Multifrequency Kelvin probe force microscopy on self assembled molecular layers and quantitative assessment of images’ quality

•The microprinted discontinues self organized monolayer as a KPFM reference sample is proposed.•The maximum information channel capacity (ICC) as a quantitative KPFM image quality metric is proposed.•A KPFM system with open architecture is used to investigate the performance of KPFM quality assessment.•The results strongly supports the hypothesis that soft modes of cantilever vibrations require lower amplitude of modulation voltage ensuring that the electric field is concentrated around the tip.•The concentrated electric field increases KPFM images resolution (bandwidth). The application of single-pass multifrequency Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) for topography and contact potential difference (CPD) measurements of organic self-assembled monolayers (SAM) is demonstrated. Four modes of mechanical and electrical cantilever excitation were tested in order to obtain the best possible resolution in the CPD measurements. The algorithm using maximum capacity of information channel for quantitative image quality assessment was proposed to compare and assess the quality of the recorded images and imaging modes. The improvement of the quality of CPD imaging in multiresonance operation was confirmed.