Measurement of Adsorbed Gas Molecules on Graphite Surface by Using Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid

Abstract

In this study, we measured gas molecules adsorbed at the interface between a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and pure water by using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. The gases were generated by ethanol-water exchange method. As a result, we found two types of gas structures, which are micropancake and ordered gas layer. The former one easily moved in the direction of AFM fast scanning, while the latter one did not move at all. Moreover, it was found that the mobility of micropancakes was limited by the edges of the ordered layer and graphite steps.