Nanorheology of complex fluids and Development of the Virtual FM-AFM machine for studies of highly dissipating systems

• Applicant: Dr. Dirk Dietzel
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2003 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5411925

Beside the analysis of solids, where scanning probe microscopy is very well established, scanning probe techniques also offer unique analytical capabilities for the investigation of supported organic biological nanosystems. Here, dynamic scanning force microscopy (SFM), which uses an oscillating cantilever tip, is especially appropriate for the investigation of the topography of soft biological and organic materials, which often have to be analyzed in solution. Additionally, measurements of the minute interaction forces (picoNewton range) can yield a better understanding of biological activity and also shed light on dynamic properties of biological systems. Main goal of this work will be the analysis of nanorheology of complex fluids by dynamical SFM, which can be analyzed by variation of the interaction forces on different length scales. Another important part of the work will be the theoretical analysis of the signal generation process by use and development of a virtual dynamic SFM machine, which can help to eliminate artifical signal contributions and thus can make a reliable interpretation of the measured signals possible.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: France
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jean-Pierre Aimé