The problem is that even during non-contact imaging nanoparticles are moving on mica surface causing "smearing" of the image. I tried isopropanol suspended particle deposition, drying and washing with isopropanol, but still particles are not well attached. There might be a method to suspend particles in some polymer solution and receive spin-coated surface on mica. Any suggestions?
Hello Mkhatr,
What is your scan speed? Have you try to reduce your it?
Hi Alexandra
Yes, I reduced the scan rate, as well as reduced the tip-surface interactive forces by increasing the distance between surface and resonating tip (this reduces the resolution though). All the manipulations with AFM inherent tools does not produce good result, thus the only way remaining is to attach particles stronger, with some other way to the mica.
Ok. Can you try to charge the surface with poly-L-lysine, for example, or have you to keep the mica surface clean?
I think I can try poly-L-lysine, hopefully it will not affect the magnetic properties of iron oxide particles.
Thank you!
try out functioning the particles so that they can attach to the surface. though, I am not an expert on functionalisation , i have read many articles doing this process so that particles will attach to the substrate, assuming your substrate is ultra clean !
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