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. 1996 Mar;70(3):1514–1520. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(96)79713-8

Vertical dimension of hydrated biological samples in tapping mode scanning force microscopy.

F A Schabert 1, J P Rabe 1
PMCID: PMC1225078  PMID: 8785308

Abstract

The vertical dimensions of the well-characterized test samples tobacco mosaic virus, T4 bacteriophage polyhead, purple membrane, and hexagonally packed intermediate (HPI) layer were investigated by tapping mode scanning force microscopy (SFM) in solution. Purple membrane and HPI layer were imaged in both contact mode and tapping mode SFM for direct comparison. All vertical dimensions match the known heights. The practical implications of the absence of frictional forces in tapping mode are discussed.

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