Figure 1

SEM images of micro-channeled cantilevers used in this study. (a) Top-view of a cantilever with pyramidal tip. (b) Bottom-view of a tipless cantilever with 2 µm aperture. (c) Bottom-view of a cantilever with pyramidal tip with a 300 nm aperture at its apex. (d) Cross-section through the pyramidal tip, located at the front end of a micro-channeled cantilever. The internal channel in the lever and pyramidal tip has been made accessible by focused ion beam milling (FIB).