Chapter 12
Magnetic Force Microscopy
and Magnetic Nanoparticles:
Perspectives and Challenges
Daniele Passeri, Livia Angeloni, and Marco Rossi
Abstract Among the various techniques for the characterization of magnetic NPs,
magnetic force microscopy (MFM) represent one of the most widespread and versatile methods due to its lateral resolution, sensitivity, imaging capability, the need for
a relatively simple and widespread experimental setup, minimal/no specific requirements about sample preparations, capability to operate in air at room conditions
as well as in vacuum or liquid environment. Indeed, MFM enables the quantitative characterization of magnetic properties of single magnetic NPs, can be used to
detect single magnetic NPs in nonmagnetic (e.g., polymeric or biological) matrices,
as well as to perform mechanical or magnetic nanomanipulation of single NPs. In
this chapter, applications of MFM in the study of magnetic NPs are briefly reviewed
and intriguing perspectives are depicted, focusing on current limitations to overcome
and challenges to take up.
12.1 Introduction
The invention of atomic force microscopy (AFM) [1] put at disposal of the scientific
community an experimental setup in which a nanometer sized tip can be maintained
either in contact with a sample surface with controlled force or in close proximity of the surface with controlled distance, the tip location on the surface can be
D. Passeri (B) · L. Angeloni · M. Rossi
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering,
Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00161 Rome, Italy
e-mail: daniele.passeri@uniroma1.it
L. Angeloni
e-mail: livia.angeloni@uniroma1.it
M. Rossi
e-mail: marco.rossi@uniroma1.it
D. Passeri · M. Rossi
Research Center for Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering of SAPIENZA University of Rome
(CNIS), Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Peddis et al. (eds.), New Trends in Nanoparticle Magnetism,
Springer Series in Materials Science 308,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60473-8_12
285
Magnetic Force Microscopy
and Magnetic Nanoparticles:
Perspectives and Challenges
Daniele Passeri, Livia Angeloni, and Marco Rossi
Abstract Among the various techniques for the characterization of magnetic NPs,
magnetic force microscopy (MFM) represent one of the most widespread and versatile methods due to its lateral resolution, sensitivity, imaging capability, the need for
a relatively simple and widespread experimental setup, minimal/no specific requirements about sample preparations, capability to operate in air at room conditions
as well as in vacuum or liquid environment. Indeed, MFM enables the quantitative characterization of magnetic properties of single magnetic NPs, can be used to
detect single magnetic NPs in nonmagnetic (e.g., polymeric or biological) matrices,
as well as to perform mechanical or magnetic nanomanipulation of single NPs. In
this chapter, applications of MFM in the study of magnetic NPs are briefly reviewed
and intriguing perspectives are depicted, focusing on current limitations to overcome
and challenges to take up.
12.1 Introduction
The invention of atomic force microscopy (AFM) [1] put at disposal of the scientific
community an experimental setup in which a nanometer sized tip can be maintained
either in contact with a sample surface with controlled force or in close proximity of the surface with controlled distance, the tip location on the surface can be
D. Passeri (B) · L. Angeloni · M. Rossi
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering,
Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 16, 00161 Rome, Italy
e-mail: daniele.passeri@uniroma1.it
L. Angeloni
e-mail: livia.angeloni@uniroma1.it
M. Rossi
e-mail: marco.rossi@uniroma1.it
D. Passeri · M. Rossi
Research Center for Nanotechnology Applied to Engineering of SAPIENZA University of Rome
(CNIS), Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Peddis et al. (eds.), New Trends in Nanoparticle Magnetism,
Springer Series in Materials Science 308,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60473-8_12
285