Optical interference artifacts in contact atomic force microscopy images

Méndez-Vilas, A.; González-Martı́n, M.L.; Nuevo, María J.

doi:10.1016/s0304-3991(02)00140-7

Cited by 30 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Gunning et al46 were able to image larger micrometer‐sized oil (tetradecane) droplets in water on a polystyrene (PS) surface. While at low magnification the liquid surface appeared featureless, a close‐up look showed the presence of concentric rings (Figure 5a), which were suggested to be caused by an optical interference effect, as we had previously described for these kinds of round‐shaped objects having topographical contrast in the micrometer range 47. Finally, Tongcher et al48 have reported that stable liquid nanodroplets (sizes between 180 and 630 nm) on a solid surface can be investigated by AFM using a miniemulsion, the oil phase consisting of E7 (liquid crystal) and hexadecane as a hydrophobe dispersed in the water phase, stabilized with ionic and steric surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).…”

Section: Justification Theoretical Framework and Experimental Tesupporting

confidence: 70%

Ultrasmall Liquid Droplets on Solid Surfaces: Production, Imaging, and Relevance for Current Wetting Research

Méndez-Vilas

Jódar-Reyes

González-Martı́n

2009

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124

130

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The investigation of micro- and nanoscale droplets on solid surfaces offers a wide range of research opportunities both at a fundamental and an applied level. On the fundamental side, advances in the techniques for production and imaging of such ultrasmall droplets will allow wetting theories to be tested down to the nanometer scale, where they predict the significant influence of phenomena such as the contact line tension or evaporation, which can be neglected in the case of macroscopic droplets. On the applied side, these advances will pave the way for characterizing a diverse set of industrially important materials such as textile or biomedical micro- and nanofibers, powdered solids, and topographically or chemically nanopatterned surfaces, as well as micro-and nanoscale devices, with relevance in diverse industries from biomedical to petroleum engineering. Here, the basic principles of wetting at the micro- and nanoscales are presented, and the essential characteristics of the main experimental techniques available for producing and imaging these droplets are described. In addition, the main fundamental and applied results are reviewed. The most problematic aspects of studying such ultrasmall droplets, and the developments that are in progress that are thought to circumvent them in the coming years, are highlighted.

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Section: Justification Theoretical Framework and Experimental Tesupporting

confidence: 70%

Ultrasmall Liquid Droplets on Solid Surfaces: Production, Imaging, and Relevance for Current Wetting Research

Méndez-Vilas

Jódar-Reyes

González-Martı́n

2009

Small

124

130

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“…It scatters on the surface of a sample and may interfere with the light scattered from a reflective (back side) part of the cantilever. This phenomenon has been reported for both contact [5] and dynamic (tapping) [6] AFM modes.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Analysis of beam interference reflected from atomic force microscope tip and periodic silicon surface under various humidity conditions

2012

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Dynamical sensing based on combination of classical optical effects and atomic force microscopy (AFM) presents challenge for analysis of the forces at the nanoscale and beyond. An interference effect between light reflected from an AFM cantilever and highly reflective silicon surface of the calibration grating was studied for relative humidity (RH) varied between 9 and 60%. Force-distance analysis indicates on separation of capillary, van der Waals, adhesion, and electrostatic forces. The measurements performed in contact AFM mode suggest that the period of interference pattern observed in displacement curves is a function of humidity and varies between 293 nm at RH = 9% and 335 nm at RH > 50% with standard deviation less than 8 nm. Clear change of the interference period suggests that other than hardwarerelated factors may be involved in the formation of the interference in force-distance curves.

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“…AFM overcomes these disadvantages and provides a three-dimensional image of surface morphology. However, AFM images are usually affected by different kinds of artifacts, such as the microscope design, operational mode, and external environmental factors (Girasole et al 2007;Chen et al 1998;Me´ndez-Vilas et al 2002;Chen and Cai, 2006). AFM probe is a key component of microscopic system; the resolution of images and the information obtained by AFM depend strongly on the probe or tip used, whose artifacts mainly include asymmetric cantilever tips (Kaupp et al 1995) and surface topography of scanning probe (Kitching et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The analysis of morphological distortion during AFM study of cells

Cai

et al. 2008

Scanning

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Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely applied in cellular morphology study. However, morphological information including volume and roughness obtained by AFM are usually affected by different kinds of factors, which include the microscopic system itself, imaging mode, or external factors such as AFM probe or tip condition. In this study, based on red blood cell model, the dependence of cellular morphology, volume, and roughness on several parameters of the imaging was evaluated and, furthermore, a general rule and resolution for trustful analysis had been suggested. In addition, the potential effects that resulted from sample itself had also been analyzed based on adhesive force analysis. The results indicated that the scanning range and the imaging mode affect cellular volume and roughness, and the distorted images should be ascribed to blunt tip, contaminated tip, and the shape of tip. The analysis of morphological distortion during AFM investigation of cells provides a reference for researchers using AFM.

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Optical interference artifacts in contact atomic force microscopy images

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

Ultrasmall Liquid Droplets on Solid Surfaces: Production, Imaging, and Relevance for Current Wetting Research

Ultrasmall Liquid Droplets on Solid Surfaces: Production, Imaging, and Relevance for Current Wetting Research

Analysis of beam interference reflected from atomic force microscope tip and periodic silicon surface under various humidity conditions

The analysis of morphological distortion during AFM study of cells

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