Solvation force simulations in atomic force microscopy

J Chem Phys. 2014 Jun 7;140(21):214702. doi: 10.1063/1.4879657.

Abstract

Solvation force oscillation in octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS) versus the distance between an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and mica substrate has been studied through molecular dynamics simulations. A driving spring model in a liquid-vapor molecular ensemble is used to explore the force oscillation mechanism. It has been found that OMCTS fluid in tip-substrate contact has a strong tendency to form a layered structure, starting from n = 8 layers. The force profile obtained from simulation is qualitatively similar to those in contact mode AFM experiments. However, the bulk-like diffusion and rotation of OMCTS molecules underneath the AFM tip suggest that, under the tip-substrate confinement geometry, the layered OMCTS film cannot form a solidified structure except under n = 2 extreme contact-layer confinement.