Chemical Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging with Nanometer Spatial Resolution Using Atomic Force Microscopy

SPMs are a strategically vital tool for nanotechnology research constituting a $250 Mill/yr industry while enabling several multi-Billion downstream industries like Materials and Pharmaceuticals. However, their single biggest drawback is their inability to obtain any chemical information on their samples. As our letters of support reiterate, this impacts DOE researchers in the Genome to Life; Organic Solar Cell and Contamination Transport & Bioremediation Programs as well as Academic Researchers in the field of Organic Solar Cells and Corporate Researchers in Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.We present a novel detection scheme that together with two other proprietary ideas, promise to solve the major problems that have prevented s-SNOM (scattering Scanning Near Field Optical Microscopy) technology from becoming a commercially feasible solution. We demonstrated the feasibility of the ideas mentioned above in Phase 1. We plan to build a prototype s-SNOM system which will use an AFM to be able to demonstrate ub-30nm IR spectroscopy and imaging. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Besides enabling the 60% of AFM users in Materials Research for whom chemical information on their samples is critical, it will enable SPMs to start to penetrate new markets such as Life Sciences and Disease Screening where lack of chemical information is a major bottleneck.