Imaging of single polymer chains based on their elasticity
- 10 October 1994
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AIP Publishing in Applied Physics Letters
- Vol. 65 (15) , 1915-1917
- https://doi.org/10.1063/1.113000
Abstract
In this work we apply a force modulation technique to a standard atomic force microscope(AFM) in order to study the elasticity of individual polystyrene molecules. The sample mounted on a piezoelectric tube was forced to vibrate along the z direction. The corresponding modulation of the cantilever, which reflects the spring constant of the sample, was phase sensitively detected and measured as a function of the surface topography. The image contrast in these images is based on local variations of the surface elasticity. Compared to the conventional AFMtopographyimage, the elasticityimage shows an enhanced contrast with pronounced molecular structure.Keywords
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