▶ Watch On-Demand | 1 HR 5 Minutes

On-Demand Session: Introduction to Photothermal AFM-IR for Infrared Spectroscopists

Discover FTIR-correlated spectroscopy with <10 nm lateral resolution
Watch Now | 25 Minutes

Intro to Photothermal AFM-IR for Infrared Spectroscopists

Presented by Cassandra Phillips, Ph.D., Senior Product Manager, Bruker (April 22, 2026) 

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS:

  • [00:00:00] AFM-IR Can Measure Spectra on Materials <1 nm Thick with <2 nm Lateral Resolution
  • [00:01:30] Why nanoscale IR?
  • [00:03:20] Mid-infrared Spectroscopy Identifies Molecular Bonds
  • [00:04:35] Basic Intuition for AFM Opertation
  • [00:06:40] How Photothermal AFM-IR Works
  • [00:08:00] In AFM-IR the Probe is a Nanoscale IR Detector
  • [00:09:45] What Makes AFM-IR Correlate so well With FTIR Data
  • [00:12:18] Result in Direct Excitation Scheme Maintain Peak Positions and Ratios Between AFM-IR and FTIR
  • [00:13:57] Photothermal AFM-IR Closely Follows Transmission Mode FTIR Spectra
  • [00:17:45] Variety of Modes Available for AFM-IR
  • [00:22:32] Photothermal AFM-IR: Applications Overview
Watch Now | 30 Minutes

AFM-IR of IR Spectroscopists

Presented by Dr. Qichi Hu, Senior Applications Scientist, Bruker (April 22, 2026) 

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS:

  • [00:00:00] Outline
  • [00:01:28] Speak as a Spectroscopist
  • [00:03:13] First Development Work in AFM-IR
  • [00:05:56] Crystalline/Amorphous Phases of Nanofiber
  • [00:07:26] Polymers Applications
  • [00:11:50] Life Science Applications
  • [00:16:13] Semiconductor Applications
  • [00:21:55] Environmental Applications
  • [00:23:25] Organic Compounds Applications
  • [00:25:40] Experimental Factors Affecting AFM-IR Spectrum
  • [00:27:38] Laser Chip Transitions
  • [00:28:13] Sample/Probe
Watch Now | 10 Minutes

Question & Answer

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS:

  • [00:00:00] What is the relation between the photothermal AFM-IR and other techniques?
  • [00:03:27] Is it possible to combine this technique with some other options, for example, during heating or manipulations of the surface?
  • [00:05:07] Is there anything that we need to consider for the resonance or frequencies we use?