Interdigital cantilevers for atomic force microscopy

Preamplifying cantilevers for dynamic atomic force microscopy

A cantilever type has been developed for dynamic force microscopy by the addition of a harmonic oscillator in the form of a paddle to atomic force microscopy cantilevers. These cantilevers provide resonant amplification of periodic interactions between the probe and the substrate when the laser is aligned on the paddle. The cantilevers were explored for their use in piezoresponse force microsco...

Atomic force microscopy cantilevers beyond imaging

Magnetostriction-driven cantilevers for dynamic atomic force microscopy

An actuation mode is presented to drive the mechanical oscillation of cantilevers for dynamic atomic force microscopy. The method is based on direct mechanical excitation of the cantilevers coated with amorphous Fe–B–N thin films, by means of the film magnetostriction, i.e., the dimensional change in the film when magnetized. These amorphous magnetostrictive Fe–B–N thin films exhibit soft magne...

“Torsional tapping” atomic force microscopy using T-shaped cantilevers

Nic Mullin, Cvetelin Vasilev, Jaimey D. Tucker, C. Neil Hunter, Christa H. M. Weber, and Jamie K. Hobbs Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, The Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7RH, United Kingdom Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, Unite...

Bimodal frequency-modulated atomic force microscopy with small cantilevers.

Small cantilevers with ultra-high resonant frequencies (1-3 MHz) have paved the way for high-speed atomic force microscopy. However, their potential for multi-frequency atomic force microscopy is unexplored. Because small cantilevers have small spring constants but large resonant frequencies, they are well-suited for the characterisation of delicate specimens with high imaging rates. We demonst...