Atomic force microscopy properties

Roark S E and Rowlen K L 1993 Atomic force microscopy of thin Ag films. Relationship between morphology and optical properties Chem. Phys. Lett. 212 50... 

Experimental techniques based on the application of mechanical forces to single molecules in small assemblies have been applied to study the binding properties of biomolecules and their response to external mechanical manipulations. Among such techniques are atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical tweezers, biomembrane force probe, and surface force apparatus experiments (Binning et al., 1986 Block and Svoboda, 1994 Evans et ah, 1995 Israelachvili, 1992). These techniques have inspired us and others (see also the chapters by Eichinger et al. and by Hermans et al. in this volume) to adopt a similar approach for the study of biomolecules by means of computer simulations. 

Abstract. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of proteins provide descriptions of atomic motions, which allow to relate observable properties of proteins to microscopic processes. Unfortunately, such MD simulations require an enormous amount of computer time and, therefore, are limited to time scales of nanoseconds. We describe first a fast multiple time step structure adapted multipole method (FA-MUSAMM) to speed up the evaluation of the computationally most demanding Coulomb interactions in solvated protein models, secondly an application of this method aiming at a microscopic understanding of single molecule atomic force microscopy experiments, and, thirdly, a new method to predict slow conformational motions at microsecond time scales. 

Film-forming chemical reactions and the chemical composition of the film formed on lithium in nonaqueous aprotic liquid electrolytes are reviewed by Dominey [7], SEI formation on carbon and graphite anodes in liquid electrolytes has been reviewed by Dahn et al. [8], In addition to the evolution of new systems, new techniques have recently been adapted to the study of the electrode surface and the chemical and physical properties of the SEI. The most important of these are X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR, NMR, EPR, calorimetry, DSC, TGA, use of quartz-crystal microbalance (QCMB) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). 

Xiao, X. D., Hu, J., Chayuch, D. H., and Salmeron, M., Chain Length Dependence of the Frictional Properties of Alkylsilane Molecules Self-Assembled on Mica Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy," Z,angmmr,Vol. 12,1996, pp. 235-240. 

The thickness of the ordered crystalline regions, termed crystallite or lamellar thickness (Lc), is an important parameter for correlations with thermodynamic and physical properties. Lc and the distribution of lamellar thicknesses can be determined by different experimental methods, including thin-section TEM mentioned earlier, atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and analysis of the LAM in Raman spectroscopy. 

With these emerging applications, there is a critical need for analytical techniques that will provide insights to fundamental questions concerning dendrimer characteristics and properties (e.g. their dimensions, uniformity of size, shape and degree of rigidity, etc.) [8-10], atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers this... 

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