High-Speed Integral Off-Resonance Atomic Force Microscope.

Wang, Kaixuan; Shi, Jialin; Yu, Peng; Xia, Yixiao; Wang, Dingyi; Yang, Tie; Yang, Yang; Su, Chanmin et al. · Nano Lett · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Simultaneous mechanical mapping and high-resolution topographical characterization yield rich compositional information for materials and biomaterials. The off-resonance tapping (ORT) mode in atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers an effective means to achieve this dual functionality. Nevertheless, ORT mode suffers from substantial closed-loop delay and limited robustness, leading to low imaging speeds that hinder its application in studying dynamic specimens. To address these limitations, we developed an integral off-resonance tapping (I-ORT) mode that replaces conventional fixed-point sampling with integral sampling of the interaction curve above the baseline. This method mitigates unpredictable interference from probe-sample interactions while maintaining the same drive and sensing conditions. As a result, I-ORT increases the ORT scanning speed by at least 10-fold without compromising mechanical property characterization. This advancement provides enhanced support for high-end nanotechnological research.