Imaging charged functional groups with an atomic force microscope operated in aqueous solutions

Polar functional groups were introduced selectively onto micro-fabricated hydrophobic regions covered with alkane-thiol molecules. Force images were obtained on the patterns of functional groups prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett method. The atomic force microscope was operated in aqueous solutions to evaluate charged state and spatial distributions of functional groups on the substrate. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.