A Belarus R&D institute is looking for partners from research and industry areas interested in high-resolution microscopy services that need help in investigation/research of different types of samples (biological objects, coatings, films, carbon nanotubes, single molecules, micro-and optoelectronic components) with the use of atomic force microscopy. The institute is looking to expand into new markets and work with potential partners under the terms of an outsourcing agreement.

The R&D institute from Belarus offers imaging of solid materials with extremely high magnifications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to control nanolayers and nanoobjects, incl. in the field of microelectronics, materials science and bioengineering with the resolution of approximately 0.1 nm.

AFM makes it possible to control nanolayers and nanoobjects, incl. in the field of microelectronics, materials science and bioengineering. The experts use such promising methods of investigation as: methods of static and dynamic power spectroscopy, nondestructive nanotomography, oscillating nanotribometry, membrane-capillary transport technology for modifying the probe tip.

The expert team offers services in the next research lines:
- Biomechanics of cells, including Clinical Biomechanics. Transport processes of energy, momentum and mass transfer in living systems adjusted for biomechanical properties of these systems, including thermal, cooling and cryo-therapeutic effects;
- Developing new methods and tools for scanning probing microscopy (SPM) tailored to the needs of a client;
- Investigating different-type samples (biological objects, coatings, films, carbon nanotubes, single molecules, micro-and optoelectronic components with the use of SPM methods;
- Studying the specific features of the dynamic regime of an AFM for different-type samples;
- Developing new applications of the AFM dynamic regime for the analysis of surfaces at the nanometer scale, including the dynamic force spectroscopy, tribology, and nanoidentification;
- Evaluating the local mechanical properties and surface topography of living cells with a high spatial resolution;
- Investigating adhesion processes and friction interactions in metal-polymer systems;
- Developing new principles of nano-sized metal film-based storage of hydrogen;
- Developing and manufacturing research devices and accessories in the AFM field tailored to the needs of a client.

AFM Specifications:
- Scanning area - from 1х1 up to 50х50 mkm
- Lateral resolution (in XY plane) - 2-5 nm
- Vertical resolution (Z direction) - 0.1-0.3 nm

Modes:
- Contact static AFM (surface, pressing and lateral forces display)
- Lateral force microscopy (in contact static AFM mode)
- Non-contact dynamic AFM
- Half-contact dynamic AFMСМ (identical to Tapping Mode®, surface texture, phase displacement, AFM-probe oscillation amplitude display)
- Phase-contrast microscopy (in mixed dynamic AFM mode)
- Two-wire mode (for static and dynamic AFM)
- Two-wire variable ascend mode (for static and dynamic AFM)
- Multi-cycle area scanning (for static and dynamic AFM)
- Magnetic force microscopy (two-wire method)
- Current mode
- Static force spectroscopy (with calculations for sample quantitative properties, surface energy and elasticity modulus at the analysis point)
- Dynamic amplitude-frequency force spectroscopy
- Line nanoindentation, nano scratching and nano wear-out
- Force nanolithography
- Temperature-dependent measurements (for all of the above modes)

Special accessories:
- Professional video-zoom microscopy system
- Antivibration rack
- Replaceable microtribometer-adhesiometer unit
- Sample temperature control set
- Liquid cell set.

13 AFM complexes developed by the institute were delivered to scientific organizations, universities and enterprises of Belarus. 16 AFM complexes were exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Saudi-Arabia, Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, Slovakia, and Poland.

Professional team of experts in high-resolution atomic force microscopy is looking for partners from industry and research to help them solve technological or scientific problems under the terms of an outsourcing agreement.

Offered services provide ways to observe inorganic or biological samples at extremely high magnifications that are not accessible to conventional (optical) microscopes.

The experts use original models of micro-, nanoindentation of materials, which increase the accuracy and reliability of the results obtained.

The team developed:
- Experimental complex for studying the adhesion and rheological characteristics of nanoobjects;
- AFM probes modified with carbon nanotubes;.
- Methods of AFM with the use of a tuning-fork probe;
- Methods of mechanical local processing ("nanodrilling and nanomilling");
- Methods of calculating adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen molecules in nano-structured aluminum;
- Methods for diagnosis of mechanical and tribological properties of the surface of hard and superhard thin-film materials.

Specialists working with microscopic objects are highly qualified researchers who participate in research, as well as the development of equipment and techniques for studying and testing the surface properties of nanomaterial based on atomic force microscopy. Being constantly competitive in the industry, specialists are ready to provide innovative solutions for non-trivial scientific and technical problems.

The R&D Institute is the largest academic institution in the Republic of Belarus, which is engaged in solving fundamental and applied problems of heat/mass transfer, fluid dynamics, power engineering, thermal engineering, etc. and in developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies and equipment, facilities for power engineering and engineering, agro-industrial complex and construction industry, medicine, as well as for chemical, electron, radio, food, space industry.

The type of partner sought: industrial partners, universities, R&D institutions, companies that need high-resolution microscopy. The institute is looking for cooperation with the above partners from different parts of the world under the terms of an outsourcing agreement. It is assumed that experts will provide help and expertise to the partners willing to solve technological or scientific problems. Based on the needs of the cooperating entity, this may involve state-of-the-art high-resolution imaging or the development of new microscopic methodologies associated with e.g. sample preparation or establishing imaging parameters of, especially demanding samples.