Abstract
Probe contamination of atomic force microscope (AFM) tips with colloidal probes is limiting the lifetime of the probe and the reproducibility in force interaction measurements, rendering cantilevers useless. Earlier proposed cleaning methods like mechanical scrubbing, UV, plasma and solvent cleaning procedures have limitations especially for inorganic particulate contaminations. In this paper we demonstrate a fast procedure to recycle contaminated colloidal probe cantilevers and reequip them with pristine colloids without affecting the mechanical and structural properties of the cantilever. The proposed procedure reduces the total time for probe preparation and allows extended experimental test work with singular cantilevers reducing the deviations by cantilever calibration.•fast preparation•recyclable cantilevers
Highlights
Method detailsColloidal probe atomic force microscopy (CP-atomic force microscope (AFM)) was first reported by [1,2] and is nowadays used in multiple applications in various fields of research
As the mechanical scrubbing procedure proposed by [12] could not be successfully applied and high loads possibly damage the functionalization of the colloid, we propose a fast probe preparation procedure for recyclable colloidal probe cantilevers
To approve the applicability of the proposed procedure for its intended use, CP-atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements on mineral surfaces are carried out with one cantilever and three different colloidal probes on a SnO2 sample functionalized with Aerosol22 in 60 ml 10À2 mol/l KCl solution set to pH 3 by HCl, resulting in a contact angle of about 89
Summary
Colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) was first reported by [1,2] and is nowadays used in multiple applications in various fields of research. As the mechanical scrubbing procedure proposed by [12] could not be successfully applied and high loads possibly damage the functionalization of the colloid, we propose a fast probe preparation procedure for recyclable colloidal probe cantilevers This includes the demonstration of a fast surface modification and probe removal method without the aid of solvents or acids as. They possibly contain and transport contaminants, which are potentially problematic for the reflex coating of the cantilever. The adsorption of silanes depends on surface hydroxylation and various preparation methods of the colloidal probe surfaces are reported in literature like probe cleaning with different solvents, UV cleaning and plasma cleaning summarized in [18]. The addition of H2O in a curing step for the monolayer is adapted in the proposed procedure
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