Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Study Soil Mineral Reactions

Abstract

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the application of AFM (atomic force microscopy) to researchon the structure, chemical composition, and chemical reactivity of soil particle surfaces. First, basic operating principles are reviewed. Second, tip-sample interactions are discussed, including forces between the tip and the sample, special considerations in the new tapping-mode AFM (TMAFM), and tip shape considerations. A variety of common artifacts are discussed, with the dual purpose of alerting new users to potential pitfalls and of enabling nonusers to evaluate more fully AFM results. Third, examples of applications to studies of soil chemistry—particularly soil particle chemistry is presented. Finally, several “new frontiers” in AFM research are discussed. The aim is to provide the reader with a sense of the ever-increasing capabilities of AFM and to point out some of the potential problems and limitations that need to be recognized, addressed, and eventually overcome.