AFM ( Atomic Force Microscopy,Atomic Force Microscopeor SPM (or Scanning ProbeMicroscopy)) isoften called the "Eye of Nanotechnology".
AFM is a high-resolution imaging technique that can resolve features assmall as an atomic lattice in the real space. It allows researchers to observeand manipulate molecular and atomic level features.
How AtomicForce Microscopy works?
AFM works by bringing a cantilever tip in contact with the surface to beimaged. An ionic repulsive force from the surfaceapplied to the tip bends the cantilever upwards. The amount of bending, measured by a laser spot reflected on to asplit photo detector, canbe used to calculate the force. By keeping the force constant whilescanning the tip across the surface, the vertical movement of the tip followsthe surface profileand is recorde