Improvement on performance of nanoscale potential distribution measurement in liquid by AFM

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H02734
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nanomaterials chemistry
• Research Institution: Saitama University
• Principal Investigator: Kobayashi Naritaka 埼玉大学, 理工学研究科, 助教 (40595998)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 原子間力顕微鏡 / 表面電位 / 固液界面

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Open-loop electric potential microscopy (OL-EPM) is a powerful atomic force microscope (AFM) technique that can measure surface structure and surface potential simultaneously in liquids. To improve its performance of quantitative potential measurement, we have examined methods to detect an electrostatic interaction force acting only on a tip apex. We established a procedure to make a conductive cantilever of which surface is coated with insulating except for tip apex and demonstrated its effectiveness from modulation frequency response and tip-sample distance dependences of electrostatic interaction force. We also investigated heterodyne method and demonstrated the possibility to detect an electrostatic force acting on the tip apex dominantly.

Free Research Field

走査型プローブ顕微鏡

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

OL-EPMは表面の電位分布を液中で測定できる唯一の技術である。本研究の成果をもとに、OL-EPMがさらなる進化を遂げることができれば、電気化学反応に関わる諸現象の理解は飛躍的に進むと期待される。さらに、OL-EPMは、金属材料、電池、化粧品など、多岐にわたる分野において産業の発展に大きく貢献できる共通基盤技術になると期待される。