Sample holders
Petri dish holder
The Petri dish holder accommodates plastic and glass bottom dishes 35 and 50 mm in diameter and up to 10 mm in height. It is compatible with CoreAFM, FlexAFM, and DriveAFM for stand-alone applications, and in combination with the DIMO (digital inverted microscope option). It is also compatible with Nanosurf XY stages for inverted optical microscopes.
The holder is equipped with heating elements that together with the optional TEC controller CH1 allow controlling the temperature of the sample in a range from ambient to 60°C.
The holder has an integrated environmental control option and an option for perfusion.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Petri dish diameter | Up to 50 mm |
Petri dish height | 7.1 to 10 mm |
Temperature range | Ambient to 60°C |
Temperature sensors | PT100 (internal), NTC (external) |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM, DriveAFM |
150 µm Z-actuator sample holder
Z-range extension of 150 µm for long-range force spectroscopy experiments (e.g. cell adhesion). Compatible with the environmental option, it features electrical feedthroughs as well as feedthroughs for tubing.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Platforms | CoreAFM, extended FlexAFM |
Material | Aluminium |
Size | ⌀100 mm x 40 mm |
Heater sample holder
The heater sample holder is suitable for scanning probe measurements at temperatures above ambient. Areas of application are imaging of various phase transitions and electrochemical experiments (see below) at various temperatures.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Max. sample size | 16 mm x 16 mm x 3 mm |
Max. temperature | 250°C |
Temperature stability | 0.1°C |
Heater power | 9W |
Environmental control | Compatible with environmental control ring with gas in and outlet |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM |
Heater/cooler sample holder
The heater/cooler sample holder is suitable for scanning probe measurements at temperatures above and below ambient. Areas of application are imaging of various phase transitions and electrochemical experiments at various temperatures. The accessory comes with a temperature reference unit and water pump.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Max. sample size | 16 mm x 16 mm x 3 mm |
Max. temperature (peak) | 180°C |
Min. temperature | -35°C |
Environmental control | Compatible with environmental control ring with gas in and outlet |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM |
Variable magnetic field sample holder
The variable magnetic field sample holder is made for MFM measurements with DC magnetic field applied in-plane with the sample. Areas of application are magnetic imaging of ferromagnetic films and nanostructures. The holder is compatible with the environmental control option.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Max. sample size | 10 mm x 10 mm x 0.5 mm |
Max. magnetic field at 2 mm gap | 800 mT |
Max. magnetic field at 10 mm gap | 120 mT |
Min. field resolution 2 mm gap | 0.05 mT |
Min. field resolution 10 mm gap | 0.01 mT |
Field direction | 1 axis (X) |
Sample drift when switching between maximum negative to maximum positive field | <2 um on X and Y |
Environmental control | Compatible with environmental control ring with gas in and outlet |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM |
C-AFM sample holder
The C-AFM sample holder features a built-in low noise preamplifier that allows measurement of small currents down to the pA range. Information about sample conductivity can be obtained in imaging mode or via I-V spectroscopy.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Input range | ± 25 nA |
Amplification | 0.1 V/nA |
Bandwidth | ≈3 kHz |
Noise level | Typically 3 pA @ full bandwidth |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM |
Environmental control option
The environmental control option consists of two parts – the environmental ring that is compatible with Nanosurf’s sample holders and the sealing membrane, which seals the gap between the scan head and the environmental ring.

EC-AFM sample holder
The EC-AFM sample holder allows performing in situ electrochemical experiments. The EC-AFM sample holder accepts flat working electrodes with a thickness between 0.2 mm and 2 mm and standard 2 mm diameter reference electrodes. As electrochemical reactions may be sensitive to e.g. oxygen, the EC-AFM sample holder features an integrated environmental control ring which allows perfusion of gas and liquids.
The EC-AFM sample holder can be optionally equipped with the heating or heating/cooling elements that are controlled by the TEC controller CH1. Thus, EC experiments can be performed at different temperatures.

Description | Specification |
---|---|
Working electrode | Flat 25 mm x 25 mm working electrode, 0.2 mm – 2 mm thickness |
Reference electrode | Feedthrough for commercial 2 mm diameter reference electrodes; connection for custom/home-made reference electrodes. |
Environmental control | Integrated environmental control ring (optional sealing membrane required) Gas in- and outlet Feedthrough for tubing for e.g. liquid perfusion |
Electrochemical bath chamber materials | PVDF or PEEK |
Compatible scan head platforms | CoreAFM, FlexAFM |