A Possibility of XANAM (X-ray Aided Non-contact Atomic Force Microscopy)

We have measured a frequency shift of the noncontact atomic force microsocpy (NC-AFM) cantilever above Au islands when we scanned the X-ray energy around the Au L3 absorption edge. We have found a clear peak of the frequency shift just above the Au L3 absorption edge. This novel phenomenon suggested that the combination of energy-variable X-rays and NC-AFM provides us a new way of nano level chemical mapping of surfaces.