Calibrating torsional eigenmodes of micro-cantilevers for dynamic measurement of frictional forces.

Non-invasive thermal noise calibration of both torsional and flexural eigenmodes is performed on numerous cantilevers of 10 different types. We show that for all tipless and short-tipped cantilevers, the ratio of torsional to flexural mode stiffness is given by the ratio of their resonant frequency times a constant, unique to that cantilever type. By determining this constant, we enable a calibration of the torsional eigenmode, starting from a calibration of the flexural eigenmode.

Probing nano-scale viscoelastic response in air and in liquid with dynamic atomic force microscopy.

We perform a comparative study of dynamic force measurements using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) on the same soft polymer blend samples in both air and liquid environments. Our quantitative analysis starts with calibration of the same cantilever in both environments. Intermodulation AFM (ImAFM) is used to measure dynamic force quadratures on the same sample.

From force curves to surface nanomechanical properties.

Surface science, which spans the fields of chemistry, physics, biology and materials science, requires information to be obtained on the local properties and property variations across a surface. This has resulted in the development of different scanning probe methods that allow the measurement of local chemical composition and local electrical and mechanical properties. These techniques have led to rapid advancement in fundamental science with applications in areas such as composite materials, corrosion protection and wear resistance.

Imaging high-speed friction at the nanometer scale.

Friction is a complicated phenomenon involving nonlinear dynamics at different length and time scales. Understanding its microscopic origin requires methods for measuring force on nanometer-scale asperities sliding at velocities reaching centimetres per second. Despite enormous advances in experimental technique, this combination of small length scale and high velocity remain elusive.

A virtual instrument to standardise the calibration of atomic force microscope cantilevers.

Atomic force microscope (AFM) users often calibrate the spring constants of cantilevers using functionality built into individual instruments. This calibration is performed without reference to a global standard, hindering the robust comparison of force measurements reported by different laboratories. Here, we describe a virtual instrument (an internet-based initiative) whereby users from all laboratories can instantly and quantitatively compare their calibration measurements to those of others-standardising AFM force measurements-and simultaneously enabling non-invasive calibration of AFM cantilevers of any geometry.