Dynamic change in water meniscus arising from tapping of an AFM tip
S.D. Hong, H.J. Choi, M.Y. Ha, J. Jang
Pusan National University, KR
Keywords: AFM, water meniscus, molecular dynamics, hysteresis
Abstract:
We perform a molecular dynamics simulation to emulate the retraction followed by re-approach of an AFM with respect to a surface. We found a hysteresis in the snap-off distance and energy during such a tapping process of AFM tip. As the tip initially retracts from the surface, the meniscus gradually thins out and eventually snaps off. The meniscus keeps its symmetric shape during all stages of the retraction. On the other hand, as the tip re-approaches the surface, the water meniscus is initially asymmetric in shape but finally recovers its symmetry. The distance for the reformation of meniscus is about 4 nm shorter than the snap-off distance during tip retraction. Hysteresis also exists in the behavior of energy vs. tip-surface distance.