Table 2.

AFM modes for characterization of polymer nanocomposites with their advantages and disadvantages.

AFM Modes	Advantages	Disadvantages	Ref
AM AFM	Minimal sample damage. Low lateral forces. High-resolution. Very fast imaging capabilities.	Difficulty in quantifying sample mechanical properties	[97]
AM-FM AFM (Bimodal)	Ability to vary and optimize the parameters without affecting topographical acquisition. Higher uniform sensitivity.	Higher cost	[103]
ImAFM	Quantitative force measurements with nanoscale resolution.	Higher cost	[99]
HarmoniX AFM	Delivering precise property maps in real time and with high resolution. Effective in the characterization of soft materials, thin films, small particles or domain within a bulk solid	Higher cost	[101]