Oxford Instruments Asylum Research Cypher S AFM
Operating modes: Contact mode, DART PFM, Dual AC, Dual AC Resonance Tracking (DART), Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM), Force curves, Force Mapping Mode (force volume), Force modulation, Frequency modulation, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), Lateral Force Mode (LFM), Loss tangent imaging, Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), Nanolithography, Nanomanipulation, Phase imaging, Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM), Switching spectroscopy PFM, Tapping mode (AC mode), Tapping mode with digital Q control, Vector PFM.
Imaging Specs: 30 x 30 μm (XY).
XY sensor noise: <60 pm.
Z Range: > 5 μm.
Z sensor noise: < 50 pm.
Sample Size: 15 mm diameter (some setting may handle roughly 30 x 30mm)
7mm thick and must be mounted on magnetic pucks for sample movement.
Liquid Droplet use specialized probe holders with a ~200uL working volume.
What's New in Software:
Advanced Mode Operation
Ergo works in concert with Asylum’s IGOR Pro-based software. Expert users have the ability to operate the complete range of advanced modes and exercise the full customization capabilities of the AFM. Together, Ergo and Igor provide users with unmatched flexibility to achieve all of their research goals.
Auto AFM Calibration in Seconds
Ergo’s workflow guides you from loading a new probe to aligning the laser with a few clicks. In the background, Asylum’s proprietary GetReal™ technology automatically calibrates the cantilever each time to help ensure the most consistent results from day-to-day.
The most common AFM measurement is the acquisition of topographical images in air. Ergo has embedded Asylum’s proprietary AUTOPILOT™ algorithm, which automatically calculates the optimal imaging settings and starts producing high quality data from the first scan line.
| RPI Users | External Nonprofit | External Industry | External Industry Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $25 | $41 | $82 | $74 |
| Assisted | $50 | $82 | $165 | $148 |
| Training | $89 | $146 | $293 | $264 |
| RPI Users | External Nonprofit | External Industry | External Industry Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Time | $77 | $127 | $253 | $228 |
Effective August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026. Rates are hourly unless specified otherwise and are subject to change without further notice.
Required Acknowledgement and Authorship
Please acknowledge the CBIS Core Facilities in all publications and grant applications where our equipment and/or personnel have facilitated the work. These acknowledgements are very important because documenting our contributions helps to ensure that the resources of the Core Facilities are sustainable.
- Equipment: If you used Core Facility equipment, please note this in the Materials and Methods. e.g., Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out using a TA Instruments TGA-Q50 (Rensselaer CBIS Analytical Biochemistry Core Facility).
- Personnel: Please consider including CBIS personnel as co-authors on your publications when they have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research. Include CBIS Core Facility directors or staff as co-PI or co-investigators in grant applications when they provide a significant contribution to the grant proposal and scientific/intellectual leadership for the proposed work. Please follow these guidelines: ABRF Recommended Guidelines for Authorship on Manuscripts. Also, our Core Facility personnel always appreciate when they are mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of publications.
- Required Funding Authorization Form: Rensselaer researchers must fill out the CBIS Cores Authorization Form (PDF) to use the CBIS Core Facilities.
