Hi everyone
We are looking to perform force measurements on hydrogels using an AFM setup. To avoid evaporation, we would like to immerse the hydrogels in liquid, however, the hydrogels may swell in aqueous media. I am quite new to AFM, but I am very surprised to have found no reports on AFM measurements in any liquid other than water, e.g. a low viscosity oil.
Has anyone any idea about using AFM with liquids other than water, or is there an obvious reason why it is not done that I don't see?
Thanks!
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-90-481-9751-4_108
Yes for sure, a lot of breakthrough finding are made by using AFM in liquid, my favourite are nanobubbles. Let me copy part from above reference: "Typically, the minimum liquid volume is some tens of microliters, which can be either contained in a closed liquid cell, or in the shape of a droplet that is formed by capillary forces between the sample surface and the cantilever holder" "AFM in liquids has the additional advantage of preventing the capillary forces that arise from the humid coverage of both sample and tip under ambient conditions"
Thanks everyone, but I am not looking for general information on AFM in liquids, but specifically for non-aqueous liquids, which I don't think are discussed in that reference.
Does anyone have experience or references using other solvents, oil, etc.?
Pascal Bertsch which exactly non aqueous liquid? oil and petrolium have been used in AFM
Oil would work. Do you have any tips or a paper that describers the procedure with oil?
Pascal Bertsch https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/ra/c7ra12209h
Depending on type of work and also if your AFM has the setup (program) you should use peakforce afm, if appropriate for your research and if available in your instrument at your institution.
Considering that oils tend to creep across surfaces and can be tricky to wash off, I would not be keen on oil as a liquid medium for AFM imaging. Some solvents can be an option too, provided that the fluid cell is closed (to keep the evaporation to a minimum) and its components, incl the rubber seals, are chemically inert.
But AFM imaging of your hydrogel in an aqueous environment should be feasible if the amount of swelling can be restricted, eg by interlocking of the hydrogel with a porous membrane. A brief description of this approach is available under
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.04.089
Good luck!
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