The tip "drags" across the surface. It provides high resolution but can damage soft samples like biological tissues.
AFM has moved far beyond simple "pictures." It is now a lab-on-a-tip: Fundamentals and Application of Atomic Force Mi...
Provides a (height data), not just a 2D projection. Requires no vacuum ; it can operate in air or liquids. The tip "drags" across the surface
Researchers use AFM to visualize the double helix of DNA or the movement of protein channels in living cell membranes under physiological conditions (liquid environments). Requires no vacuum ; it can operate in air or liquids
While optical microscopes use light and electron microscopes use beams of electrons, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) works by "feeling" a surface—much like a record player needle or a person reading Braille. It is one of the most powerful tools in nanotechnology because it doesn't just see atoms; it interacts with them. 1. The Fundamentals: How It Works
The cantilever vibrates at its resonance frequency, lightly "tapping" the surface. This reduces friction and lateral forces, making it the gold standard for polymers and DNA .