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Atomic Force Microscopy

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Active Probe Atomic Force Microscopy with Quattro-Parallel Cantilever Arrays for High-Throughput Large-Scale Sample Inspection

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The long range voice coil atomic force microscope.

H Barnard¹, C Randall, D Bridges

¹Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|March 3, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Atomic force microscopes (AFMs) now use voice coils for greater Z-axis range, enabling imaging of larger biological samples like bone fractures. This overcomes limitations of traditional piezoelectric ceramics in atomic force microscopy.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Biophysics
Microscopy Technology

Background:

Current atomic force microscopes (AFMs) rely on piezoelectric ceramics for scan actuation, offering precision but limited range.
The limited range of piezoelectric ceramics restricts the imaging of biological samples with significant topography, such as bone.
Atomic force microscopy's advantage in imaging biological samples in aqueous buffers is hindered by current actuation range limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce voice coils as an alternative scan actuation method for atomic force microscopy.
To significantly increase the Z-axis actuation range in AFMs beyond current commercial availability.
To enable imaging of a wider variety of biological samples, including those with large topographical features like bone fractures.

Main Methods:

Implementation of voice coil actuators for Z-axis scan actuation in an atomic force microscope.
Characterization of the actuation range and performance of the voice coil-based AFM system.
Comparison of the new system's capabilities with traditional piezoelectric ceramic-based AFMs.

Main Results:

Achieved a Z-axis actuation range an order of magnitude larger than currently available commercial AFMs.
Demonstrated the capability to image samples with significantly larger topographical variations.
Successfully imaged challenging biological samples, such as bone fractures, previously not feasible with standard AFMs.

Conclusions:

Voice coil actuation offers a substantial improvement in Z-axis range for atomic force microscopy.
This technological advancement expands the scope of biological samples that can be studied using AFM.
The enhanced range facilitates new research avenues in fields requiring high-resolution imaging of complex biological structures.