Nanosurf
Nanosurf is a Swiss developer and supplier of atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopes for research, industrial metrology, and education.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
2requests
1companies- Anthropic2
- Profile
- 2
- Controversies
- 0
- JSON · MD
- 0
- First read
- Nov 4, 2026
- Latest read
- Nov 4, 2026
From this site's server log
Overview
Nanosurf AG is a Swiss scientific-instrument company headquartered in Liestal that develops, manufactures, and supplies nanoscale metrology systems. Its principal technologies are atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), methods used to inspect surfaces, visualize nanoscale structures, and characterize material properties. The company's customers and users include academic laboratories, industrial quality and process-control teams, materials scientists, life-science researchers, and educational institutions. Nanosurf was founded in Switzerland in 1997 with the objective of making scanning-probe microscopy more accessible. The company emerged in an environment shaped by Swiss nanoscience research and received the Swiss government's start-up label in its founding year. Its early products emphasized compactness, ease of use, and accessibility, helping establish the company in the educational and entry-level microscopy markets. Nanosurf became associated with compact instruments, including an early scanning tunneling microscope designed to be sufficiently stable for imaging individual atoms outside a conventional large laboratory installation. A major turning point came in 1998, when NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory selected Nanosurf to participate in the development of an atomic force microscope for the Phoenix Mars mission. Nanosurf worked with the Institute of Microtechnology at the University of Neuchâtel and the Institute of Physics at the University of Basel as part of a Swiss consortium. The resulting instrument formed part of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer on the Phoenix lander. After the lander reached Mars, the instrument recorded nanoscale images of Martian dust and became the first atomic force microscope to produce an image on another planet. The mission demonstrated that Nanosurf's technology could be adapted for highly constrained and demanding planetary environments. The company expanded its commercial and technical portfolio after the Mars project. Its product range developed from educational and compact instruments toward research-grade systems for materials science and life-science applications, as well as automated industrial metrology. The portfolio includes the DriveAFM, FlexAFM, and CoreAFM research platforms; the compact NaioAFM and NaioSTM instruments for education and basic research; and Alphacen systems for industrial wafer and large-sample inspection. Nanosurf also offers integration and customization capabilities through products and platforms such as Flex-Mount, Nanite, and LensAFM. In 2020, Nanosurf introduced the DriveAFM, a closed-loop system using photothermal excitation and positioned as a flagship research platform. The product was recognized with a Wiley Analytical Science Award in 2023. Industrial systems such as the Alphacen line extend the company's expertise into semiconductor and wafer metrology, including inspection of substrates up to 300 millimeters and loads of up to 45 kilograms, according to the supplied reference material. Nanosurf has established subsidiaries or operating entities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, India, and Singapore. Its present positioning combines accessible tabletop microscopy with configurable, high-performance instrumentation for advanced research and industrial inspection. The brand's differentiation rests on compact instrument design, usability, nanoscale measurement capability, and the ability to adapt scanning-probe technologies to specialized applications.
History
Nanosurf AG was established in Liestal, Switzerland, on June 4, 1997. Its founding purpose was to make scanning-probe microscopes more accessible to a wider range of users. The company's early development was connected to Switzerland's growing nanoscience ecosystem and to research associated with Hans-Joachim Güntherodt, a leading figure in Swiss nanoscale science and an academic at the University of Basel. In 1997, Nanosurf received the Swiss government's start-up label from the agency responsible for innovation support. The company soon gained recognition for compact and usable atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopes. In 1998, it received an innovation prize from the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft. That same year, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory selected Nanosurf to contribute to an atomic force microscope for the Phoenix Mars mission. Nanosurf collaborated with the University of Neuchâtel's Institute of Microtechnology and the University of Basel's Institute of Physics in a Swiss consortium. The goal was to produce an instrument capable of operating in the severe environmental and engineering conditions of a planetary mission. The Phoenix instrument was integrated into NASA's Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer. It used a controller, an electromagnetic scanner, and a microfabricated sensor chip containing a redundant array of cantilevers with integrated deflection sensors. This redundancy helped protect the mission against individual probe or cantilever failures. The system supported static and dynamic operating modes and used silicon and molded diamond tips. Phoenix launched on August 4, 2007, and reached Mars in 2008. On July 9, 2008, the AFM successfully recorded and transmitted an image of a calibration grid. The achievement represented the first AFM image made on another planet and provided nanoscale information about Martian dust and surface material. Alongside its planetary work, Nanosurf continued building a commercial microscopy business. In 2000, it introduced the easyScan atomic force microscope and received the Swiss Technology Award. In 2003, the company received a KMU Entrepreneurial award from the chambers of commerce of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt. In 2007, its automated Nanite AFM system received another Swiss Technology Award from the Vontobel Foundation. These recognitions reflected the company's emphasis on practical, compact, and increasingly automated nanoscale measurement. After the Phoenix project, Nanosurf broadened its range beyond educational and compact instruments. The FlexAFM brought a flexure-stage scanner to versatile materials and life-science work, while the CoreAFM was positioned as a self-contained research instrument supporting more than thirty operating modes. The company retained a tabletop education and basic-research segment through the NaioAFM and NaioSTM. It also developed industrial offerings, including Alphacen systems for wafer metrology and large-sample inspection, together with customized AFM solutions and integration products for optical microscopes and industrial equipment. In 2020, Nanosurf launched the DriveAFM, a closed-loop system using photothermal drive technology and positioned as a flagship research platform. The product received the Wiley Analytical Science Award in 2023. Nanosurf has also expanded its international presence through subsidiaries or operating entities in Boston and Santa Barbara in the United States, Langen in Germany, Bracknell in the United Kingdom, Shanghai in China, Hyderabad in India, and Singapore. The company remains active in research instrumentation, industrial metrology, and education, combining compact usability with configurable systems for demanding nanoscale applications.
