title: Selective enhancement of individual cantilever high resonance modes.
abstract: Multifrequency atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid media where several eigenmodes or harmonics are simultaneously excited is improving the performance of the scanning probe techniques in biological studies. As a consequence, an important effort is being made to search for a reliable, efficient and strong cantilever high mode excitation method that operates in liquids. In this work we present (theoretical and experimentally) a technique for improving the efficiency of the most common excitation methods currently used in AFM operated in liquids: photothermal, torque (MAC Mode™) and magnetostriction. By etching specific areas of the cantilever coating, the oscillation amplitude (both flexural and torsional) of each specific eigenmode increases, leading to an improvement in signal to noise ratio of the multifrequency techniques. As an alternative, increment in high mode oscillation amplitude is also obtained by Ga(+) ion implantation in the specific areas of the magnetic material.
authors.affiliation: IMM-Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid (CNM-CSIC), Isaac Newton 8, PTM, E-28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penedo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hormeño
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anguita
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Briones
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luna