JPK Instruments NanoWizard
®
Handbook Version 2.2a
1
Contents
1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 About this handbook ........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 What is an Atomic Force Microscope? ............................................................................................................ 1
1.3 Scanning Probe Microscopy ............................................................................................................................ 2
1.4 Atomic Force Microscopy ................................................................................................................................ 3
1.5 AFM cantilevers ............................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Imaging modes .....................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Feedback and imaging control ......................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Amplitude feedback in dynamic modes ........................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Another way of thinking about imaging modes ................................................................................................ 6
2.4 Operation ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
2.5 Phase imaging ................................................................................................................................................. 9
2.6 Force adjustment in imaging modes .............................................................................................................. 10
2.7 Applications ................................................................................................................................................... 11
3. Force spectroscopy ............................................................................................................................12
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Data processing for analysis .......................................................................................................................... 13
3.3 Applications ................................................................................................................................................... 16
4. More about cantilevers .......................................................................................................................18
4.1 General points ............................................................................................................................................... 18
4.2 Handling information ...................................................................................................................................... 18
4.3 Cantilever types for different imaging modes ................................................................................................. 19
4.4 Tip modification ............................................................................................................................................. 20
4.5 Spring constant .............................................................................................................................................. 21
5. Cell imaging ........................................................................................................................................24
5.1 AFM in relation to other cell imaging techniques ........................................................................................... 24
5.2 Sample preparation ....................................................................................................................................... 25
5.3 Imaging modes .............................................................................................................................................. 27
5.4 Critical imaging parameters ........................................................................................................................... 28
5.5 Using the oscilloscope to optimize the imaging parameters .......................................................................... 28
5.6 Artifacts .......................................................................................................................................................... 30
6. Single molecule imaging .....................................................................................................................31
6.1 Preparation is key .......................................................................................................................................... 31
6.2 Imaging hints – intermittent contact mode in liquid ........................................................................................ 33
6.3 Imaging hints - contact mode in liquid ............................................................................................................ 34
6.4 Imaging hints – imaging in air ........................................................................................................................ 35
6.5 Simple DNA protocol for imaging tests .......................................................................................................... 35
7. Artifacts ...............................................................................................................................................37
7.1 Tip shape issues ............................................................................................................................................ 37
7.2 Artifacts from damaged tips ........................................................................................................................... 38
7.3 Contamination ............................................................................................................................................... 39