NTEGRA Tomo is the unique integration of Scanning Probe Microscope and ultra microtome. The fundamental feature of Atomic-Force Microscope (AFM) is surface-only investigation of objects. Nanolaboratory NTEGRA Tomo was designed for studying the inner structure of the objects with huge range of AFM methods paired with ultra microtome. The principle of AFM tomography is as follows: ultra microtome slices the sample, preparing its surface for the study; the measuring unit approaches the sample, which is fixed in the holder, and the surface AFM scanning in one of the available modes is carried out. The obtained image is saved. After that, the measuring unit is retracted, and the ultra microtome makes another ultra thin sample slice (~20nm). Again, AFM head approaches the new freshly cut surface and another AFM image is obtained. The cycle is repeated several times. Knowing the thickness of the slices and having the saved images, we can reconstruct a 3D picture that shows the distribution of nanosized heterogeneity in the sample's volume.
The approach is indispensable for the investigation of composed materials, which the most valuable properties are determined by its volume organization. As a sample we can name the materials with nanoparticles (soot, clay, etc.) are build into 3D net of polymer fiber. In this case, beside the sized of the particles, it is important to know how uniformly they are distributed in the volume of the polymer matrix. Another example is copolymers, which may contain nanosized areas that have different compound. Its structure may be rebuild and investigated using AFM tomography.
Specifications :
Applications :
- Proteins
- DNA
- Viruses
- Bacteriums
- Tissues
as well as is used for work with Polymers and Thin Organic Films:
- Spherulites and dendrites
- Polymer monocrystals
- Polymer nanoparticles
- LB-films
- Thin organic films
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