Effect of Interaction Modeling in AFM-Based Nanomanipulation

AFM-based nanomanipulation is very challenging because of the complex mechanics in tip-sample interactions and the limitations in AFM visual sensing capabilities. In the present paper, we investigate the modeling of AFM-based nanomanipulation emphasizing the effects of the relevant interactions at the nanoscale. The major contribution of the present work is the use of a combined DMT-JKR interaction model in order to describe the complete collision process between the AFM tip and the sample. The coupling between the interactions and the friction at the nanoscale is emphasized. The efficacy of the proposed model to reproduce experimental data is demonstrated via numerical simulations.