Atomic force microscopy liquid environments

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) combinations are at present much favoured physical techniques for phospholipid analyses [56]. Atomic force microscopy can image phospholipid bilayers at high resolution in their natural environment [57]. 

From a methodological point of view, of particularly interest have been improvements in the chemical sensitivity of STM and AFM characterization. This is especially desirable for electrochemists, as electrochemical environments prevent the combined characterization by other surface techniques, as are frequently used for composition determinations in vacuum. Tunneling spectroscopy measurements to obtain 7 y and d//dV y relationships may provide a certain degree of information regarding the electronic structure of the substrate surface and adsorbed molecules [77], and the use of ionic liquids of large electrochemical windows is favorable in this respect. One major enhancement would be to complement SPM with other spatial, time- and energy-resolved surface in-situ techniques. For example, a combination of scanning electrochemical microscopy and atomic force microscopy... 

T. Fukuma, Wideband low-noise optical beam deflection sensor with photothermal excitation for liquid-environment atomic force microscopy, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 023707 (2009]. 

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