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Anasys Instruments, the company that pioneered nanoscale thermal analysis and nanoscale IR spectroscopy using an AFM, has chosen the Fall 2011 MRS meeting to introduce a brand new, easy-to-use research and analysis tool. The afm+ is the first fully integrated AFM platform to offer three important analytical capabilities.

Using Anasys' proprietary thermal probe technology for Nanoscale Thermal Analysis (nano-TA), the afm+ allows the user to obtain transition temperatures on any local feature of a sample or to obtain a transition temperature map. It makes measurement of glass transition temperatures (Tg) and melting temperatures (Tm) a simple operation. This mode also includes Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM) which allows the user to map relative thermal conductivity and relative temperature differences across the sample.

Transition temperature microscopy (TTM^TM) is used to quantify and map thermal transitions in heterogeneous materials. Transition temperature microscopy (TTM) is a fully automated mode in which an array of nano-TA measurements is rapidly performed and each temperature ramp is automatically analyzed to determine the transition temperature.

Finally, the afm+ is fully upgradeable to perform nanoscale infrared spectroscopy for measuring and mapping chemical composition on the nanoscale. This technology enables point-and-click nanoscale IR spectroscopy that produces IR spectra that correlate to FTIR libraries. This makes chemical imaging on the nanoscale a reality. The upgrade options also include the ability to measure the mechanical properties of samples. Data may be collected using a contact resonance method to map stiffness variations simultaneously with the topography.

In summary, the afm+ is providing the basis for a multifunctional nanoscale measurement suite. The afm+ is fully upgradeable to the Anasys nanoIR system, a probe-based measurement tool that utilizes infrared spectroscopy to reveal chemical composition at the nanoscale. The nanoIR also provides high-resolution characterization of local topographic, mechanical, and thermal properties. Potential application areas span the realms of polymer science, materials science, and life science, including detailed studies of structure-property correlations.

For further details, please visit www.anasysinstruments.com

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