a long-term beneficial relationship with Nanoscience Instruments on many levels,” stated ADT CTO John Carlisle.