Nanoprobe tips are key components in many applications such as scanning probe
microscopes, nanoscale imaging, nanofabrication and sensing. This paper describes a
dynamic chemical etching method for the fabrication of optical nanoprobes. The tips are
produced by mechanically rotating and dipping a silica optical fibre in a chemical etching
solution (aqueous hydrofluoric acid) covered with a protection layer. Using different dynamic
regimes of the mechanical movements during the chemical etching process, it is possible to …

Fibre-optic nanoprobes have opened up new applications ranging from scanning probe
microscopes, nanoscale imaging, and nanofabrication to molecular biology and medical
diagnostics1. Due to their small sizes, this type of nanosensor provides important tools for
minimal invasive analysis. Since transmission efficiency and detection sensitivity are highly
related to the aperture size, the control of the nanoaperture shape and dimension is
essential for the fabrication of high-quality nanoprobes. Optical fibre nanotips can be …