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Updated: May 19, 2026

Sub-nanometer Resolution Imaging with Amplitude-modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid
Published on: December 20, 2016
Molecular layer of gaslike domains at a hydrophobic-water interface observed by frequency-modulation atomic force
Yi-Hsien Lu1, Chih-Wen Yang, Ing-Shouh Hwang
1Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Abstract:
It was numerically predicted that dissolved gas particles could enrich and adsorb at hydrophobic-liquid interfaces. Here we observe nucleation and growth of bright patches of ∼0.45 nm high on the graphite surface in pure water with frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy when the dissolved gas concentration is below the saturation level. The bright patches, suspected to be caused by adsorption of nitrogen molecules at the graphite-water interface, are composed of domains of a rowlike structure with the row separation of 4.2 ± 0.3 nm. The observation of this ordered adlayer might underline the gas segregation at various water interfaces.
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