Below you will find descriptions and links to files for analyzing AFM images for nanotribology research. This page provides free access to the analysis tools developed by the Carpick group at the University of Pennsylvania. Among the tools available here are instructions for gathering friction versus load (FvL) data from a Veeco (formerly Digital Instruments, DI) NanoScope (III or IV) AFM, MatLab scripts for analyzing FvL and adhesion data, and directions for the use of these scripts. Please read carefully the headers in each of the scripts and the directions in the manual provided below: FvL Analysis Manual Please note that all materials on this page are Copyrighted by the Carpick Group at the University of Pennsylvania. They are authorized for use in government or academic research laboratories and non-profit institutions only. You are welcome to modify, re-post, and distribute these files as long as you provide attribution to the original source (this web site). Please report any bugs by writing a Comment below. Processing a NanoScope fileThe following scripts handle DI data files as described in the manual. You will need ‘get_image_data,’ ‘di_version,’ ‘di_header_find,’ and ‘extract_num’ to read DI data into a MatLab array. The two files ‘nano3read’ and ‘getparameter’ are the original copyrighted source code for each of the files as indicated.

• get_image_data
• di_header_find.m
• di_version
• extract_num
• nano3read (original source code for get_image_data)
• getparameter (orig. code for di_header_find and extract_num)

Calculating Friction vs Load The most important script to analyze your FvL data is ‘friction_v_load.’ To process large batches of data, use ‘batch_process’ (see the manual). File ‘latcal’ is a Mathcad file that uses the output of the Lateral Calibration function of ‘friction_v_load’ to find the ratio between normal and lateral calibration factors.

• friction_v_load
• batch_process
• latcal

Measuring Pull-Off Forces The following files are applicable to force-distance data files only. The output of ‘getfd’ is the pull-off force in volts and the slope of the contact region of a force curve (normal signal deflection sensitivity in volts per nm). Update April 7, 2005: batchfd no longer requires getfd to run (or commenting/uncommenting of getfd).

• getfd
• batchfd

For your convenience, all Matlab and Mathcad files are zipped here: SWfiles