Experimental and Theoretical Insights into Nanoscale AFM-IR Imaging of Complex Heterogeneous Structures.

ABSTRACT: Nanoscale chemical imaging enabled by atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) provides valuable insights into the complex structures and chemical compositions of materials and biological samples. While AFM-IR has been applied to subsurface imaging, the underlying mechanisms, particularly in nonplanar geometries and complex heterogeneous structures, remain underexplored. This study presents a theoretical analysis and experimental validation of AFM-IR for imaging subsurface features within organic multilayer structures, uncovering how image broadening depends on whether the excitation occurs in the subsurface or the covering layer. An analytical model based on the sample geometry demonstrates that the lateral size of the absorber significantly impacts both the signal intensity

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12489900 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature