High-speed atomic force microscopy in liquid

Abstract

High-speed constant force imaging with the atomic force microscope (AFM) has been achieved in liquid. By using a standard optical lever AFM, and a cantilever with an integrated zinc oxide (ZnO) piezoelectric actuator, an imaging bandwidth of 38 kHz has been achieved; nearly 100 times faster than conventional AFMs. For typical samples, this bandwidth corresponds to tip velocities in excess of 3 mm/s. High-speed AFM imaging in liquid will (1) permit chemical and biological AFM observations to occur at speeds previously inaccessible, and (2) significantly decrease measurement times in standard AFM liquid operation.