Atomic-scale roughness effect on capillary force in atomic force microscopy.
We study the capillary force in atomic force microscopy by using Monte Carlo simulations. Adopting a lattice gas model for water, we simulated water menisci that form between a rough silicon-nitride tip and a mica surface. Unlike its macroscopic counterpart, the water meniscus at the nanoscale gives rise to a capillary force that responds sensitively to the tip roughness. With only a slight change in tip shape, the pull-off force significantly changes its qualitative variation with humidity.
School of Nano Science & Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, South Korea. jkjang@pusan.ac.kr
Joonkyung
J
Jang
M A
MA
Ratner
George C
GC
Schatz