Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mphil-in-micro-and-nanotechnology-enterprise-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/paper-1/section-a-i/1/iii/c/solution

friction force microscopy is suitable. Contact scanning twists the AFM cantilever; the lateral photodetector difference measures friction and can distinguish the supported graphene and glass even if their heights are close. Acquire both trace and retrace and use half their lateral-signal difference to suppress slope-induced cross-talk. Keep the normal load low enough to avoid dragging or damaging the flake, control humidity and contamination, and calibrate torsional sensitivity if a quantitative coefficient of friction is required. An electrical connection is unnecessary.

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