Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Near Simultaneous Laser Scanning Confocal and Atomic Force Microscopy Conpokal on Live Cells
Published on: August 11, 2020
Bond-Level Imaging of the 3D Conformation of Adsorbed Organic Molecules Using Atomic Force Microscopy with
Daniel Martin-Jimenez1,2, Sebastian Ahles3,2, Doreen Mollenhauer4,2
1Institute of Applied Physics (IAP), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Abstract:
The chemical structure and orientation of molecules on surfaces can be visualized using low temperature atomic force microscopy with CO-functionalized tips. Conventionally, this is done in constant-height mode by measuring the frequency shift of the oscillating force sensor. However, this method is unsuitable for analyzing 3D objects. We are using the tunneling current to track the topography while simultaneously obtaining submolecular resolution from the frequency shift signal. Thereby, the conformation of 3D molecules and the adsorption sites on the atomic lattice can be reliably determined.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Force Microscopy
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
Levels of Organization
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...
Valence Bond Theory
Peptide Bonds
Bond Energies and Bond Lengths
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

