Nanoscale spatial mapping of mechanical properties through dynamic atomic force microscopy

Dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to spatially map the elastic modulus of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), specifically by using force modulation microscopy (FMM) and contact resonance (CR) AFM. In both of these techniques, a variation in the amplitude signal was observed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Beilstein journal of nanotechnology 2019, Vol.10 (1), p.1332-1347
Main Authors: Abooalizadeh, Zahra, Sudak, Leszek Josef, Egberts, Philip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amplitudes
Atomic force microscopy
Composite materials
contact resonance (CR) AFM
Custom design
Defects
elastic modulus mapping
force modulation microscopy (FMM)
Full Research Paper
Graphene
Graphite
highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)
Mapping
Mechanical properties
Microscopy
Modulus of elasticity
Nanoscience
Nanotechnology
Pyrolytic graphite
Questioning
surface science
surface steps
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Summary:Dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to spatially map the elastic modulus of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), specifically by using force modulation microscopy (FMM) and contact resonance (CR) AFM. In both of these techniques, a variation in the amplitude signal was observed when scanning over an uncovered step edge of HOPG. In comparison, no variation in the amplitude signal was observed when scanning over a covered step on the same surface. These observations qualitatively indicate that there is a variation in the elastic modulus over uncovered steps and no variation over covered ones. The quantitative results of the elastic modulus required the use of FMM, while the CR mode better highlighted areas of reduced elastic modulus (although it was difficult to convert the data into a quantifiable modulus). In the FMM measurements, single atomic steps of graphene with uncovered step edges showed a decrease in the elastic modulus of approximately 0.5%, which is compared with no change in the elastic modulus for covered steps. The analysis of the experimental data taken under varying normal loads and with several different tips showed that the elastic modulus determination was unaffected by these parameters.
ISSN:2190-4286
2190-4286
DOI:10.3762/bjnano.10.132