Very high resolution chemical imaging with Infrared Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (IR-SNOM).

In this paper we present chemically highly resolved images obtained with Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) coupled with an Infrared (IR) Free Electron Laser (FEL) at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA. Main principles governing SNOM imaging as well as essential components of the experimental setup are described. Chemically resolved images showing the distribution of different phases within the boron-nitride films are presented. Universal character of the experiment and its huge potential applications in biophysics and medical sciences domain are illustrated with highly resolved SNOM images of pancreatic cells.