Chemical Analysis Using Scanning Force Microscopy. An Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment

This undergraduate laboratory experiment uses scanning force microscopy to perform chemical analysis at chemically designed surfaces. It involves lateral force measurements at self-assembled monolayers to provide chemical mapping capability. Monolayer patterns with different functional groups were prepared on gold substrates using a micro-contact printing method. The simplicity of the sample preparation and the relative ease of the microscope operation allowed students to gain hands-on experience in molecular assembling, image acquisition, and data interpretation. The images were analyzed and discussed in terms of tip-sample interaction forces and surface chemical composition of the patterned monolayers. This experiment helps students to grasp analytical concepts based on chemical interactions at atomic and molecular levels.