The atomic force microscope has become a common tool for material characterization alongside optical and electron microscopy, achieving resolutions down to the nanometer scale and beyond. AFM can operate in environments from ultra-high vacuum to fluids, and therefore cuts across all disciplines from physics and chemistry to biology and materials science.

Nanosurf AFMs includes a wide variety of methods in which the probe interacts with the sample in different ways in order to characterize various material properties. AFM can characterize a wide array of mechanical (e.g. adhesion, stiffness, friction, dissipation), electrical (e.g. capacitance, electrostatic forces, work function, electrical current), and magnetic properties. In addition to imaging, AFM can be used to deposit, manipulate and write in lithography experiments and measure interaction forces in molecular pulling experiments.

When first considering the purchase of any kind of scanning probe microscope, budget is likely to be a major factor. In some cases, funding will not be available for a brand-new system that meets your research needs. In this case you might be tempted to search for a second-hand used instrument to find an affordable AFM. Nanosurf does not broker used AFMs, and we do not recommend that researchers buy used AFMs from unofficial channels because of a lack of support and service.

Nanosurf provides a range of research-grade AFMs that have a long-life span, often remaining in use for well over a decade. This means that second-hand AFMs by Nanosurf can be hard to find. One option Nanosurf can offer you is the purchase of a system formerly used by our sales and support scientists for demonstrations. Demo systems are usually fully equipped, capable of the full range of measurement modes, and they are fully tested and certified. Vibration isolation and acoustic enclosures are often included in the offer. These demo systems are also sold with our standard one-year warranty.

Because these instruments are second-hand atomic force microscopes, Nanosurf is able to offer them at a considerable discount on the list price. This makes them an excellent choice for researchers who would like to use an AFM for their research but are budget limited.

If you are looking for an affordable AFM to measure your sample's surfaces, check out our different instruments' pages. See for yourself how atomic force microscopy can provide you with high resolution images, down to showing atomic resolution.

Several demo systems become available each year. If you are interested, reach out to us and we will be happy to discuss options.