FAQ

Sarfus is a very high-sensitive technique that allows the visualization or detection of :
- Nanometric film or layer (1D) down to 0.3nm-thickness;
- Nanotubes, nanofibers... (2D) down to 2nm-diameter;
- Nanoparticules... (3D) down to 20nm-diameter.

Nb : The detection limit is depending on the nature of the sample.

All natures of samples can be observed by Sarfus (organic, mineral, oxide, metallic...). But only transparent samples (ie. optical index with non complex part (k=0)) can be measured : organic, polymer, oxide, nitride... It is not (again) possible to measure metallic film thickness. In addition, some precautions should be taken concerning samples that change the optical polarisation of light and samples (pigments, for example) that change the RGB components response.

No. There is no pre-treatment, you do not have to label or mark your sample. You directly deposit your sample on a Surf.
Note that Sarfus is compatible with fluorescence, superposition of Sarfus image and fluorescence image often leads to interested information.

This is like deposited a sample on a standard microscope slide. The easiest way is to proceed from a solution of your sample by drop deposition, dip-coating, spin-coating... Deposition in environmental chamber or reactor is also possible (CVD, PVD, plasma...). This list is non-exhaustive, fell free to contact us for others ways.

Sarfus detect the change of the state of polarization of the light reflected from the specimen. Indeed the white light beam passes through a linear polarizer to produce a linear polarized light source. This polarized beam is then reflected from the sample and its polarization is modified to become elliptic. Finally, the reflected beam passes through an analyser crossed with the polarizer. The specific substrates, called Surfs are made to produce a black background with reflected polarized light under crossed polarizer. They do not change the state of polarization of the reflected light. That's why, the emergent light after analyser is only due to the specimen presence.

Surfs are made of silicon or glass support with high-controlled nanometric layers.

Standard lateral dimensions of Surfs are 10mm x 10mm Other lateral sizes are available on request.

Standard top layers like SiO₂, TiO₂, SAMs -terminated (CH_3-, NH_2-...), polymer (polystyrene, polycarbonate...) are available. (fell free to contact us to know all type of available top-layers). For non-available top-layers, we can develop it for you.

Yes, we propose Surfs for observation in water with different top layers : SiO₂, TiO₂... (fell free to contact us to know all type of available top-layers).

Yes, we commercialize transparent Surfs made of glass support designed for inverted microscope. They can be sold alone or insert in a Petri dish.

Pre-treatment such as acid treatment, ozone, plasma... on Surf can be done.

Due to their high sensitivity, it is difficult to clean the Surf. Even with clean solvents, there remain always nanometric traces on the surface of the Surf.

The surfaces of the Surfs are protected with a specific adhesive (no residual adhesive traces when removed) that protect the top layer from particles coming for ambient atmosphere. Thanks to this protection, Surfs time life is unlimited.

Surfs are made of different optical layers and top-layers; they show different resistance to temperature, radiation and chemical products. Most of the Surfs show good resistance to temperatures (up to 200°C), to acid/base attack (piranha activation for example), to most of usual solvents. For each Surf, a data sheet with information on resistance.

We need to check your optical microscope configuration. If some optical elements are missing, we help you to complete your system by providing you a list of missing elements and their estimated prices. This is included in the 'Sarfus starter kit'.

In case you have already a Sarfus compatible optical microscope, you just need the 'Sarfus Starter Kit' (see the price list).

Yes, like for standard optical microscope, you can use heating plate, environmental control chambers...

You can keep your sample on the Surf as longer as you want but it is recommended to keep it in clean area to avoid particles contamination by ambient atmosphere.

Yes, the system is completely safe (no laser, no high-voltage, no labelling, no marker...).

You need the 'Sarfus 3D-Plug-In' that completes 'Sarfus Starter Kit' (see the price list).

We provide calibration standard traceable to PTB (Germany) following EN ISO/IEC 17025 norms.
PTB : Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (www.ptb.de) is the National lnstitute for Science and Technology and is the highest technical authority of Germany.

Reproducibility measurements based on 30 measurements according the ISO standard 17025 lead to a reproducibility value of 0.3nm (U(k=2)).

Combining Sarfus with others techniques is interesting to perform multi-analysis (optical and mechanicanical/spectral analysis for example) but especially to facilitate pre-localisation of nanometric samples (for example pre-localisation of nanometric structures, biochips, nanotubes before AFM analyse...). You save your time and consumables.

All techniques that include or can include optical microscope or optical column in Sarfus configuration such as AFM, RAMAN, IR...Fell free to contact us to know more.

We can propose you a live Skype demo. Please fell free to fill in the form to ask for it.

Once we have checked the compatibly of your optical microscope, we can send to you some Surfs to test on your(s) sample(s). Fell free to contact us to get free Surfs.

You can request for a Price list here.

You just need a standard electrical outlet (no vacuum or gas) and a small area for the optical microscope and the computer.

Sarfus Visualization is easy to operate. A tutorial is included in the 'Sarfus Starter Kit'. For Sarfus measurement, the 'Sarfus 3D Plug-In' package includes a 'one-day training' in your Lab.

Yes, we answer all after-sales requests within 24 hours (open day).