USC-F1.5-k0.6 - NanoWorld®

Type: USC-F1.5-k0.6

Ultra-Short Cantilevers (for High-Speed AFM)

Cantilever Data	Value	Range*
Resonance Frequency	1500 kHz	1200 - 1800 kHz
Force Constant	0.6 N/m	0.2 - 1.1 N/m
Length	7 µm	6 - 8 µm
Mean Width	3 µm	2.5 - 3.5 µm
Thickness	0.1 µm	0.08 - 0.12 µm

*Typical values

How to optimize AFM scan parameters

This AFM probe has alignment grooves on the back side of the support chip.

USC cantilever 3D view More images

Product Description

NanoWorld® Ultra-Short Cantilevers (USC) for High-Speed AFM (HS-AFM) combine very small AFM cantilevers capable of resonating in the MHz regime and a very sharp and wear resistant AFM tip.

The AFM cantilever of the USC series is rectangular and made of a quartz-like material. A gold layer is deposited on both sides of the AFM cantilever in order to enhance the reflectance of the laser beam, but the tip remains uncoated.

The wear resistant AFM tip has been developed together with nanotools GmbH and sustains high velocity scans over long distances. It is made of High Density Carbon/Diamond Like Carbon (HDC/DLC) material which is hard and wear resistant. It has a height of 2.5 microns and a radius of curvature smaller than 10 nm. The aspect ratio is in the order of 5 : 1 and the tilt compensation is 8° ensuring more symmetric AFM images.

The silicon support chip is of standard dimensions (1.6 mm x 3.4 mm x 0.3 mm). Additionally, it has etched and lowered corners in order to avoid contact between the support chip and the sample when scanning. Moreover it features alignment grooves on the back side of the silicon support chip which ensure replacement of the probes without major adjustment of the laser beam when used in conjunction with the alignment chip.

The type USC-F1.5-k0.6 is mainly designed for High-Speed AFM applications in liquid but can also be used for applications in air (depending on the application).

Tip shape: Cone Shaped

Coating: Reflective Gold

Gold Reflex Coating

The gold reflex coating consists of a 20 nm thick gold layer deposited on both sides of the AFM cantilevers which enhances the reflectance of the laser beam. Furthermore it prevents light from interfering within the AFM cantilever. As the coating is almost stress-free the bending of the AFM cantilevers due to stress is less than 2 degrees.

The tip remains uncoated.

Order Codes

Order Code	Quantity	Data Sheet
USC-F1.5-k0.6-10	10	Nominal values

System limitations: Due to their small AFM cantilever sizes and their very high resonance frequencies USC probes currently cannot be used in all commercially available SPMs and AFMs. Only AFMs with a sufficiently small laser spot and electronics that are capable of dealing with high resonance frequencies of up to 5 MHz are able to work with the USC probes. If in doubt whether these AFM probes can be used in your AFM please check back with us or with your AFM manufacturer.

Product Screencast NanoWorld® Ultra-Short Cantilevers (USC) for High Speed Scanning

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Guaranteed values

Scientific publications mentioning use of this AFM probe

Trewby W, Tavakol M, Voïtchovsky K.
Local mapping of the nanoscale viscoelastic properties of fluid membranes by AFM nanorheology
Nature Communications. 2025 Apr 24;16(1):3842
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59260-w

Nishide G, Lim K, Kobayashi A, Qiu Y, Hazawa M, Ando T, Okada Y, Wong RW.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of protamine–DNA condensation revealed by high-speed atomic force microscopy
Nucleic Acids Research. 2025 Apr 11;53(6):gkaf152
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaf152

Nishide G, Ishibashi T, Lim K, Qiu Y, Hazawa M, Matsushima A, Wong RW
Zooming into Gene Activation: Estrogen Receptor α Dimerization and DNA Binding Visualized by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy
ACS nano. 2025 Apr 18;19(16):15395-410
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c14943

Inuzuka N, Shobayashi Y, Tateshima S, Sato Y, Ohba Y, Ishihara K, Teramura Y.
Stable and Thin-Polymer-Based Modification of Neurovascular Stents with 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine Polymer for Antithrombogenicity
Bioengineering. 2024 Aug 15;11(8):833
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11080833

Legg BA, Voïtchovsky K, De Yoreo JJ.
Hydroxide films on mica form charge-stabilized microphases that circumvent nucleation barriers
Science Advances. 2022 Sep 2;8(35):eabn7087
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abn708

Ryu JK, Katan AJ, van der Sluis EO, Wisse T, de Groot R, Haering CH, Dekker C.
The condensin holocomplex cycles dynamically between open and collapsed states.
Nature structural & molecular biology. 2020 Dec;27(12):1134-41
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-020-0508-3

Zuttion F, Redondo-Morata L, Marchesi A, Casuso I
High-resolution and high-speed atomic force microscope imaging
Nanoscale Imaging: Methods and Protocols. 2018:181-200
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8591-3_11

Plesa C, Ananth AN, Linko V, Gulcher C, Katan AJ, Dietz H, Dekker C
Ionic permeability and mechanical properties of DNA origami nanoplates on solid-state nanopores
ACS nano. 2014 Jan 28;8(1):35-43
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/nn405045x

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All data are subject to change without notice.

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