Atomic force microscopy (AFM) represents an important instrument for measuring mechanical properties of biological materials ranging from single molecules to normal or malignant cells. AFM provides a 3D profile of the surface on a nanoscale, by measuring forces between a sharp probe (<10 nm), supported on a flexible cantilever, and surface at very short distance (0.2-10 nm probe-sample separati...

microscopy-based techniques is enabling new ways to build and investigate nanoscale electronic devices. Here we review several advanced techniques to characterize and manipulate nanoelectronic devices using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Starting from a carbon nanotube (CNT) network device that is fabricated by conventional photolithography (micron-scale resolution) individual carbon nanotub...

Phase contrast in intermittent-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals in-plane structural and mechanical properties of polymer monolayers. This is surprising, because measurements of nanoscale in-plane properties typically require contact mode microscopies. Our measurements are possible because the tip oscillates not just perpendicular but also parallel to the sample surface along the lo...

We report on the use of three different atomic force spectroscopy modalities to determine the nanomechanical properties of amyloid fibrils of the human α-synuclein protein. α-Synuclein forms fibrillar nanostructures of approximately 10 nm diameter and lengths ranging from 100 nm to several microns, which have been associated with Parkinson's disease. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used ...

The adsorption of naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide (NTCDI) on Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 is investigated through a combination of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We show that NTCDI adopts multiple planar adsorption geometries on the Si(1 1 1)-7 × 7 surface which can be imaged with intramolecular bond res...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique which is commonly used to image surfaces at the nanoscale and single-molecule level, as well as to investigate physical properties of the sample surface using a technique known as force spectroscopy. In this chapter, we review our recent research where we used AFM to investigate physical properties of phospholipid monolayers, bilayers, and c...

We have developed a wideband phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit with real-time phase correction for high-speed and accurate force measurements by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) in liquid. A high-speed operation of FM-AFM requires the use of a high frequency cantilever which, however, increases frequency-dependent phase delay caused by the signal delay within the cantilever e...

The nanoscale surface analysis of microbial cells represents a significant challenge of current microbiology and is critical for developing new biotechnological and biomedical applications. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) topographic imaging, researchers can visualize the ultrastructure of live cells under physiological conditions and their subtle modifications upon cell growth or treatment...

The spatial resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be drastically increased by terminating the tip with a single carbon monoxide (CO) molecule. However, the CO molecule is not stiff, and lateral forces, such as those around the sides of molecules, distort images. This issue begs a larger question of how AFM can probe structures that are laterally weak. Lateral force microscopy (LFM) ca...

Bismuth sulfide nano-rods and nano-flowers were synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction at a relatively low temperature. Thioglycolic acid is used as sulfur source and capping agent simultaneously. Bi2S3 nanostructures were then added to acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer. The thermal stability behavior of ABS filled with bismuth sulfide nano-rods were investigated by thermogravime...