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Publication
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Paper
Atomic force microscopy of polymeric liquid films
Abstract
We demonstrate the use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) for studying perfluoropolyether polymer liquid films as thin as ∼20 Å. With the AFM we are able to measure three distinct properties of the liquid film: ( 1 ) its thickness when the thickness of liquid on the AFM tip is taken into account, (2) the meniscus force acting on the AFM tip as a function of depth into the liquid film, and (3) the topography of the liquid/air interface. All three of these measurements can be done with a very high lateral resolution, ∼ 1000 Å, demonstrating the unique capability of AFM for studying liquid films. With AFM we have observed several interesting properties of these polymeric liquid films. First films thinner than ∼ 300 Å are fairly uniformly distributed, while films thicker than ∼ 300 Å slowly dewet the surface. Second, by measuring the meniscus radius of liquid in a micron sized hole on the surface, we can determine the disjoining pressure in a thin liquid film. © 1989 American Institute of Physics.