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Atomic Force Microscopy Facility


  232 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43210

General Information

 

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a relatively new technique used to visualize biomolecules at nanoscale resolution. AFM produces a topographic image of a sample by scanning the surface with a sharp, nanometer scale probe (tip) attached to a flexible cantilever. A laser beam is made incident on the cantilever and deflections in the laser beam as the cantilever scans the surface are sensed by a photodiode and used to reconstruct the image.

AFM Principle of Operation
 
 
AFM Diagram

Capabilities of AFM

  • a high-resolution surface-scanning technique: lateral resolution ~ 1 nm, vertical resolution ~ 0.1 nm
  • permits imaging in a liquid environment - no drying and/or coating of samples required
  • can be used to investigate mechanical and chemical forces at the nanoscale level
  • the AFM probe can be used to deposit molecules at the nanoscale level - "dip-pen nanolithography"

The AFM facility at BME is geared towards biological applications and nanotechnology. AFM technique development and innovative applications form a central focus of the facility. We do:

  1. Imaging in ambient air
  2. Imaging in a fluid environment
  3. Dip-pen nanolithography
  4. Force measurements

Instrumentation

The AFM facility is equipped with a multimode AFM with Nanoscope IIIa controller from Digital Instruments (Santa Barbara, CA). This instrument offers high-resolution AFM imaging. The instrument is capable of imaging on several other modes of AFM such as electric force microscopy (EFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).


Use of the AFM Facility


To schedule the usage of AFM Facility equipment, please submit your request to Director, Dr. Gunjan Agarwal at agarwal-3@medctr.osu.edu or at (614) 292-3300. All individuals wishing to use the AFM Facility may do so by completing the following documents.

Send completed forms to:
Ms. Kirsten Gibbons
Administrator, Biomedical Engineering,
270 Bevis Hall, 1080 Carmack Rd.,
Columbus, Ohio 43210
  Phone: (614) 292-1625
  Fax: (614) 292-7301
  E-mail: gibbons.40@osu.edu


 
Registered users are encouraged to use AFM Schedule calendar.
 

 AFM Photo

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Last updated: 03/26/2004
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