Microscopy at Nanoscale: Techniques and Applications

This lecture introduces resolution enhancement in optical microscopy, confocal imaging, and fluorescent labelling. It covers the history of scanning probe microscopy, from its inception to the Nobel prize in physics in 1986. The slides discuss the available microscopes and imaging methods for visualizing the nanoscale, including optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. It explains the principles and features of optical microscopy methods, such as wide-field, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy. The lecture also delves into microscopy resolution limits, axial and lateral resolution, and the use of immersion oil to improve resolving power. Additionally, it explores fluorescence microscopy, quantum dots, and the applications of confocal microscopy in increasing micrograph contrast and reconstructing three-dimensional images.