Sponsored by CSInstrumentsNov 17 2020
Concept Scientific Instruments has successfully developed Soft Intermittent Contact mode (or Soft IC) - an alternative measurement mode that offers the key benefits of contact mode and force spectroscopy, while addressing the intrinsic slowness and friction forces commonly associated with these techniques.
Soft IC can be employed within a wide range of applications including electrical characterization, material characterization, polymer science, biology applications, investigating semiconductors and work with soft samples.
PDMS – Soft IC mode – 20µm. Topography (left) & Stiffness (right). Video Credit: CSInstruments
Principles of Soft IC
A Soft IC workflow is displayed in Figure 2. The process begins with the tip being moved to a safe distance (referred to as ‘lift height’) from the surface before being rapidly moved to the next measurement point. Once there, the tip performs a force spectroscopy curve.