Small Gap between parallel plates

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods to create and maintain a small gap (approximately 10-50nm) between two parallel plates, focusing on practical approaches and challenges associated with such a setup. The context includes considerations of materials, potential interactions, and mechanisms for maintaining the gap under various conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the dimensions and materials of the plates, suggesting that these factors could influence the feasibility of maintaining a small gap.
  • Another participant mentions the dimensions of the plates (10mm x 10mm) and their composition (polished Si wafers), noting the potential issue of van der Waals interactions at such small distances.
  • A suggestion is made to use nano-particles between the plates to maintain separation.
  • There is a question about whether the gap must be filled with air, with one participant proposing the idea of using a thin oil film, though they note that such films typically exceed the desired thickness.
  • A participant proposes that maintaining the gap may require a distance adjustment mechanism, referencing the precision of lithography steppers and suggesting capacitance-based gap measurement techniques, while also highlighting the challenge of keeping the plates parallel.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas and suggestions, but there is no consensus on a specific method or solution for maintaining the gap. Multiple competing views and approaches remain under discussion.

Contextual Notes

Challenges include the influence of van der Waals forces at small distances, the need for precise gap measurement and adjustment, and the potential limitations of using different materials or mediums to maintain the gap.

mcodesmart
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Any ideas on how one can make a small gap (~10-50nm) between two parallel plates and maintain a known distance between them. I have two very flat surfaces and I would like to maintain a small gap (known gap) across them. I searched in the literature but I came up with nothing so if you have any ideas, that would be great.
 
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mcodesmart said:
Any ideas on how one can make a small gap (~10-50nm) between two parallel plates and maintain a known distance between them. I have two very flat surfaces and I would like to maintain a small gap (known gap) across them. I searched in the literature but I came up with nothing so if you have any ideas, that would be great.

What are the dimensions of the plates? What are they made of? Do they have a voltage between them?
 
berkeman said:
What are the dimensions of the plates? What are they made of? Do they have a voltage between them?

The dimensions of the plate, (10mmx 10mm) and made from very flat and polished Si wafers. No voltage between them but I understand van dew Waal interactions is an issue at those lengths?
 
Could you put some nano-particles between the plates to keep them separated.
 
Does the gap have to be air?

I was thinking a film of thin oil but it turns out they tend to be microns or 10s of microns thick so no good for this.
 
Presumably the gap needs to be maintained in the face of potential disturbances, so there is already a need for some distance adjustment mechanism.
Afaik, the steppers for lithography offer positioning to a few nanometers, so presumably one could measure the gap continuously and adjust as needed, probably with a capacitance based gap measuring technique. One issue would be keeping the plates parallel.
 

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