Molecular Resolution Images of Amino Acid Crystals with the Atomic Force Microscope.

摘要

The atomic force microscope has been used to image arrays of molecules at the surface of DL-leucine crystals. Lattice spacings are consistent with X-ray diffraction data. In contrast to metals and semiconductors, the surface of these amino acid crystals appears to be a simple termination of the bulk; there is no evidence of a surface reconstruction for the molecular crystal. This initial success in imaging amino acid molecules points to the potential usefulness of atomic force microscopy for imaging molecules of biological importance.