Calibration of colloid probe cantilevers using the dynamic viscous response of a confined liquid

Articles you may be interested in Adhesive-free colloidal probes for nanoscale force measurements: Production and characterization Rev. Improved in situ spring constant calibration for colloidal probe atomic force microscopy Rev. Accurate noncontact calibration of colloidal probe sensitivities in atomic force microscopy Rev. A calibration method for lateral forces for use with colloidal probe force microscopy cantilevers Rev. Precision and accuracy of thermal calibration of atomic force microscopy cantilevers Rev. A method is described to determine the spring constant of colloid probe cantilevers used in force measurements with the atomic force microscope. An oscillatory drive applied to the substrate is coupled by viscous interactions to the colloid probe. The dynamic response of the probe, which is unaffected by static interactions, is then used to determine the spring constant of the cantilever. Thus an accurate calibration of the spring constant may be performed simultaneously with a normal colloidal probe force measurement in situ.