Scanning Force Microscope

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460926641

The Institute of Physical Chemistry at Clausthal University of Technology has its research focus on soft matter at interfaces. More specific targets are the structure and the viscoelastic properties of the samples (nanoparticles, polymer adsorbates, vesicles, dendri-mers, self-organized mono-layers, ...). This research shall be supported by a modern atomic force microscope, which works in liquids under controlled of the electrical potential, which provides access to the viscoelastic properties of the sample, and which can be combined with other methods of interface analysis. The combinability with other instruments is particularly relevant for the quartz crystal microbal-ance. Atomic force microscopy is to be performed on samples on a resonator surface while the resonator is vibrating. The separation of time scales (fast movement of the substrate, slower movement of the cantilever) allows for novel approaches to the dynamics of the surfaces under study. This concerns viscoelasticity, (high-frequency) tribology, the influence of electrical po-tentials and (high-frequency) hydrodynamics. Using ordinary tips, imaging (with novel contrast mechanisms) will be the main target. The use of spheres ("colloidal probe configuration") shall enable new fundamental-research-oriented experiments. A further focus of the institute is on film formation from latex dispersions. AFM measurements shall be performed in-situ on drying films. For adhesives, a correlation between (nonlinear) mi-cromechanics (fibrillation) and macroscopic material properties shall be studied. The Institute of Physical Chemistry is extensively involved in cooperations with institutes in the immediate vicinity (chemistry, physics, materials science) as well as with other members of the university and external users. Exemplary research goals are the piezoelectricity of nanoparticles of polyvinylidene fluoride, the structure of graphene-modified electrodes in the context of organic electro-synthesis, the topography of glasses under mechanical stress near the tip of cracks, the local piezoelectricity of complex oxides for high temperature applications, and the local topography “engineered artificial minerals”.The device is to be run and supervised by the members of the institute’s permanent staff. The various cooperations can be carried out under competent guidance. In this way, the instrument shall strengthen the coherence of research at the university.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Raster-Kraft-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5091 Rasterkraft-Mikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Clausthal
• Leader: Professor Dr. Diethelm Johannsmann