Damping near solid-liquid interfaces measured with atomic force microscopy

An atomic force microscope (AFM) is used to investigate changes in the effe ctive viscosity of liquids which are confined between an AFM tip and a samp le surface. In both cases studied, namely octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane near graphite and water near mica, it is found using two methods that the dampi ng increases markedly at small tip-sample separations (<20 Angstrom), even for sharp tips. The strong change in damping with tip-sample separation all ows the AFM feedback to be controlled in noncontact mode (i.e., off the sur face). Hence, the increase in damping can be directly associated with chang es in the material properties of the confined liquid.