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Nanomechanics Using an Ultra-Small Amplitude AFM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Peter M. Hoffmann ,
Steve Jeffery ,
Ahmet Oral ,
Ralph A. Grimble ,
H. özgür Özer  and
John B. Pethica
Peter M. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
Steve Jeffery
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
Ahmet Oral
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Ralph A. Grimble
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
H. özgür Özer
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
John B. Pethica
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
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Abstract

A new type of AFM is presented which allows for direct measurements of nanomechanical properties in ultra-high vacuum and liquid environments. The AFM is also capable of atomic-scale imaging of force gradients. This is achieved by vibrating a stiff lever at very small amplitudes of less than 1 Å (peak-to-peak) at a sub-resonance amplitude. This linearizes the measurement and makes the interpretation of the data straight-forward. At the atomic scale, interaction force gradients are measured which are consistent with the observation of single atomic bonds. Also, atomic scale damping is observed which rapidly rises with the tip-sample separation. A mechanism is proposed to explain this damping in terms of atomic relaxation in the tip. We also present recent results in water where we were able to measure the mechanical response due to the molecular ordering of water close to an atomically flat surface.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 649: Symposium Q – Fundamentals of Nanoindentation & Nanotribology II , 2000 , Q9.2
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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