Scanning probe apparatus, comprising: a) a tip-electrode which is coupled to be maintained at a first potential; b) a counter-electrode which is positioned in proximity with the tip electrode and which is coupled to be maintained at a second potential differing from the first potential by a value greater than approximately 150 volts; and c) positioning instrumentation, which is adapted to maintain the tip-electrode at a distance from a surface while scanning the tip-electrode parallel to the surface, and controls the position of the tip-electrode in a scanning direction parallel to the surface to within a resolution sufficient so that the apparatus can be used as a scanning probe microscope.