Point defects in Langmuir-Blodgett films of Cd arachidate

True molecular resolution with the atomic force microscope (AFM) has been achieved, on Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers, using films of cadmium arachidate on mica. The images were obtained with 12 mu m scanner head and commercially purchased cantilevers with spring constant k = 0.06 N m(-1) under ambient conditions. The presence of vacancies in the Langmuir-Blodgett film was shown for the first time and is the evidence that AFM is a true probe for imaging molecular structure of soft organic materials. Well-preserved raw image of an isolated dislocation was resolved in this film clearly. The probability for existence of vacancies and free dislocations is discussed in the light of KTHNY theory. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.