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About the research project:
Many objects around us may look perfectly smooth to the naked eye, but when we zoom in millions of times, their surfaces reveal a fascinating landscape of tiny hills, valleys, complex patterns or hidden roughness. These nanoscale features can strongly influence how materials behave. They can determine how water spreads on a surface, how light reflects, or even how cells attach to a material. Which is why scientists study them when developing new technologies in electronics, materials science, and medicine.
But how can we observe something so small? One powerful technique used by scientists is Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Instead of using light like traditional microscopes, AFM uses an extremely sharp tip that gently scans across a surface, almost like reading Braille at the nanoscale. As the tip moves across the surface, it “feels” every tiny features and converts this information into detailed images of structures invisible to conventional microscopes.
Together, we will learn how AFM works, perform real measurements on different samples (for example untreated vs. modified), and visualize their surface structures to determine the important properties.
By the end of the project, participants will gain experience with a modern scientific instrument used in research laboratories and discover how scientists explore and understand the hidden nanoworld.
Research project outline:
- Introduction to nanoscience and the importance of surface structures at the nanoscale
- How Atomic Force Microscopy works: “feeling” surfaces with a nanoscale tip
- Imaging nanoscale surface structures using AFM
- Creating and interpreting 2D and 3D surface maps
- Discussion of how nanoscale surface properties influence real-world applications
Capacity:
- 2 students
Research project leader:
