nc-AFM was the first form of AFM to achieve true atomic resolution images, rather than averaging over multiple contacts, both on non-reactive and reactive surfaces.
nc-AFM was the first form of microscopy to achieve subatomic resolution images, initially on tip atoms  and later on single iron adatoms on copper.
nc-AFM was the first technique to directly image chemical bonds in real space, see inset image. This resolution was achieved by picking up a single CO molecule on the apex of the tip.
nc-AFM has been used to probe the force interaction between a single pair of molecules.