Yu J.-RChou H.-CYang C.-WWEI-SSU LIAOHwang I.-SChen C.2021-08-032021-08-032020346748https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85089132998&doi=10.1063%2f5.0009422&partnerID=40&md5=ba39c9ca066b219fcddfd1bb5535b3cchttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/575883We design and build a horizontal-type aperture based scanning near-field optical microscope (a-SNOM) with superior mechanical stability toward high-resolution and non-destructive topographic and optical imaging. We adopt the torsional mode in AFM (atomic force microscopy) operation to achieve a better force sensitivity and a higher topographic resolution when using pyramidal a-SNOM tips. The performance and stability of the AFM are evaluated through single-walled carbon nanotube and poly(3-hexyl-thiophene) nanowire samples. An optical resolution of 93 nm is deduced from the a-SNOM imaging of a metallic grating. Finally, a-SNOM fluorescence imaging of soft lipid domains is successfully achieved without sample damage by our horizontal-type a-SNOM instrument with torsional mode AFM operation. ? 2020 Author(s).Fluorescence imaging; Mechanical stability; Microscopes; Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCN); Soft materials; Design and build; Force sensitivity; High resolution; Metallic gratings; Non-destructive imaging; Optical imaging; Optical resolution; Poly-3-hexylthiophene; Atomic force microscopy[SDGs]SDG3journal article10.1063/5.0009422327528322-s2.0-85089132998