CondenseScan

CondenseScan is a proposed non-contact imaging modality that maps surface structure and composition by guiding the condensation of a volatile liquid onto a specimen to form nanoscale droplets. By controlling vapor delivery and environmental conditions, droplets accumulate preferentially at surface features, providing contrast that can be read optically or electronically.

The technique uses a regulated humidified gas stream and a detection system such as interferometry, high-speed imaging, or fluorescence readouts to track droplet size, distribution, and motion. Scanning is achieved by moving either the sample or the gas stream, while computational reconstruction converts condensation signals into a height map and a chemical-contrast map. The condensate liquid can be tuned to optimize sensitivity.

Conceptual origins lie in surface science and droplet imaging; initial demonstrations appeared in theoretical studies and early experiments in the late 2010s, with more complete prototypes reported in academic labs in the 2020s. While experimental results illustrate proof of principle, CondenseScan remains primarily a research concept rather than a widely adopted technology.

Advantages include non-contact operation, gentle interaction with soft materials, and compatibility with ambient conditions. Limitations involve sensitivity to humidity and temperature, potential solvent exposure of samples, modest scan speeds, and the need for careful calibration and drift correction.

Applications span polymers, organic electronics, perovskites, two-dimensional materials, and biological interfaces where conventional probes risk perturbation. It may complement atomic force microscopy and optical imaging by providing condensation-based contrast in regions difficult for other techniques. See also related methods such as scanning-probe microscopy, condensation imaging, and droplet-based metrology.