Scanning near field optical microscopy SNOM structuring

More recently, the method of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) has been applied to LB films of phospholipids and has revealed submicron-domain structures [55-59]. The method involves scanning a fiber-optic tip over a surface in much the same way an AFM tip is scanned over a surface. In principle, other optical experiments could be combined with the SNOM, snch as resonance energy transfer, time-resolved flnorescence, and surface plasmon resonance. It is likely that spectroscopic investigation of snbmicron domains in LB films nsing these principles will be pnrsned extensively. 

Fig. 34. dPS volume fraction (J)dPS vs depth z for a 50/50 dPS/PBrxS mixture after annealing for different times at T=180 °C as revealed by TOF-FRES a tA=10 min, b tA=160 min, c tA= 6175 min). In the bottom part, a sketch of the domain structure is shown as revealed from the ion beam and scanning near field optical microscopy (SNOM) results (shaded areas dPS-rich domains white areas dPS-poor domains). From Straub et al. [153]... 

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