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Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...

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Modeling the Interaction between AFM Tips and Pinned Surface Nanobubbles.

Zhenjiang Guo¹, Yawei Liu¹, Qianxiang Xiao¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing 100029, China.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|January 12, 2016

Summary

AFM tip interactions with surface nanobubbles are complex. Hydrophilic tips show repulsion due to nanobubble deformation, while hydrophobic tips can pierce the interface, causing attraction during retraction.

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Experimental Multiscale Methodology for Predicting Material Fouling Resistance

Experimental Multiscale Methodology for Predicting Material Fouling Resistance

Area of Science:

Surface science and nanotechnology
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
Computational physics and chemistry

Background:

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is widely used to study surface nanobubbles.
AFM imaging may misrepresent nanobubble shapes due to tip-nanobubble interactions.
The interplay between nanobubble deformation and capillary forces remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically investigate the interaction between AFM tips and pinned surface nanobubbles.
To understand the influence of tip hydrophilicity and shape on these interactions.
To elucidate the mechanisms of nanobubble deformation and induced capillary forces.

Main Methods:

Utilized constraint lattice density functional theory (CLDFT) for simulations.
Investigated interactions with varying AFM tip properties (hydrophilicity, shape).
Analyzed tip-nanobubble forces during approach and retraction phases.

Main Results:

Hydrophilic tips induce repulsive forces via nanobubble deformation; hydrophobic tips can pierce the interface.
Nanobubble deformation exhibits elastic behavior, preventing tip penetration and causing repulsion.
Hydrophobic tips show strong adhesion and lengthening effects on nanobubbles during retraction, leading to attraction.

Conclusions:

Simulation results align with experimental AFM observations of tip-nanobubble forces.
The CLDFT model accurately captures key tip-nanobubble interaction mechanisms.
Findings offer insights for designing less invasive AFM experiments on surface nanobubbles.