This provides a 3-D image of the surface from which line profiles may be extracted. An important advantage compared with electron beam methods is that it can operate in ambient and liquid environments. This opens possibilities for the study of biological samples, inorganics, polymers, electronic materials and coatings. AFM works by the careful control of a microfabricated probe scanned over the sample.
Modulated contact gives information on dynamic responses from surfaces.
Phase and stiffness imaging are extracted from the modulated response signal.