Atomic force microscopy of deoxyribonucleic acid strands adsorbed on mica: The effect of humidity on apparent width and image contrast

T. Thundat, R. J. Warmack, D. P. Allison, L. A. Bottomley, A. J. Lourenco, T. L. Ferrell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of relative humidity on the apparent width and contrast of isolated strands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) imaged with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Due to convolution of the tip with DNA, the apparent width of DNA molecules observed with AFM was broader than the known width of DNA. Also, the apparent width of DNA increased with increasing humidity while the contrast of the DNA images decreased with increasing humidity. This phenomenon is completely reversible and can be attributed to non-normal forces causing a buckling of AFM cantilever.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)630-635
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Part A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1992

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