TITLE:
Self-Sensing and –Actuating Probes for Tapping Mode AFM Measurements of Soft Polymers at a Wide Range of Temperatures
AUTHORS:
Nadejda B. Matsko, Julian Wagner, Anton Efimov, Ines Haynl, Stefan Mitsche, Wolfgang Czapek, Boris Matsko, Werner Grogger, Ferdinand Hofer
KEYWORDS:
Tuning Fork, Sharp Tungsten Tip, AFM, Tapping Mode, Soft Materials
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Modern Physics,
Vol.2 No.2,
March
22,
2011
ABSTRACT: Self-sensing and –actuating probes optimized for conventional tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) are described. 32-kHz quartz tuning forks with a chemically etched and focus ion beam (FIB) sharpened (curvature radii are 5-10 nm) tungsten tip are stable at air and liquid nitrogen atmosphere and at a wide range of temperatures. If driven at constant frequency, the scan speed of such sensors can be up to 3 Hz. AFM was performed on polymer samples in order to study the stability and applicability of these sensor for investigation of soft materials with high dynamical tendencies.