ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE MARKET SIZE AND SHARE ANALYSIS - GROWTH TRENDS AND FORECASTS (2024-2031)

Atomic Force Microscope Market Size and Trends

The atomic force microscope Market is estimated to be valued at USD 602.4 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 837.6 Mn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% from 2024 to 2031.

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The atomic force microscope market is expected to witness a positive growth trend over the forecast period. The growing semiconductor and electronics industry and increasing use of atomic force microscope in the healthcare sector are expected to drive the market. Further, rising focus on developing high-resolution microscopes for applications, such as pathogen detection, protein mapping, and cell biology, is expected to support the growth of the atomic force microscope market during the forecast period. However, high cost of atomic force microscopes is a major factor that can hamper the growth of the market during the analysis period.

Increasing Demand from the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry

The increasing demand from the semiconductor and electronics industry is expected to be a key driver bolstering the growth of the atomic force microscope market over the forecast period. Atomic force microscopes have emerged as a critical tool to gain nanoscale insights into various materials and surfaces used in the manufacturing of semiconductors and electronic components. These microscopes allow manufacturers to examine and analyze microscopic defects as well as measure the thickness and surface roughness of thin film materials at an unprecedented resolution.

Given the ever-increasing miniaturization and integration of electronic components, manufacturers are under constant pressure to improve production processes, detect flaws, and ensure quality control at the nanolevel. Atomic force microscopes provide precise characterization of next-gen materials such as graphene and 2D materials that are revolutionizing the semiconductor industry. Various players in the industry extensively employ AFM to evaluate new material properties, gain quality control over manufacturing, and enable the development of more powerful and energy-efficient electronic devices. Furthermore, continual advances in consumer electronics and proliferation of IoT devices have also augmented the demand for more powerful yet smaller and efficient chips. This has significantly propelled the usage of atomic force microscopy in R&D as well as production facilities of chipmakers and electronics manufacturers.

For instance, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, a nano-technology solutions provider, offers AFM5300E that meets the needs of the semiconductor industry by enabling AFM measurement in vacuum environments, along with high-resolution electromagnetism measurements and observation of dopant distribution.

The rising adoption of atomic force microscopy in the field of nanotechnology and materials science is another key factor propelling the growth of the atomic force microscope market. Over the past few years, nanotechnology has emerged as one of the most important new general purpose technologies with widespread applications across various end-use industries including healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and consumer goods. Whether it is developing new materials with tailorable optical, electrical or mechanical properties or creating devices & systems with new functionalities, nanotechnology relies heavily on atomic force microscopy for characterization and analysis at the atomic scale.

AFM provides unmatched resolutions to visualize structures as small as individual atoms, gather topographic information on nano surfaces, and even manipulate matter at the nanoscale. It has, therefore, become indispensable for research associated with carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, DNA sequencing as well as developing novel biomedical devices. AFM also finds extensive usage in various nanofabrication processes to control feature sizes, etch depths and uniformity during etching and lithography steps.

For instance, Oxford Instruments Asylum Research offers Cypher VRS1250 video-rate atomic force microscope (AFM). Its higher speed will enable researchers to capture nanoscale details of dynamic events that were previously inaccessible, including biochemical reactions, 2D molecular self-assembly, and etch and dissolution processes and more.