| Abstract: | We have investigated the effects of tip-sample forces and relative humidity when using a scanning force microscope (SFM) to image DNA molecules adsorbed on fresh mica. As the force between the tip and the sample increases, the apparent height of the DNA molecules decreases. After being imaged with high forces, the DNA molecules recover partially in their apparent height, indicating that a plastic deformation of the DNA has been induced by the scanning tip. At low humidities, DNA molecules can be imaged with a force up to 150 nN during the scanning without obvious damages. At higher humidities, however, the DNA molecules can be dissected or swept away by the tip even at a tip-sample force of 30 nN. The net force between the tip and the molecules is the vector sum of several forces, the dominant components of which are the elastic force due to the cantilever bending and the capillary force resulting from the water meniscus formed between the tip and the sample surface. When the relative humidity of the imaging environment is increased, the capillary force becomes stronger. |
