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Dimension Fastscan AFM Videos

More High Speed Experiments. More New Results. Better Data Faster.

The Dimension FastScan Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is being used to image and measure a wide variety of specimens in a range of environments, making AFM more useable. Our FastScan AFM has the functionality and usability to immediately deliver high performance results on any AFM sample. The tip-scanning, open platform geometry of the Dimension FastScan system allows for high performance, high speed investigation of any sample size. The system design offers precise force control that opens the door to fast scanning on soft, highly topographic materials - not just hard, flat samples. Additionally, dynamic experiments are enabled by the unique combination of fast scanning and a highly accessible open platform to support experiments in air or fluid. High speed experiments utilizing heater/coolers, magnetics, fluids and electrical measurements are all possible with the Dimension FastScan AFM.

Purple Membrane - Ultra High-Resolution Imaging

This video demonstrates of the types of experiments that can be done using the Dimension FastScan’s dynamic imaging capability coupled with its high resolution power. In the first portion of the movie, the membrane’s patch dynamics are clearly observable before and after the addition of more protein. In the high resolution portion of the clip, ultra low amplitude PeakForce Tapping has been used to look at the molecular scale topographic and mechanical properties of the membrane.

Quantitative measurement, as opposed to just imaging, is an important and exciting trend in biological AFM. This is illustrated in the 2011 NanoLetters paper by Rico et. al. where the MultiMode 8 with PeakForce QNM was used to image this same sample at extraordinarily high resolution, complete with correlated mechanical maps. This new information enabled the researchers to begin to correlate the individual proteins’ contribution to structure and function – download the publication. The MultiMode 8 is also capable of High Speed Imaging in Peak Force Tapping mode by using the HR accessory.

High Speed Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM)

In this demonstration, MFM was performed on tape media over a large scan area at high speeds (20x20um and 10x10um, with 512x512 pixel resolution, at 20 lines/s). Higher MFM speeds can be utilized both for more defect analysis of magnetic films & hard disks, and for higher productivity in general Research / Survey applications on magnetic nanomaterials.

The data sets a new speed benchmark for MFM imaging. This was enabled by TappingMode on the Dimension FastScan, using FastScan-A probes, to which we applied a custom MFM coating for this experiment. For screening applications, the FastScan's tip-scanning design, fast engage capability, and automatable stage enable rapid, automated, multi-site review of large samples or multiple samples.

Qualification of High Speed AFM

Discussion in the AFM community has led to consensus that the minimum qualifications for a vendor to classify their system as high speed is to achieve at least an order of magnitude speed improvements on Celgard™, tip-check, and a calibration grating samples. These three specimens were put forward as the minimum benchmark when qualifying an AFM system claim of high speed because they test and confirm the quality of the complete system design and performance capability of the atomic force microscope. Watch a compilation video of all three benchmark specimens here.

More Videos from the Dimension FastScan Portfolio

Dynamic Heating and Cooling of PDES

Dynamic heating and cooling AFM measurements can be challenging because the changing temperature can induce considerable drift both in position, and force control. This video shows a high speed imaging dynamic experiment of poly(diethylsiloxane) (PDES). Siloxanes have broad application as greases, lubricants, elastomers and resins. PDES exists as a liquid crystal at room temperature. PDES transitions into a fully liquid state at its isotropization temperature of ~ 60 C. Cooling back down, PDES undergoes two mesomorphic transitions- liquid to liquid crystal (mesomorphic) and liquid crystal to solid crystal (~ -2 C). AFM imaging can be used to study the film’s nano-morphology, and its changes at each phase transition.

Unattended Imaging of Challenging Samples

This video highlights the powerful combination of the Dimension FastScan and ScanAsyst® by demonstrating unattended high speed imaging on a diverse set of challenging samples. Seen here are several simultaneous views of the lab showing different elements of the experiment including the unattended nature of the system operation, as well as a detail of the scan parameters so you can see the system auto-optimize on each sample.

Crystalline Lamella Structures of PHBV

Imaged here is PHBV (Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate)), a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester produced by microbial fermentation. PHBV is commonly used as a "Green Polymer" due to its characteristics of being impact resistant, dishwasher safe, and its ability to hold a vibrant color. The downside is its current market price set significantly higher than that of commodity plastics. This dichotomy provides an important driver for its study. The investigation of the formation of PHBV’s crystalline lamella structure, shown in this video, may eventually determine the mechanical properties of the bulk material. This is lamella-nanostructure is ideal to study with the AFM. The structures are shown here at: 97Hz, 1um x 1um, 256 x 256; 22Hz, 1.8um x1.8um, 1024 x 512; 52Hz, 1um x 1um, 512 x 256; and 5Hz, 20u, x 20um, 5120 x 5120 + Offline Zoom and Pan & Scan. Sample courtesy of Jamie Hobbs.

Dynamic Polystyrene Wetting and De-wetting

Wetting phenomena can be found in many industrial and everyday situations: lubrication of surfaces (e.g. in cars), cornea (eye), paint (e.g. oil-free surfaces). The forces driving wetting and de-wetting are the effective interface potentials between the fluid and the substrate, and between the fluid and air. For a homogenous fluid layer to de-wet, the symmetry of the layer must first be broken. Three mechanisms are possible each dependent on the driving forces, polymer's molecular weight and layer thickness. Polystyrene films of less than 100nm thickness on hydrophobically treated silicon surfaces are good model systems to study de-wetting. In the video the individual appearance of the holes identifies the process of hole formation as thermal nucleation. The pattern of smaller, similar-sized depressions, without complete hole formation, may hint at a concurrent spinodal effect. They appear later in the process and are soon overwhelmed by the holes caused by thermal nucleation, and had not been previously time resolved on this sample.