Atomic Force Microscopy

Fun facts

High vacuum is not necessary. Piezoelectric position control system. The cantilever: V-shaped or single beam. V-shaped: high deflection sensitivity, not sensitive to torque. Single beam: vice-versa. Material used: diamond, tungsten, silicon. Artifacts: drift, non-linear hysterisis of piezoelectric.

Modes of operation

It is the displacement of the probe tip at the end of the cantilever that is measured.

Contact mode

In the contact region of the potential energy curve, repulsive forces dominate. Two ways: Set height constant and measure repulsive force or set force constant and measure height.

Tapping mode

In the semi-contact region of the potential energy curve.

Non-contact mode

In the non-contact region of the potential energy curve, attractive forces dominate and are measured. What is observed is a an increase in the amplitude of the oscillations of the vibrating probe, translated into a change in attractive forces.