The effect of intrinsic instability of cantilever on static mode atomic force spectroscopy

Abstract

We show that the static force spectroscopy curve taken in an atomic force microscope is significantly modified due to presence of intrinsic cantilever instability which occurs as a result of its movement in a nonlinear force field. This instability acts in tandem with such instabilities as water bridge or molecular bond rupture and makes the static force spectroscopy curve (including ‘jump-off-contact’) dependent on the step size of data collection. A theoretical model has been proposed to explain the data. We emphasize the necessity of taking care of this fundamental instability of the microcantilever in calculating the adhesive force and also in the interpretation of data taken using an atomic force microscope.