Roughness of microspheres for force measurements.
We have investigated the morphology and surface roughness of several commercially available microspheres to determine their suitability for force measurements using the atomic force microscope. The roughness varies considerably, depending on sphere size and material, ranging from nearly ideally flat up to micrometer-sized features. Because surface roughness significantly influences the magnitude and accuracy of measurement of surface forces, the results presented here should be helpful for colloid physicists and in particular for those performing force measurements.
Department of Applied Physics, Materials Innovation Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
P J
PJ
van Zwol
G
G
Palasantzas
M
M
van de Schootbrugge
J Th M
JT
de Hosson
V S J
VS
Craig