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Free keywords:
Resolution.; Applied physics/condensed matter/materials science.
Abstract:
We investigate mid-infrared imaging of dielectric and metallic surfaces by an ''apertureless'' SNOM approach of scattering CO2-laser radiation from an AFM tip. In the microscopic images we find and identify a new type of AFM-induced artifact (crosstalk via the tapping amplitude). Minimizing this by proper scan parameters we obtain evidence of true infrared contrast. The results demonstrate the material-sensitive potential of infrared-spectroscopic imaging and a spatial resolving power of better than 100 nm. [References: 12]