- 2023
DriveAFM receives Wiley recognition
[1]The DriveAFM received the Wiley Analytical Science Award.
- 2020
DriveAFM launched
[1]Nanosurf introduced the DriveAFM research platform with closed-loop control and photothermal excitation.
- 2008
First AFM image on another planet
[1]The Phoenix instrument successfully recorded an atomic force microscopy image on Mars on July 9, 2008.
- 2007
Nanite receives Swiss Technology Award
[1]Nanosurf's automated Nanite AFM system received a Swiss Technology Award associated with the Vontobel Foundation.
- 2007
Phoenix Mars probe launches
[1]The Phoenix spacecraft launched carrying the Nanosurf-contributed atomic force microscopy system.
- 2003
KMU Entrepreneurial award
[1]The company received a KMU Entrepreneurial award from the chambers of commerce of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt.
- 2000
easyScan reaches the market
[1]Nanosurf introduced the easyScan atomic force microscope and received the Swiss Technology Award.
- 1998
NASA selects Nanosurf for Phoenix AFM development
[1]Nanosurf joined Swiss academic partners in developing an atomic force microscope for NASA's Phoenix Mars mission.
- 1998
Basel cantons innovation prize
[1]Nanosurf received an innovation prize from the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.
- 1997
Nanosurf is founded in Switzerland
[1]Nanosurf AG was founded in Liestal on June 4, 1997, with a mission to make scanning-probe microscopy broadly accessible. It also received the Swiss government's start-up label.
Products and positioning
A Swiss specialist in accessible yet research-capable scanning-probe microscopy, serving academic research, industrial nanoscale metrology, life sciences, materials science, and education.
Research atomic force microscope · 2020
DriveAFM
Nanosurf's flagship research AFM platform, introduced in 2020. It uses closed-loop positioning and photothermal drive technology and is intended for advanced nanoscale research where controlled operation and flexible measurement capabilities are important. The system was recognized with a Wiley Analytical Science Award in 2023.
Research atomic force microscope
FlexAFM
A research AFM built around a flexure-stage scanner. It is aimed at versatile applications in materials science and life sciences, providing a platform for laboratories that need adaptable nanoscale surface and material-property measurements.
Research atomic force microscope
CoreAFM
A self-contained research AFM positioned as an affordable workhorse. Nanosurf describes it as supporting more than thirty operating modes, making it suitable for laboratories requiring a broad set of imaging and measurement techniques in a single instrument.
Educational and basic-research AFM
NaioAFM
A compact tabletop atomic force microscope continuing Nanosurf's early emphasis on accessible nanoscale imaging. It is intended for teaching, demonstrations, and basic research where a small and approachable AFM platform is appropriate.
Educational and basic-research STM
NaioSTM
A compact scanning tunneling microscope for education and basic research. It extends Nanosurf's tabletop instrument tradition into atomic-scale surface imaging and scanning-tunneling applications.
Industrial AFM metrology
Alphacen 300 Flex
An industrial AFM solution for large-sample and wafer inspection. The Alphacen range is designed for industrial metrology applications, including inspection of substrates up to 300 millimeters in size.
Industrial AFM metrology
Alphacen 200 Drive
An industrial atomic force microscopy platform in Nanosurf's Alphacen family. It is intended for automated or production-oriented nanoscale inspection and metrology.
Automated AFM system
Nanite
An automated AFM system associated with Nanosurf's industrial and integration-oriented development. The system received a Swiss Technology Award in 2007.
Microscopy integration and custom solutions
LensAFM and Flex-Mount
Platforms and integration products for incorporating AFM capabilities into upright optical microscopes or specialized industrial configurations. They reflect Nanosurf's provision of customized scanning-probe solutions beyond standalone instruments.
Marketing campaigns
- 1998Phoenix Mars AFM consortium
Planetary science · Space research · United States · Switzerland
Nanosurf collaborated with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Swiss university institutes to develop an AFM for the Phoenix Mars lander. The project required a compact, robust instrument with redundant microfabricated cantilevers and specialized scanning hardware.
Outcome. The instrument operated on Mars and returned the first atomic force microscopy image recorded on another planet.
Brand decisions
2020
Launch of the DriveAFM platformProduct launchBackground
Nanosurf continued its movement from compact educational instruments toward higher-performance research systems while retaining a broad application portfolio.
Action taken
The company introduced the DriveAFM, a closed-loop, photothermally driven AFM positioned as a flagship research instrument.
Aftermath
The platform later received the Wiley Analytical Science Award in 2023.
2008
Deployment of AFM technology on MarsOtherBackground
The Phoenix mission required nanoscale imaging equipment capable of surviving launch, interplanetary travel, landing, and operation on the Martian surface.
Action taken
Nanosurf supplied AFM technology as part of the Phoenix lander's scientific instrument suite.
Aftermath
The instrument successfully imaged a calibration grid and Martian dust, demonstrating the first AFM operation on another planet.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/nanosurf · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled