Force sensing probe for surface wettability characterization

A method for manufacturing a force sensing probe for sensing snap-in and/or pull-off force of a liquid droplet brought into and separated from contact with a hydrophobic sample surface, respectively, the method comprising operations of:

• providing a sensing tip and a sensor element connected to the sensing tip, the sensor element being capable of sensing sub-micronewton forces acting on the sensing tip in a measurement direction defined relative to the force sensing probe;
• providing a droplet holding plate having a first main surface and a hydrophilic second main surface for receiving and holding a liquid droplet as attached to the second main surface, the first and the second main surfaces being connected via a peripheral edge surface, the droplet holding plate comprising an electrically conductive surface layer, the first and the second main surfaces and the peripheral edge surface being defined by the surface layer;
• and
• attaching the droplet holding plate to the sensing tip via the first main surface, perpendicularly relative to the measurement direction.