The Environmental Cell (EC) option for the Nano-R™ Light Lever AFM sets a new standard for an EC that can be used as
an option with a tip scanning AFM. The EC is easily attached to the universal mount type Nano-R™ system fitted with the
LL-AFM. Once the EC is installed, changing probes, adding the environmental material, and changing samples is very simple.
With the EC, samples can be scanned in many types of environments including gases and liquids.
The EC chamber is created by making a seal between a
plate mounted on the bottom of the LL-AFM scanner and
the top of the Nano-R™ puck. The sample is held on a support
block that can be removed from the sample puck
through a channel (channel illustrated by dotted lines).
Removing the sample support is achieved by first lowering
the support and then pulling it out of the Nano-R™ puck.
At the top of the cell, on the top ring, is a piece of glass that
the laser passes through so that the light can reflect off the
AFM cantilever. The cantilever is pre-mounted on a metal
plate that is held in place with magnets. The cell can be
purged by using the bleeding port at the top of the top ring.
At the left of the cell is an inlet port, and at the right side of the cell is an outlet port. O-rings, shown as black circles, are
used for making seals between the bottom ring, the sample support, and the puck. A thumb wheel screw is used for holding
the EC puck on the Nano-R™ stage.
The seal between the scanner and the puck is made with a latex seal. The seal is flexible, so it is possible to use the motorized
translator on the Nano-R™ to move the sample a few millimeters in the X-Y plane. If the seal is punctured, it may be
repaired by sending it back to the PNI factory.
Figure 2 shows the sample holder being removed from the EC. A special
tool is used to “grab” the sample holder and then remove the holder
from the EC puck. Visible in the picture are two of three screws that
are tightened to lock the sample holder in place while the sample is
scanned.
The Environmental Cell option for the Nano-R™ LL-AFM Scanner
includes everything required to scan samples in inert environments.
The option includes:
• Top Ring
• Operations Manual
• Bottom Ring
• Inlet / Outlet Port Fixtures
• EC Puck
• EC Puck Hold Down Tool
• Sample Support
• Sample Support Puck Exchange Tool
• Latex Seal (attached between top and bottom rings)
