3D-printed cellular tips for tuning fork atomic force microscopy in shear mode

Liangdong Sun, Hongcheng Gu, Xiaojiang Liu, Haibin Ni, Qiwei Li, Yi Zeng, Ning Chang, Di Zhang, Hongyuan Chen, Zhiyong Li, Xiangwei Zhao () and Zhongze Gu ()
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Liangdong Sun: Southeast University
Hongcheng Gu: Southeast University
Xiaojiang Liu: Southeast University
Haibin Ni: Southeast University
Qiwei Li: Southeast University
Yi Zeng: Southeast University
Ning Chang: Southeast University
Di Zhang: Southeast University
Hongyuan Chen: Nanjing University
Zhiyong Li: Southeast University
Xiangwei Zhao: Southeast University
Zhongze Gu: Southeast University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Conventional atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips have remained largely unchanged in nanomachining processes, constituent materials, and microstructural constructions for decades, which limits the measurement performance based on force-sensing feedbacks. In order to save the scanning images from distortions due to excessive mechanical interactions in the intermittent shear-mode contact between scanning tips and sample, we propose the application of controlled microstructural architectured material to construct AFM tips by exploiting material-related energy-absorbing behavior in response to the tip–sample impact, leading to visual promotions of imaging quality. Evidenced by numerical analysis of compressive responses and practical scanning tests on various samples, the essential scanning functionality and the unique contribution of the cellular buffer layer to imaging optimization are strongly proved. This approach opens new avenues towards the specific applications of cellular solids in the energy-absorption field and sheds light on novel AFM studies based on 3D-printed tips possessing exotic properties.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19536-9

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