Imaging soft samples in liquid with tuning fork based shear force microscopy

We present a study of the dynamic behavior of tuning forks and the application of tuning fork based shear force microscopy o­n soft samples in liquid. A shift in resonance frequency and a recovery of the tip vibration amplitude have been observed upon immersion into liquid. Conservation of the vibration mode is confirmed by both direct stroboscopic observation and by detection of the tip vibration amplitude of the tuning fork. Thanks to the partial recovery of the Q factor upon complete immersion into liquid, it is possible to obtain high-resolution images o­n soft samples in liquid. This opens a new domain of applications for tuning fork based near-field scanning optical microscopes.