The nanoIR™ platform from Anasys Instruments is a probe-based measurement
tool that reveals the chemical composition of samples at the nanoscale. This
laboratory solution combines key elements of both infrared spectroscopy and
atomic force microscopy (AFM) to enable the acquisition of infrared spectra
at spatial resolutions well beyond the optical diffraction limit. Click here
for basic operating principles. Potential application areas span polymer science,
materials science, and life science, including detailed studies of structure-property
correlations.
Nanoscale Spatial Resolution + Chemical Spectroscopy
The nanoIR system provides nanoscale spatial resolution in combination with
chemical spectroscopy. Users of nanoIR technology can quickly survey regions
of a sample via AFM and then rapidly acquire high-resolution chemical spectra
at selected regions on the sample. Mechanical and thermal properties may also
be mapped with nanoscale resolution.
Rich, Interpretable IR Spectra
The nanoIR system enables researchers to harness the full power of mid-IR
spectroscopy. The system’s IR source, designed using proprietary technology,
is continuously tunable from 3600 to 1200 cm-1. Polymer spectra acquired with
the nanoIR system have demonstrated good correlation with bulk FTIR spectra.
The nanoIR software also allows researchers to export nanoscale IR absorption
spectra to standard analysis packages (e.g., Bio-Rad’s KnowItAll®)
to rapidly analyze samples and identify chemical components.
Integrated Thermal and Mechanical Property Mapping
In addition to its ability to provide high-resolution infrared spectra, the
nanoIR system provides direct information on thermal and mechanical properties.
Mechanical properties of a sample can be collected using a contact resonance
method to map stiffness variations simultaneously with the topography. The nanoIR
platform can also perform nanoscale thermal analysis, enabling researchers to
move beyond bulk thermal analysis and providing information not obtainable with
any other technique.