Atomic force microscopy-based photothermal infrared microscopy for aqueous environments using graphene-based microfluidic cells

Abstract

We present the first demonstration of atomic force microscopy-based photothermal-induced resonance (PTIR) measurements of hydrated polymers under aqueous conditions, utilizing microfluidic cells with a graphene layer as an atomically thin IR-transparent window. Our findings show that polymer swelling can be successfully detected through changes in the PTIR spectrum.