Measurement theory of a density profile of colloid particles on a flat surface: Conversion of force acting on a colloidal probe into pressure on its surface element

TL;DR

This paper introduces a transform theory that converts force measurements from colloidal probe AFM into the density distribution of small colloids on a flat surface, enabling liquid structure analysis.

Contribution

It extends previous FPSE conversion methods to colloidal probe AFM, providing a new way to analyze liquid structures from force data.

Findings

The transform theory can potentially be applied to liquid AFM measurements.

It allows for the calculation of colloid density profiles from force data.

The method offers a new approach for liquid structure analysis.

Abstract

Recently, we proposed a method that converts the force between two-large colloids into the pressure on the surface element (FPSE conversion) in a system of a colloidal solution. Using it, the density distribution of the small colloids around the large colloid is calculated. In a similar manner, in this letter, we propose a transform theory for colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (colloidal probe AFM), which transforms the force acting on the colloidal probe into the density distribution of the small colloids on a flat surface. If measured condition is proper one, in our view, it is possible for the transform theory to be applied for liquid AFM and obtain the liquid structure. The transform theory we derived is briefly explained in this letter.