AFM Substrates & Sample Prep
Muscovite Mica Sheets for AFM Sample Prep
Atomically flat mica substrates from the AFM people at Molecular Imaging. Cleave, mount, image. Built for high-resolution AFM work in air and liquid.
- Atomically flat, smooth surface for clean AFM images
- 2 cm mica substrate size, easy to cleave and mount
- Also available: gold thin film on mica, small and large
Made by Molecular Imaging, the AFM brand behind PicoPlus and PicoSTM systems.
Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-644-0389
Request Mica Substrate Pricing
Tell us what you need and our AFM team will send pricing and details.
Why labs buy mica from Molecular Imaging
Atomically flat surface
Mica cleaves to a clean, smooth plane. That gives you a low-noise background for imaging DNA, proteins and nanoparticles.
Made for AFM, not general supply
We build AFM and STM systems. The mica we sell is sized and specified for AFM sample prep and calibration work.
Works with your sample holders
Mount mica on standard AFM sample plates, thin film holders, petri dish plates or liquid cells from the same catalog.
Gold on mica in stock too
Need a conductive surface? Ask about AU gold thin film on mica substrates in small and large formats.
AFM experts answer your questions
The team includes former Molecular Imaging and Agilent AFM engineers. Ask about substrates, probes or imaging setup.
One source for the whole experiment
Add cantilevers, liquid cells, calibration standards and sample plates to the same quote.
Mica substrates, discs and gold-on-mica
Muscovite mica is the standard AFM substrate because a fresh cleave gives you an atomically flat, smooth surface in seconds. That flat background is what lets you resolve small features like DNA strands, proteins, peptides and nanoparticles.
Molecular Imaging supplies mica substrates along with the rest of the AFM workflow: probes, liquid cells, sample plates and calibration standards. If you need a different size, shape or a custom holder, tell us and we will quote it.
- Mica Substrate 2 cm: atomically flat and smooth, for AFM sample prep and calibration
- AU Gold Thin Film on Mica Substrate, small format, for AFM calibration and surface studies
- AU Gold Thin Film on Mica Substrate, large format, for roughness and thin film analysis
- Thin film sample holders for mica, HOPG and 22 mm x 22 mm substrates
- One-inch cell format and square cell for 22 mm cover slips
- Modular and custom holders for other substrate sizes, thicknesses and shapes
- Works with ambient and in-liquid imaging setups, including AFM liquid cells
- Pairs with AFM calibration samples such as the 500 nm grating and step-height standards
What happens next
Send your request
Tell us the substrate, quantity and what you are imaging. It takes about a minute.
We review the fit
Our AFM team checks sizes, holders and any accessories you may need with the mica.
You get a quote
We reply with pricing and the details to place your order or ask more questions.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mica substrates cost?
Pricing is available on request. Send your size and quantity and we will quote it. Volume or bulk pricing is not published, so ask in your request.
What size mica do you offer?
The documented substrate is the Mica Substrate 2 cm, an atomically flat mica sheet for AFM sample prep and calibration. If you need another size or shape, ask and we will look at a custom option.
Will the mica fit my AFM sample holder?
We also sell thin film sample holders and sample plates that take mica, HOPG and 22 mm x 22 mm substrates, plus modular and custom holders for other sizes. Tell us your instrument and we will confirm the fit.
Do you sell gold-coated mica?
Yes. AU Gold Thin Film on Mica Substrate is offered in small and large formats for AFM calibration, surface roughness and thin film characterization.
Can I use mica for imaging in liquid?
Mica is commonly used with liquid imaging. We supply AFM liquid cells, flow-through cells and fluid cell kits in 9 mm and 18 mm formats to go with it.
Who do you sell to?
We serve research labs in the United States and support the global research community: universities, materials and nanotech R&D groups, life science labs, electrochemistry groups and core facilities.
Get pricing on mica substrates
Tell us the substrate and quantity you need. Our AFM team will send pricing and can add probes, liquid cells or sample plates to the same quote.
- Atomically flat, smooth surface for clean AFM images
- 2 cm mica substrate size, easy to cleave and mount
- Also available: gold thin film on mica, small and large
Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-644-0389