Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique that can be used to investigate the formation of microcavities on a surface. AFM can provide high-resolution topographical images of the surface, which can reveal the presence of microcavities, their size, and depth. Additionally, AFM can also provide information about the mechanical properties of the surface, which may be useful in understanding the formation of microcavities.

To investigate the formation of microcavities before and after an experiment, you would need to take AFM images of the surface before and after the experiment, and compare the images to identify any changes in the surface morphology. It is important to ensure that the imaging conditions (e.g., tip size, scan rate, etc.) are consistent between the two images to ensure that any observed changes are due to the experiment and not due to differences in imaging conditions.

In addition to AFM, other techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy can also be used to investigate the formation of microcavities on a surface. SEM can provide high-resolution images of the surface and can also be used to investigate the chemical composition of the surface. Optical microscopy can provide images of the surface with high contrast and can be used to investigate the optical properties of the microcavities.

The choice of technique will depend on the specific requirements of your experiment, such as the resolution and depth of field required, the sample preparation required, and the availability of equipment.

Hi,

theoretically, it is a good technique, but practically, it depends on the AFM specification and the actual size of your cavities. We have three AFMs at our facility with a maximum z-lift range of 10, 15, and 100 microns. However, you cannot usually use the whole range because the height variation is not evenly distributed up and down from the landing point, so the practical limit will be just several microns - that is simply not enough for some larger microcavities.

Yeah, it's subjected to a good characterization technique and AFM has three major abilities: force measurement, topographic imaging, and manipulation.