Breaking the speed limit with atomic force microscopy

High-speed atomic force microscopy (AFM) is important for following processes that occur on sub-second timescales for studies both in biology and materials science, and also for the ability to examine large areas of a specimen at high resolution in a practical length of time. Further developments of the previously reported high-speed contact-mode AFM are described. Two instruments are presented: (i) a high-speed flexure stage arrangement capable of imaging at a video rate of 30 fps, and (ii) an ultra-high speed instrument using a combined tuning fork and flexure-stage scanning system capable of ultra-high-speed imaging in excess of 1000 fps. Results of imaging collagen fibres under ambient conditions at rates of up to 1300 frames s-1 are presented. Despite tip–specimen relative velocities of up to 200 mm s^-1, no significant damage to the collagen specimen was observed even after tens of thousands of frames were acquired in the same area of the specimen.