Carbon Nanospikes: Synthesis, characterization and application for high resolution AFM.

•New spike-like carbon nanostructures were produced by CVD method at the apexes of Si AFM probes.•We demonstrate the structures consist typically of a few branches composed of amorphous carbon.•The apex of the tip is usually only 1–2 nm in diameter.•The Si probes with carbon nanospikes strongly increase the quality of AFM images.•Unlike for other ultra-sharp AFM probes, synthesis is reliable, reproducible and scalable.