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In this work, we have validated the application of Hertzian contact mechanics models and corrections in the framework of linear elasticity for the analysis of force vs indentation curves acquired using spherical indenters by means of finite elements simulations. We have systematically investigated the impact of both large indentations and vertical spatial confinement (bottom effect) on the accuracy of the nanomechanical analysis performed with the Hertz model for the parabolic indenter compared to the Sneddon model for the spherical indenter.We carried out a comprehensive characterization of the corrections for the Hertz model proposed in the literature in the framework of linearized force vs indentation curves, as well as a validation of a linearized form of the Sneddon model for the spherical indenter and of the combined correction for large indentations and bottom effect.Our results show that the corrected Hertz model in combination with the use of a spherical indenter allows to accurately quantify the Young's modulus of elasticity of linearly elastic samples and represent a powerful toolkit to analyse experimental data acquired using micrometre-sized colloidal probes on samples with variable thickness at arbitrarily large indentations., Comment: Supp. Info included

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool to investigate interaction forces at the micro and nanoscale. Cantilever stiffness, dimensions and geometry of the tip can be chosen according to the requirements of the specific application, in terms of spatial resolution and force sensitivity. Colloidal probes (CPs), obtained by attaching a spherical particle to a tipless (TL) cantilever, offer several advantages for accurate force measurements: tunable and well-characterisable radius; higher averaging capabilities (at the expense of spatial resolution) and sensitivity to weak interactions; a well-defined interaction geometry (sphere on flat), which allows accurate and reliable data fitting by means of analytical models. The dynamics of standard AFM probes has been widely investigated, and protocols have been developed for the calibration of the cantilever spring constant. Nevertheless the dynamics of CPs, and in particular of large CPs, with radius well above 10 um and mass comparable, or larger, than the cantilever mass, is at present still poorly characterised. Here we describe the fabrication and calibration of (large) CPs. We describe and discuss the peculiar dynamical behaviour of CPs, and present an alternative protocol for the accurate calibration of the spring constant., Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables