Finite element modeling of trolling-mode AFM.

PubMed

Sajjadi, Mohammadreza; Pishkenari, Hossein Nejat; Vossoughi, Gholamreza

2018-06-01

Trolling mode atomic force microscopy (TR-AFM) has overcome many imaging problems in liquid environments by considerably reducing the liquid-resonator interaction forces. The finite element model of the TR-AFM resonator considering the effects of fluid and nanoneedle flexibility is presented in this research, for the first time. The model is verified by ABAQUS software. The effect of installation angle of the microbeam relative to the horizon and the effect of fluid on the system behavior are investigated. Using the finite element model, frequency response curve of the system is obtained and validated around the frequency of the operating mode by the available experimental results, in air and liquid. The changes in the natural frequencies in the presence of liquid are studied. The effects of tip-sample interaction on the excitation of higher order modes of the system are also investigated in air and liquid environments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase modulation atomic force microscope with true atomic resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuma, Takeshi; Kilpatrick, Jason I.; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

2006-12-01

We have developed a dynamic force microscope (DFM) working in a novel operation mode which is referred to as phase modulation atomic force microscopy (PM-AFM). PM-AFM utilizes a fixed-frequency excitation signal to drive a cantilever, which ensures stable imaging even with occasional tip crash and adhesion to the surface. The tip-sample interaction force is detected as a change of the phase difference between the cantilever deflection and excitation signals and hence the time response is not influenced by the Q factor of the cantilever. These features make PM-AFM more suitable for high-speed imaging than existing DFM techniques such as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation atomic force microscopies. Here we present the basic principle of PM-AFM and the theoretical limit of its performance. The design of the developed PM-AFM is described and its theoretically limited noise performance is demonstrated. Finally, we demonstrate the true atomic resolution imaging capability of the developed PM-AFM by imaging atomic-scale features of mica in water.

Estimation of polymer-surface interfacial interaction strength by a contact AFM technique.

PubMed

Dvir, H; Jopp, J; Gottlieb, M

2006-12-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements were employed to assess polymer-surface interfacial interaction strength. The main feature of the measurement is the use of contact-mode AFM as a tool to scratch off the polymer monolayer adsorbed on the solid surface. Tapping-mode AFM was used to determine the depth of the scraped recess. Independent determination of the layer thickness obtained from optical phase interference microscopy (OPIM) confirmed the depth of the AFM scratch. The force required for the complete removal of the polymer layer with no apparent damage to the substrate surface was determined. Polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (PE), and PP-grafted-maleic anhydride (PP-g-ma) were scraped off silane-treated glass slabs, and the strength of surface interaction of the polymer layer was determined. In all cases it was determined that the magnitude of surface interaction force is of the order of van der Waals (VDW) interactions. The interaction strength is influenced either by polymer ability to wet the surface (hydrophobic or hydrophilic interactions) or by hydrogen bonding between the polymer and the surface treatment.

Micromechanical contact stiffness devices and application for calibrating contact resonance atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Rosenberger, Matthew R; Chen, Sihan; Prater, Craig B; King, William P

2017-01-27

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of micromechanical devices that can present an engineered contact stiffness to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever tip. These devices allow the contact stiffness between the AFM tip and a substrate to be easily and accurately measured, and can be used to calibrate the cantilever for subsequent mechanical property measurements. The contact stiffness devices are rigid copper disks of diameters 2-18 μm integrated onto a soft silicone substrate. Analytical modeling and finite element simulations predict the elastic response of the devices. Measurements of tip-sample interactions during quasi-static force measurements compare well with modeling simulation, confirming the expected elastic response of the devices, which are shown to have contact stiffness 32-156 N m -1 . To demonstrate one application, we use the disk sample to calibrate three resonant modes of a U-shaped AFM cantilever actuated via Lorentz force, at approximately 220, 450, and 1200 kHz. We then use the calibrated cantilever to determine the contact stiffness and elastic modulus of three polymer samples at these modes. The overall approach allows cantilever calibration without prior knowledge of the cantilever geometry or its resonance modes, and could be broadly applied to both static and dynamic measurements that require AFM calibration against a known contact stiffness.

Micromechanical contact stiffness devices and application for calibrating contact resonance atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberger, Matthew R.; Chen, Sihan; Prater, Craig B.; King, William P.

2017-01-01

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of micromechanical devices that can present an engineered contact stiffness to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever tip. These devices allow the contact stiffness between the AFM tip and a substrate to be easily and accurately measured, and can be used to calibrate the cantilever for subsequent mechanical property measurements. The contact stiffness devices are rigid copper disks of diameters 2-18 μm integrated onto a soft silicone substrate. Analytical modeling and finite element simulations predict the elastic response of the devices. Measurements of tip-sample interactions during quasi-static force measurements compare well with modeling simulation, confirming the expected elastic response of the devices, which are shown to have contact stiffness 32-156 N m-1. To demonstrate one application, we use the disk sample to calibrate three resonant modes of a U-shaped AFM cantilever actuated via Lorentz force, at approximately 220, 450, and 1200 kHz. We then use the calibrated cantilever to determine the contact stiffness and elastic modulus of three polymer samples at these modes. The overall approach allows cantilever calibration without prior knowledge of the cantilever geometry or its resonance modes, and could be broadly applied to both static and dynamic measurements that require AFM calibration against a known contact stiffness.

The structure of [MnIII6 CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets deposited in submono-layers and monolayers on surfaces studied by means of molecular resolved atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy in UHV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinzmann, U.; Gryzia, A.; Volkmann, T.; Brechling, A.; Hoeke, V.; Glaser, T.

2014-04-01

Single molecule magnets (SMM) deposited in submonolayers and monolayers have been analyzed with respect to their structures by means of non-contact AFM (topographic as well as damping mode) and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with molecular resolution.

APOBEC3G Interacts with ssDNA by Two Modes: AFM Studies

PubMed Central

Shlyakhtenko, Luda S.; Dutta, Samrat; Banga, Jaspreet; Li, Ming; Harris, Reuben S.; Lyubchenko, Yuri L.

2015-01-01

APOBEC3G (A3G) protein has antiviral activity against HIV and other pathogenic retroviruses. A3G has two domains: a catalytic C-terminal domain (CTD) that deaminates cytidine, and a N-terminal domain (NTD) that binds to ssDNA. Although abundant information exists about the biological activities of A3G protein, the interplay between sequence specific deaminase activity and A3G binding to ssDNA remains controversial. We used the topographic imaging and force spectroscopy modalities of Atomic Force Spectroscopy (AFM) to characterize the interaction of A3G protein with deaminase specific and nonspecific ssDNA substrates. AFM imaging demonstrated that A3G has elevated affinity for deaminase specific ssDNA than for nonspecific ssDNA. AFM force spectroscopy revealed two distinct binding modes by which A3G interacts with ssDNA. One mode requires sequence specificity, as demonstrated by stronger and more stable complexes with deaminase specific ssDNA than with nonspecific ssDNA. Overall these observations enforce prior studies suggesting that both domains of A3G contribute to the sequence specific binding of ssDNA. PMID:26503602

A simple and efficient quasi 3-dimensional viscoelastic model and software for simulation of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Solares, Santiago D

2015-01-01

This paper introduces a quasi-3-dimensional (Q3D) viscoelastic model and software tool for use in atomic force microscopy (AFM) simulations. The model is based on a 2-dimensional array of standard linear solid (SLS) model elements. The well-known 1-dimensional SLS model is a textbook example in viscoelastic theory but is relatively new in AFM simulation. It is the simplest model that offers a qualitatively correct description of the most fundamental viscoelastic behaviors, namely stress relaxation and creep. However, this simple model does not reflect the correct curvature in the repulsive portion of the force curve, so its application in the quantitative interpretation of AFM experiments is relatively limited. In the proposed Q3D model the use of an array of SLS elements leads to force curves that have the typical upward curvature in the repulsive region, while still offering a very low computational cost. Furthermore, the use of a multidimensional model allows for the study of AFM tips having non-ideal geometries, which can be extremely useful in practice. Examples of typical force curves are provided for single- and multifrequency tapping-mode imaging, for both of which the force curves exhibit the expected features. Finally, a software tool to simulate amplitude and phase spectroscopy curves is provided, which can be easily modified to implement other controls schemes in order to aid in the interpretation of AFM experiments.

Simultaneous Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy with Microchanneled Cantilevers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ossola, Dario; Dorwling-Carter, Livie; Dermutz, Harald; Behr, Pascal; Vörös, János; Zambelli, Tomaso

2015-12-01

We combined scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) into a single tool using AFM cantilevers with an embedded microchannel flowing into the nanosized aperture at the apex of the hollow pyramid. An electrode was positioned in the AFM fluidic circuit connected to a second electrode in the bath. We could thus simultaneously measure the ionic current and the cantilever bending (in optical beam deflection mode). First, we quantitatively compared the SICM and AFM contact points on the approach curves. Second, we estimated where the probe in SICM mode touches the sample during scanning on a calibration grid and applied the finding to image a network of neurites on a Petri dish. Finally, we assessed the feasibility of a double controller using both the ionic current and the deflection as input signals of the piezofeedback. The experimental data were rationalized in the framework of finite elements simulations.

Application of Contact Mode AFM to Manufacturing Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giordano, Michael A.; Schmid, Steven R.

A review of the application of contact mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) to manufacturing processes is presented. A brief introduction to common experimental techniques including hardness, scratch, and wear testing is presented, with a discussion of challenges in the extension of manufacturing scale investigations to the AFM. Differences between the macro- and nanoscales tests are discussed, including indentation size effects and their importance in the simulation of processes such as grinding. The basics of lubrication theory are presented and friction force microscopy is introduced as a method of investigating metal forming lubrication on the nano- and microscales that directly simulates tooling/workpiece asperity interactions. These concepts are followed by a discussion of their application to macroscale industrial manufacturing processes and direct correlations are made.

Atomic Force Microscopy of Isolated Nanostructures: Biomolecular Imaging in Hydrated Environments - Status and Future Prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Sergio; Thomson, Neil H.

The use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) in ambient conditions has some key advantages for characterising isolated nanostructures over other operating environments. The lack of a bulk liquid environment minimises motion of the sample to maximise resolution, while humidity control allows retention of surface water, keeping biomolecules sufficiently hydrated. The use of relatively stiff cantilevers in air (k > 10 N/m) prevents significant energy being transferred to higher modes or frequencies. This enables reliable modelling of the cantilever dynamics with relatively straightforward point mass and spring models. We show herein that combining modelling with experiment leads to robust interpretation of dynamic AFM in air. This understanding has led to new ways of operation, including a true non-contact mode in ambient and small amplitude small set-point (SASS) modes. These modes will be important to gain quantitative information about structure and processes on the nanoscale. We also discuss interpretation of height information obtained from AFM on the nanoscale and summarise a framework for recovery of apparent height loss for nanostructures. A combination of these methods will lead to a new era of quantitative AFM for nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Direct Measurement of Optical Force Induced by Near-Field Plasmonic Cavity Using Dynamic Mode AFM

PubMed Central

Guan, Dongshi; Hang, Zhi Hong; Marcet, Zsolt; Liu, Hui; Kravchenko, I. I.; Chan, C. T.; Chan, H. B.; Tong, Penger

2015-01-01

Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted much attention in recent years because of their potential applications in optical manipulation through near-field enhancement. Continuing experimental efforts have been made to develop accurate techniques to directly measure the near-field optical force induced by the plasmonic nanostructures in the visible frequency range. In this work, we report a new application of dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (DM-AFM) in the measurement of the enhanced optical force acting on a nano-structured plasmonic resonant cavity. The plasmonic cavity is made of an upper gold-coated glass sphere and a lower quartz substrate patterned with an array of subwavelength gold disks. In the near-field when the sphere is positioned close to the disk array, plasmonic resonance is excited in the cavity and the induced force by a 1550 nm infrared laser is found to be increased by an order of magnitude compared with the photon pressure generated by the same laser light. The experiment demonstrates that DM-AFM is a powerful tool for the study of light induced forces and their enhancement in plasmonic nanostructures. PMID:26586455

Automated force controller for amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miyagi, Atsushi, E-mail: atsushi.miyagi@inserm.fr, E-mail: simon.scheuring@inserm.fr; Scheuring, Simon, E-mail: atsushi.miyagi@inserm.fr, E-mail: simon.scheuring@inserm.fr

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is widely used in physics, chemistry, and biology to analyze the topography of a sample at nanometer resolution. Controlling precisely the force applied by the AFM tip to the sample is a prerequisite for faithful and reproducible imaging. In amplitude modulation (oscillating) mode AFM, the applied force depends on the free and the setpoint amplitudes of the cantilever oscillation. Therefore, for keeping the applied force constant, not only the setpoint amplitude but also the free amplitude must be kept constant. While the AFM user defines the setpoint amplitude, the free amplitude is typically subject to uncontrollablemore » drift, and hence, unfortunately, the real applied force is permanently drifting during an experiment. This is particularly harmful in biological sciences where increased force destroys the soft biological matter. Here, we have developed a strategy and an electronic circuit that analyzes permanently the free amplitude of oscillation and readjusts the excitation to maintain the free amplitude constant. As a consequence, the real applied force is permanently and automatically controlled with picoNewton precision. With this circuit associated to a high-speed AFM, we illustrate the power of the development through imaging over long-duration and at various forces. The development is applicable for all AFMs and will widen the applicability of AFM to a larger range of samples and to a larger range of (non-specialist) users. Furthermore, from controlled force imaging experiments, the interaction strength between biomolecules can be analyzed.« less

Atomic Force Microscopy for Soil Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

gazze, andrea; doerr, stefan; dudley, ed; hallin, ingrid; matthews, peter; quinn, gerry; van keulen, geertje; francis, lewis

2016-04-01

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a high-resolution surface-sensitive technique, which provides 3-dimensional topographical information and material properties of both stiff and soft samples in their natural environments. Traditionally AFM has been applied to samples with low roughness: hence its use for soil analysis has been very limited so far. Here we report the optimization settings required for a standardization of high-resolution and artefact-free analysis of natural soil with AFM: soil immobilization, AFM probe selection, artefact recognition and minimization. Beyond topography, AFM can be used in a spectroscopic mode to evaluate nanomechanical properties, such as soil viscosity, stiffness, and deformation. In this regards, Bruker PeakForce-Quantitative NanoMechanical (QNM) AFM provides a fast and convenient way to extract physical properties from AFM force curves in real-time to obtain soil nanomechanical properties. Here we show for the first time the ability of AFM to describe the topography of natural soil at nanometre resolution, with observation of micro-components, such as clays, and of nano-structures, possibly of biotic origin, the visualization of which would prove difficult with other instrumentations. Finally, nanomechanical profiling has been applied to different wettability states in soil and the respective physical patterns are discussed.

Analytical Model of the Nonlinear Dynamics of Cantilever Tip-Sample Surface Interactions for Various Acoustic-Atomic Force Microscopies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cantrell, John H., Jr.; Cantrell, Sean A.

2008-01-01

A comprehensive analytical model of the interaction of the cantilever tip of the atomic force microscope (AFM) with the sample surface is developed that accounts for the nonlinearity of the tip-surface interaction force. The interaction is modeled as a nonlinear spring coupled at opposite ends to linear springs representing cantilever and sample surface oscillators. The model leads to a pair of coupled nonlinear differential equations that are solved analytically using a standard iteration procedure. Solutions are obtained for the phase and amplitude signals generated by various acoustic-atomic force microscope (A-AFM) techniques including force modulation microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy, ultrasonic force microscopy, heterodyne force microscopy, resonant difference-frequency atomic force ultrasonic microscopy (RDF-AFUM), and the commonly used intermittent contact mode (TappingMode) generally available on AFMs. The solutions are used to obtain a quantitative measure of image contrast resulting from variations in the Young modulus of the sample for the amplitude and phase images generated by the A-AFM techniques. Application of the model to RDF-AFUM and intermittent soft contact phase images of LaRC-cp2 polyimide polymer is discussed. The model predicts variations in the Young modulus of the material of 24 percent from the RDF-AFUM image and 18 percent from the intermittent soft contact image. Both predictions are in good agreement with the literature value of 21 percent obtained from independent, macroscopic measurements of sheet polymer material.

Increased imaging speed and force sensitivity for bio-applications with small cantilevers using a conventional AFM setup

PubMed Central

Leitner, Michael; Fantner, Georg E.; Fantner, Ernest J.; Ivanova, Katerina; Ivanov, Tzvetan; Rangelow, Ivo; Ebner, Andreas; Rangl, Martina; Tang, Jilin; Hinterdorfer, Peter

2012-01-01

In this study, we demonstrate the increased performance in speed and sensitivity achieved by the use of small AFM cantilevers on a standard AFM system. For this, small rectangular silicon oxynitride cantilevers were utilized to arrive at faster atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging times and more sensitive molecular recognition force spectroscopy (MRFS) experiments. The cantilevers we used had lengths between 13 and 46 μm, a width of about 11 μm, and a thickness between 150 and 600 nm. They were coated with chromium and gold on the backside for a better laser reflection. We characterized these small cantilevers through their frequency spectrum and with electron microscopy. Due to their small size and high resonance frequency we were able to increase the imaging speed by a factor of 10 without any loss in resolution for images from several μm scansize down to the nanometer scale. This was shown on bacterial surface layers (s-layer) with tapping mode under aqueous, near physiological conditions and on nuclear membranes in contact mode in ambient environment. In addition, we showed that single molecular forces can be measured with an up to 5 times higher force sensitivity in comparison to conventional cantilevers with similar spring constants. PMID:22721963

On the origin of amplitude reduction mechanism in tapping mode atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keyvani, Aliasghar; Sadeghian, Hamed; Goosen, Hans; van Keulen, Fred

2018-04-01

The origin of amplitude reduction in Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy (TM-AFM) is typically attributed to the shift in resonance frequency of the cantilever due to the nonlinear tip-sample interactions. In this paper, we present a different insight into the same problem which, besides explaining the amplitude reduction mechanism, provides a simple reasoning for the relationship between tip-sample interactions and operation parameters (amplitude and frequency). The proposed formulation, which attributes the amplitude reduction to an interference between the tip-sample and dither force, only deals with the linear part of the system; however, it fully agrees with experimental results and numerical solutions of the full nonlinear model of TM-AFM.

Pinning effects from substrate and AFM tip surfaces on interfacial nanobubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teshima, Hideaki; Takahashi, Koji; Takata, Yasuyuki; Nishiyama, Takashi

2017-11-01

Measurement accuracy of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is vital to understand the mechanism of interfacial nanobubbles. In this study, we report the influence of pinning derived from both substrate and AFM tip surfaces on the measured shape of interfacial nanobubbles in peak force tapping mode. First, we pushed the nanobubbles using the AFM tip with high peak force setpoint. As a result, the deformed nanobubbles kept their flat shape for several tens of minutes. We quantitatively discuss the pinning force from substrate surface, which retains the flat shape enhancing the stability of nanobubbles. Next, we prepared three AFM tips with different wettability and measured the nanobubbles with an identical setpoint. By comparing the force curves obtained during the measurements, it seems that the (middle-)hydrophobic tips penetrated the liquid/gas interface and received repulsive force resulting from positive meniscus formed by pinning at the tip surface. In contrast, hydrophilic tip didn't penetrate the interface and received the force from the deformation of the interface of the nanobubbles. In addition, the measurements using the (middle-)hydrophobic tips led to the underestimation of the nanobubbles profile corresponding to the pinning position at the tip surfaces.

Breaking the Time Barrier in Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy: Fast Free Force Reconstruction Using the G-Mode Platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collins, Liam; Ahmadi, Mahshid; Wu, Ting

The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers unparalleled insight into structure and material functionality across nanometer length scales. However, the spatial resolution afforded by the AFM tip is counterpoised by slow detection speeds compared to other common microscopy techniques (e.g. optical, scanning electron microscopy etc.). In this work, we develop an AFM imaging approach allowing ultrafast reconstruction of the tip-sample forces having ~2 orders of magnitude higher time resolution than standard detection methods. Fast free force recovery (F3R) overcomes the widely-viewed temporal bottleneck in AFM, i.e. the mechanical bandwidth of the cantilever, enabling time-resolved imaging at sub-bandwidth speeds. We demonstrate quantitativemore » recovery of electrostatic forces with ~10 µs temporal resolution, free from cantilever ring-down effects. We further apply the F3R method to Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements. F3R-KPFM is an open loop imaging approach (i.e. no bias feedback), allowing ultrafast surface potential measurements (e.g. < 20 µs) to be performed at regular KPFM scan speeds. F3R-KPFM is demonstrated for exploration of ion migration in organometallic halide perovskites materials and shown to allow spatio-temporal imaging of positively charged ion migration under applied electric field, as well as subsequent formation of accumulated charges at the perovskite/electrode interface. In this work we demonstrate quantitative F3R-KPFM measurements – however, we fully expect the F3R approach to be valid for all modes of non-contact AFM operation, including non-invasive probing of ultrafast electrical and magnetic dynamics.« less

Breaking the Time Barrier in Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy: Fast Free Force Reconstruction Using the G-Mode Platform

DOE PAGES

Collins, Liam; Ahmadi, Mahshid; Wu, Ting; ...

2017-08-06

The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers unparalleled insight into structure and material functionality across nanometer length scales. However, the spatial resolution afforded by the AFM tip is counterpoised by slow detection speeds compared to other common microscopy techniques (e.g. optical, scanning electron microscopy etc.). In this work, we develop an AFM imaging approach allowing ultrafast reconstruction of the tip-sample forces having ~2 orders of magnitude higher time resolution than standard detection methods. Fast free force recovery (F3R) overcomes the widely-viewed temporal bottleneck in AFM, i.e. the mechanical bandwidth of the cantilever, enabling time-resolved imaging at sub-bandwidth speeds. We demonstrate quantitativemore » recovery of electrostatic forces with ~10 µs temporal resolution, free from cantilever ring-down effects. We further apply the F3R method to Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements. F3R-KPFM is an open loop imaging approach (i.e. no bias feedback), allowing ultrafast surface potential measurements (e.g. < 20 µs) to be performed at regular KPFM scan speeds. F3R-KPFM is demonstrated for exploration of ion migration in organometallic halide perovskites materials and shown to allow spatio-temporal imaging of positively charged ion migration under applied electric field, as well as subsequent formation of accumulated charges at the perovskite/electrode interface. In this work we demonstrate quantitative F3R-KPFM measurements – however, we fully expect the F3R approach to be valid for all modes of non-contact AFM operation, including non-invasive probing of ultrafast electrical and magnetic dynamics.« less

Direct measurement of optical force induced by near-field plasmonic cavity using dynamic mode AFM

DOE PAGES

Guan, Dongshi; Hang, Zhi Hong; Marset, Zsolt; ...

2015-11-20

Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted much attention in recent years because of their potential applications in optical manipulation through near-field enhancement. Continuing experimental efforts have been made to develop accurate techniques to directly measure the near-field optical force induced by the plasmonic nanostructures in the visible frequency range. In this work, we report a new application of dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (DM-AFM) in the measurement of the enhanced optical force acting on a nano-structured plasmonic resonant cavity. The plasmonic cavity is made of an upper gold-coated glass sphere and a lower quartz substrate patterned with an array of subwavelength goldmore » disks. In the near-field when the sphere is positioned close to the disk array, plasmonic resonance is excited in the cavity and the induced force by a 1550 nm infrared laser is found to be increased by an order of magnitude compared with the photon pressure generated by the same laser light. Lastly, the experiment demonstrates that DM-AFM is a powerful tool for the study of light induced forces and their enhancement in plasmonic nanostructures.« less

Probing viscoelastic surfaces with bimodal tapping-mode atomic force microscopy: Underlying physics and observables for a standard linear solid model.

PubMed

Solares, Santiago D

2014-01-01

This paper presents computational simulations of single-mode and bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) with particular focus on the viscoelastic interactions occurring during tip-sample impact. The surface is modeled by using a standard linear solid model, which is the simplest system that can reproduce creep compliance and stress relaxation, which are fundamental behaviors exhibited by viscoelastic surfaces. The relaxation of the surface in combination with the complexities of bimodal tip-sample impacts gives rise to unique dynamic behaviors that have important consequences with regards to the acquisition of quantitative relationships between the sample properties and the AFM observables. The physics of the tip-sample interactions and its effect on the observables are illustrated and discussed, and a brief research outlook on viscoelasticity measurement with intermittent-contact AFM is provided.

Optimizing atomic force microscopy for characterization of diamond-protein interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezek, Bohuslav; Ukraintsev, Egor; Kromka, Alexander

2011-12-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode and tapping mode is employed for high resolution studies of soft organic molecules (fetal bovine serum proteins) on hard inorganic diamond substrates in solution and air. Various effects in morphology and phase measurements related to the cantilever spring constant, amplitude of tip oscillations, surface approach, tip shape and condition are demonstrated and discussed based on the proposed schematic models. We show that both diamond and proteins can be mechanically modified by Si AFM cantilever. We propose how to choose suitable cantilever type, optimize scanning parameters, recognize and minimize various artifacts, and obtain reliable AFM data both in solution and in air to reveal microscopic characteristics of protein-diamond interfaces. We also suggest that monocrystalline diamond is well defined substrate that can be applicable for fundamental studies of molecules on surfaces in general.

Nanoscale effects in the characterization of viscoelastic materials with atomic force microscopy: coupling of a quasi-three-dimensional standard linear solid model with in-plane surface interactions.

PubMed

Solares, Santiago D

2016-01-01

Significant progress has been accomplished in the development of experimental contact-mode and dynamic-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods designed to measure surface material properties. However, current methods are based on one-dimensional (1D) descriptions of the tip-sample interaction forces, thus neglecting the intricacies involved in the material behavior of complex samples (such as soft viscoelastic materials) as well as the differences in material response between the surface and the bulk. In order to begin to address this gap, a computational study is presented where the sample is simulated using an enhanced version of a recently introduced model that treats the surface as a collection of standard-linear-solid viscoelastic elements. The enhanced model introduces in-plane surface elastic forces that can be approximately related to a two-dimensional (2D) Young's modulus. Relevant cases are discussed for single- and multifrequency intermittent-contact AFM imaging, with focus on the calculated surface indentation profiles and tip-sample interaction force curves, as well as their implications with regards to experimental interpretation. A variety of phenomena are examined in detail, which highlight the need for further development of more physically accurate sample models that are specifically designed for AFM simulation. A multifrequency AFM simulation tool based on the above sample model is provided as supporting information.

Magnetoelectric versus thermal actuation characteristics of shear force AFM probes with piezoresistive detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sierakowski, Andrzej; Kopiec, Daniel; Majstrzyk, Wojciech; Kunicki, Piotr; Janus, Paweł; Dobrowolski, Rafał; Grabiec, Piotr; Rangelow, Ivo W.; Gotszalk, Teodor

2017-03-01

In this paper the authors compare methods used for piezoresistive microcantilevers actuation for the atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging in the dynamic shear force mode. The piezoresistive detection is an attractive technique comparing the optical beam detection of deflection. The principal advantage is that no external alignment of optical source and detector are needed. When the microcantilever is deflected, the stress is transferred into a change of resistivity of piezoresistors. The integration of piezoresistive read-out provides a promising solution in realizing a compact non-contact AFM. Resolution of piezoresistive read-out is limited by three main noise sources: Johnson, 1/f and thermomechanical noise. In the dynamic shear force mode measurement the method used for cantilever actuation will also affect the recorded noise in the piezoresistive detection circuit. This is the result of a crosstalk between an aluminium path (current loop used for actuation) and piezoresistors located near the base of the beam. In this paper authors described an elaborated in ITE (Institute of Electron Technology) technology of fabrication cantilevers with piezoresistive detection of deflection and compared efficiency of two methods used for cantilever actuation.

Atomic force microscopy of red-light photoreceptors using peakforce quantitative nanomechanical property mapping.

PubMed

Kroeger, Marie E; Sorenson, Blaire A; Thomas, J Santoro; Stojković, Emina A; Tsonchev, Stefan; Nicholson, Kenneth T

2014-10-24

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) uses a pyramidal tip attached to a cantilever to probe the force response of a surface. The deflections of the tip can be measured to ~10 pN by a laser and sectored detector, which can be converted to image topography. Amplitude modulation or "tapping mode" AFM involves the probe making intermittent contact with the surface while oscillating at its resonant frequency to produce an image. Used in conjunction with a fluid cell, tapping-mode AFM enables the imaging of biological macromolecules such as proteins in physiologically relevant conditions. Tapping-mode AFM requires manual tuning of the probe and frequent adjustments of a multitude of scanning parameters which can be challenging for inexperienced users. To obtain high-quality images, these adjustments are the most time consuming. PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping (PF-QNM) produces an image by measuring a force response curve for every point of contact with the sample. With ScanAsyst software, PF-QNM can be automated. This software adjusts the set-point, drive frequency, scan rate, gains, and other important scanning parameters automatically for a given sample. Not only does this process protect both fragile probes and samples, it significantly reduces the time required to obtain high resolution images. PF-QNM is compatible for AFM imaging in fluid; therefore, it has extensive application for imaging biologically relevant materials. The method presented in this paper describes the application of PF-QNM to obtain images of a bacterial red-light photoreceptor, RpBphP3 (P3), from photosynthetic R. palustris in its light-adapted state. Using this method, individual protein dimers of P3 and aggregates of dimers have been observed on a mica surface in the presence of an imaging buffer. With appropriate adjustments to surface and/or solution concentration, this method may be generally applied to other biologically relevant macromolecules and soft materials.

Bi-harmonic cantilever design for improved measurement sensitivity in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Loganathan, Muthukumaran; Bristow, Douglas A

2014-04-01

This paper presents a method and cantilever design for improving the mechanical measurement sensitivity in the atomic force microscopy (AFM) tapping mode. The method uses two harmonics in the drive signal to generate a bi-harmonic tapping trajectory. Mathematical analysis demonstrates that the wide-valley bi-harmonic tapping trajectory is as much as 70% more sensitive to changes in the sample topography than the standard single-harmonic trajectory typically used. Although standard AFM cantilevers can be driven in the bi-harmonic tapping trajectory, they require large forcing at the second harmonic. A design is presented for a bi-harmonic cantilever that has a second resonant mode at twice its first resonant mode, thereby capable of generating bi-harmonic trajectories with small forcing signals. Bi-harmonic cantilevers are fabricated by milling a small cantilever on the interior of a standard cantilever probe using a focused ion beam. Bi-harmonic drive signals are derived for standard cantilevers and bi-harmonic cantilevers. Experimental results demonstrate better than 30% improvement in measurement sensitivity using the bi-harmonic cantilever. Images obtained through bi-harmonic tapping exhibit improved sharpness and surface tracking, especially at high scan speeds and low force fields.

Analyzing the vibrational response of an AFM cantilever in liquid with the consideration of tip mass by comparing the hydrodynamic and contact repulsive force models in higher modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korayem, Moharam Habibnejad; Nahavandi, Amir

2017-04-01

This paper investigates the vibration of a tapping-mode Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilever covered with two whole piezoelectric layers in a liquid medium. The authors of this article have already modeled the vibration of a cantilever immersed in liquid over rough surfaces. Five new ideas have been considered for improving the results of the previous work. Mass and damping of a cantilever probe tip have been considered. Since the probe tip of an AFM cantilever has a mass, which can itself affect the natural frequency of vibration, the significance of this mass has been explored. Also, two hydrodynamic force models for analyzing the mass and damping added to a cantilever in liquid medium have been evaluated. In modeling the vibration of a cantilever in liquid, simplifications are made to the theoretical equations used in the modeling, which may make the obtained results different from those in the real case. So, two hydrodynamic force models are introduced and compared with each other. In addition to the already introduced DMT model, the JKR model has been proposed. The forces acting on a probe tip have attractive and repulsive effects. The attractive Van der Waals force can vary depending on the surface smoothness or roughness, and the repulsive contact force, which is independent of the type of surface roughness and usually varies with the hardness or softness of a surface. When the first mode is used in the vibration of an AFM cantilever, the changes of the existing physical parameters in the simulation do not usually produce a significant difference in the response. Thus, three cantilever vibration modes have been investigated. Finally, an analytical approach for obtaining the response of equations is presented which solves the resulting motion equation by the Laplace method and, thus, a time function is obtained for cantilever deflection is determined. Also, using the COMSOL software to model a cantilever in a liquid medium, the computed natural frequencies have been compared.

Probing viscoelastic surfaces with bimodal tapping-mode atomic force microscopy: Underlying physics and observables for a standard linear solid model

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Summary This paper presents computational simulations of single-mode and bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) with particular focus on the viscoelastic interactions occurring during tip–sample impact. The surface is modeled by using a standard linear solid model, which is the simplest system that can reproduce creep compliance and stress relaxation, which are fundamental behaviors exhibited by viscoelastic surfaces. The relaxation of the surface in combination with the complexities of bimodal tip–sample impacts gives rise to unique dynamic behaviors that have important consequences with regards to the acquisition of quantitative relationships between the sample properties and the AFM observables. The physics of the tip–sample interactions and its effect on the observables are illustrated and discussed, and a brief research outlook on viscoelasticity measurement with intermittent-contact AFM is provided. PMID:25383277

Physical-mechanical image of the cell surface on the base of AFM data in contact mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starodubtseva, M. N.; Starodubtsev, I. E.; Yegorenkov, N. I.; Kuzhel, N. S.; Konstantinova, E. E.; Chizhik, S. A.

2017-10-01

Physical and mechanical properties of the cell surface are well-known markers of a cell state. The complex of the parameters characterizing the cell surface properties, such as the elastic modulus (E), the parameters of adhesive (Fa), and friction (Ff) forces can be measured using atomic force microscope (AFM) in a contact mode and form namely the physical-mechanical image of the cell surface that is a fundamental element of the cell mechanical phenotype. The paper aims at forming the physical-mechanical images of the surface of two types of glutaraldehyde-fixed cancerous cells (human epithelial cells of larynx carcinoma, HEp-2c cells, and breast adenocarcinoma, MCF-7 cells) based on the data obtained by AFM in air and revealing the basic difference between them. The average values of friction, elastic and adhesive forces, and the roughness of lateral force maps, as well as dependence of the fractal dimension of lateral force maps on Z-scale factor have been studied. We have revealed that the response of microscale areas of the HEp-2c cell surface having numerous microvilli to external mechanical forces is less expressed and more homogeneous in comparison with the response of MCF-7 cell surface.

A simulation of atomic force microscope microcantilever in the tapping mode utilizing couple stress theory.

PubMed

Abbasi, Mohammad

2018-04-01

The nonlinear vibration behavior of a Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) microcantilever under acoustic excitation force has been modeled and investigated. In dynamic AFM, the tip-surface interactions are strongly nonlinear, rapidly changing and hysteretic. First, the governing differential equation of motion and boundary conditions for dynamic analysis are obtained using the modified couple stress theory. Afterwards, closed-form expressions for nonlinear frequency and effective nonlinear damping ratio are derived utilizing perturbation method. The effect of tip connection position on the vibration behavior of the microcantilever are also analyzed. The results show that nonlinear frequency is size dependent. According to the results, an increase in the equilibrium separation between the tip and the sample surface reduces the overall effect of van der Waals forces on the nonlinear frequency, but its effect on the effective nonlinear damping ratio is negligible. The results also indicate that both the change in the distance between tip and cantilever free end and the reduction of tip radius have significant effects on the accuracy and sensitivity of the TM-AFM in the measurement of surface forces. The hysteretic behavior has been observed in the near resonance frequency response due to softening and hardening of the forced vibration response. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solidification of a liquid crystal: Morphologies and transitions. Ph.D. thesis, Simon Fraser University (Canada)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutter, Jeffrey Lee

When a material freezes, the form it takes depends on the solidification conditions. For instance, as the undercooling is increased, one typically sees solidification into less-ordered forms. The resulting growth modes appear to be generic, with qualitative similarities between systems whose microscopic details are quite dissimilar. I have used both optical and atomic-force microscopy to study the transitions between different growth morphologies during the solidification of a particular liquid crystal, 10 OCB. We have observed six different solidification modes, each with a distinct micro and meso structure. The front-velocity-vs.-undercooling curve has a discontinuity in its slope and, in some cases, in the curve itself at mode transitions, suggesting that these transitions are analogous to phase transitions. Such transitions have been seen in other systems, but no general rule has been found that can predict which morphology will be selected. We show that, contrary to intuition and widespread speculation, the fastest-growing mode is not always the one selected. One of the growth modes exhibited by 10 OCB is known as banded spherulitic growth. Spherulites have been seen in a wide variety of materials including minerals, pure elements, polymers, biomolecules, and metal alloys. However, despite a century of study, there is no generally accepted theory of spherulitic growth. In particular, the cause of the concentric banding seen in many spherulites remains a mystery. Our studies of banded spherulites in 10 OCB using both optical and atomic-force microscopy show that the bands are associated with a density modulation and thus are not merely the result of a birefringent effect, as is commonly believed. As the atomic-force microscope (AFM) is a relatively new tool, some time was spent studying its capabilities. We found that because the AFM resolution is largely determined by attractive forces between the tip of the probe and the sample, resolution can be improved by imaging in a suitable liquid medium. We also developed a simple method for calibrating AFM cantilevers--a crucial step in using the AFM to obtain quantitative force data. This work is presented in an appendix.

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy: a dynamic measurement technique for biological systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higgins, Michael J.; Riener, Christian K.; Uchihashi, Takayuki; Sader, John E.; McKendry, Rachel; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

2005-03-01

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) has been modified to operate in a liquid environment within an atomic force microscope specifically designed for investigating biological samples. We demonstrate the applicability of FM-AFM to biological samples using the spectroscopy mode to measure the unbinding forces of a single receptor-ligand (biotin-avidin) interaction. We show that quantitative adhesion force measurements can only be obtained provided certain modifications are made to the existing theory, which is used to convert the detected frequency shifts to an interaction force. Quantitative force measurements revealed that the unbinding forces for the biotin-avidin interaction were greater than those reported in previous studies. This finding was due to the use of high average tip velocities, which were calculated to be two orders of magnitude greater than those typically used in unbinding receptor-ligand experiments. This study therefore highlights the potential use of FM-AFM to study a range of biological systems, including living cells and/or single biomolecule interactions.

Functionalized AFM probes for force spectroscopy: eigenmode shapes and stiffness calibration through thermal noise measurements.

PubMed

Laurent, Justine; Steinberger, Audrey; Bellon, Ludovic

2013-06-07

The functionalization of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever with a colloidal bead is a widely used technique when the geometry between the probe and the sample must be controlled, particularly in force spectroscopy. But some questions remain: how does a bead glued at the end of a cantilever influence its mechanical response? And more importantly for quantitative measurements, can we still determine the stiffness of the AFM probe with traditional techniques?In this paper, the influence of the colloidal mass loading on the eigenmode shape and resonant frequency is investigated by measuring the thermal noise on rectangular AFM microcantilevers with and without beads attached at their extremities. The experiments are performed with a home-made ultra-sensitive AFM, based on differential interferometry. The focused beam from the interferometer probes the cantilever at different positions and the spatial shapes of the modes are determined up to the fifth resonance, without external excitation. The results clearly demonstrate that the first eigenmode is almost unchanged by mass loading. However the oscillation behavior of higher resonances presents a marked difference: with a particle glued at its extremity, the nodes of the modes are displaced towards the free end of the cantilever. These results are compared to an analytical model taking into account the mass and inertial moment of the load in an Euler-Bernoulli framework, where the normalization of the eigenmodes is explicitly worked out in order to allow a quantitative prediction of the thermal noise amplitude of each mode. A good agreement between the experimental results and the analytical model is demonstrated, allowing a clean calibration of the probe stiffness.

Characterization of Structural and Configurational Properties of DNA by Atomic Force Microscopy.

PubMed

Meroni, Alice; Lazzaro, Federico; Muzi-Falconi, Marco; Podestà, Alessandro

2018-01-01

We describe a method to extract quantitative information on DNA structural and configurational properties from high-resolution topographic maps recorded by atomic force microscopy (AFM). DNA molecules are deposited on mica surfaces from an aqueous solution, carefully dehydrated, and imaged in air in Tapping Mode. Upon extraction of the spatial coordinates of the DNA backbones from AFM images, several parameters characterizing DNA structure and configuration can be calculated. Here, we explain how to obtain the distribution of contour lengths, end-to-end distances, and gyration radii. This modular protocol can be also used to characterize other statistical parameters from AFM topographies.

Nanoscale effects in the characterization of viscoelastic materials with atomic force microscopy: Coupling of a quasi-three-dimensional standard linear solid model with in-plane surface interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Solares, Santiago D.

Significant progress has been accomplished in the development of experimental contact-mode and dynamic-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods designed to measure surface material properties. However, current methods are based on one-dimensional (1D) descriptions of the tip-sample interaction forces, thus neglecting the intricacies involved in the material behavior of complex samples (such as soft viscoelastic materials) as well as the differences in material response between the surface and the bulk. In order to begin to address this gap, a computational study is presented where the sample is simulated using an enhanced version of a recently introduced model that treats the surfacemore » as a collection of standard-linear-solid viscoelastic elements. The enhanced model introduces in-plane surface elastic forces that can be approximately related to a two-dimensional (2D) Young's modulus. Relevant cases are discussed for single-and multifrequency intermittent-contact AFM imaging, with focus on the calculated surface indentation profiles and tip-sample interaction force curves, as well as their implications with regards to experimental interpretation. A variety of phenomena are examined in detail, which highlight the need for further development of more physically accurate sample models that are specifically designed for AFM simulation. As a result, a multifrequency AFM simulation tool based on the above sample model is provided as supporting information.« less

Nanoscale effects in the characterization of viscoelastic materials with atomic force microscopy: Coupling of a quasi-three-dimensional standard linear solid model with in-plane surface interactions

DOE PAGES

Solares, Santiago D.

2016-04-15

Significant progress has been accomplished in the development of experimental contact-mode and dynamic-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods designed to measure surface material properties. However, current methods are based on one-dimensional (1D) descriptions of the tip-sample interaction forces, thus neglecting the intricacies involved in the material behavior of complex samples (such as soft viscoelastic materials) as well as the differences in material response between the surface and the bulk. In order to begin to address this gap, a computational study is presented where the sample is simulated using an enhanced version of a recently introduced model that treats the surfacemore » as a collection of standard-linear-solid viscoelastic elements. The enhanced model introduces in-plane surface elastic forces that can be approximately related to a two-dimensional (2D) Young's modulus. Relevant cases are discussed for single-and multifrequency intermittent-contact AFM imaging, with focus on the calculated surface indentation profiles and tip-sample interaction force curves, as well as their implications with regards to experimental interpretation. A variety of phenomena are examined in detail, which highlight the need for further development of more physically accurate sample models that are specifically designed for AFM simulation. As a result, a multifrequency AFM simulation tool based on the above sample model is provided as supporting information.« less

High-speed AFM and the reduction of tip-sample forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miles, Mervyn; Sharma, Ravi; Picco, Loren

High-speed DC-mode AFM has been shown to be routinely capable of imaging at video rate, and, if required, at over 1000 frames per second. At sufficiently high tip-sample velocities in ambient conditions, the tip lifts off the sample surface in a superlubricity process which reduces the level of shear forces imposed on the sample by the tip and therefore reduces the potential damage and distortion of the sample being imaged. High-frequency mechanical oscillations, both lateral and vertical, have been reported to reduced the tip-sample frictional forces. We have investigated the effect of combining linear high-speed scanning with these small amplitude high-frequency oscillations with the aim of reducing further the force interaction in high-speed imaging. Examples of this new version of high-speed AFM imaging will be presented for biological samples.

A single-cell scraper based on an atomic force microscope for detaching a living cell from a substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iwata, Futoshi, E-mail: iwata.futoshi@shizuoka.ac.jp; Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu 432-8011; Adachi, Makoto

We describe an atomic force microscope (AFM) manipulator that can detach a single, living adhesion cell from its substrate without compromising the cell's viability. The micrometer-scale cell scraper designed for this purpose was fabricated from an AFM micro cantilever using focused ion beam milling. The homemade AFM equipped with the scraper was compact and standalone and could be mounted on a sample stage of an inverted optical microscope. It was possible to move the scraper using selectable modes of operation, either a manual mode with a haptic device or a computer-controlled mode. The viability of the scraped single cells wasmore » evaluated using a fluorescence dye of calcein-acetoxymethl ester. Single cells detached from the substrate were collected by aspiration into a micropipette capillary glass using an electro-osmotic pump. As a demonstration, single HeLa cells were selectively detached from the substrate and collected by the micropipette. It was possible to recultivate HeLa cells from the single cells collected using the system.« less

Wettability of AFM tip influences the profile of interfacial nanobubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teshima, Hideaki; Takahashi, Koji; Takata, Yasuyuki; Nishiyama, Takashi

2018-02-01

To accurately characterize the shape of interfacial nanobubbles using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we investigated the effect of wettability of the AFM tip while operating in the peak force tapping (PFT) mode. The AFM tips were made hydrophobic and hydrophilic by Teflon AF coating and oxygen plasma treatment, respectively. It was found that the measured base radius of nanobubbles differed between AFM height images and adhesion images, and that this difference depended on the tip wettability. The force curves obtained during the measurements were also different depending on the wettability, especially in the range of the tip/nanobubble interaction and in the magnitude of the maximum attractive force in the retraction period. The difference suggests that hydrophobic tips penetrate the gas/liquid interface of the nanobubbles, with the three phase contact line being pinned on the tip surface; hydrophilic tips on the other hand do not penetrate the interface. We then quantitatively estimated the pinning position and recalculated the true profiles of the nanobubbles by comparing the height images and adhesion images. As the AFM tip was made more hydrophilic, the penetration depth decreased and eventually approached zero. This result suggests that the PFT measurement using a hydrophilic tip is vital for the acquisition of reliable nanobubble profiles.

Correlation between surface morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica.

PubMed Central

Ohnishi, S; Murata, M; Hato, M

1998-01-01

We have investigated the morphology and surface forces of protein A adsorbed on mica surface in the protein solutions of various concentrations. The force-distance curves, measured with a surface force apparatus (SFA), were interpreted in terms of two different regimens: a "large-distance" regimen in which an electrostatic double-layer force dominates, and an "adsorbed layer" regimen in which a force of steric origin dominates. To further clarify the forces of steric origin, the surface morphology of the adsorbed protein layer was investigated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) because the steric repulsive forces are strongly affected by the adsorption mode of protein A molecules on mica. At lower protein concentrations (2 ppm, 10 ppm), protein A molecules were adsorbed "side-on" parallel to the mica surfaces, forming a monolayer of approximately 2.5 nm. AFM images at higher concentrations (30 ppm, 100 ppm) showed protruding structures over the monolayer, which revealed that the adsorbed protein A molecules had one end oriented into the solution, with the remainder of each molecule adsorbed side-on to the mica surface. These extending ends of protein A overlapped each other and formed a "quasi-double layer" over the mica surface. These AFM images proved the existence of a monolayer of protein A molecules at low concentrations and a "quasi-double layer" with occasional protrusions at high concentrations, which were consistent with the adsorption mode observed in the force-distance curves. PMID:9449346

Atomic force microscope image contrast mechanisms on supported lipid bilayers.

PubMed

Schneider, J; Dufrêne, Y F; Barger, W R; Lee, G U

2000-08-01

This work presents a methodology to measure and quantitatively interpret force curves on supported lipid bilayers in water. We then use this method to correlate topographic imaging contrast in atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of phase-separated Langmuir-Blodgett bilayers with imaging load. Force curves collected on pure monolayers of both distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and monogalactosylethanolamine (MGDG) and dioleoylethanolamine (DOPE) deposited at similar surface pressures onto a monolayer of DSPE show an abrupt breakthrough event at a repeatable, material-dependent force. The breakthrough force for DSPE and MGDG is sizable, whereas the breakthrough force for DOPE is too small to measure accurately. Contact-mode AFM images on 1:1 mixed monolayers of DSPE/DOPE and MGDG/DOPE have a high topographic contrast at loads between the breakthrough force of each phase, and a low topographic contrast at loads above the breakthrough force of both phases. Frictional contrast is inverted and magnified at loads above the breakthrough force of both phases. These results emphasize the important role that surface forces and mechanics can play in imaging multicomponent biomembranes with AFM.

Two-probe atomic-force microscope manipulator and its applications.

PubMed

Zhukov, A A; Stolyarov, V S; Kononenko, O V

2017-06-01

We report on a manipulator based on a two-probe atomic force microscope (AFM) with an individual feedback system for each probe. This manipulator works under an upright optical microscope with 3 mm focal distance. The design of the microscope helps us tomanipulate nanowires using the microscope probes as a two-prong fork. The AFM feedback is realized based on the dynamic full-time contact mode. The applications of the manipulator and advantages of its two-probe design are presented.

Optimizing 1-μs-Resolution Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy on a Commercial Atomic Force Microscope.

PubMed

Edwards, Devin T; Faulk, Jaevyn K; Sanders, Aric W; Bull, Matthew S; Walder, Robert; LeBlanc, Marc-Andre; Sousa, Marcelo C; Perkins, Thomas T

2015-10-14

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is widely used to mechanically measure the folding and unfolding of proteins. However, the temporal resolution of a standard commercial cantilever is 50-1000 μs, masking rapid transitions and short-lived intermediates. Recently, SMFS with 0.7-μs temporal resolution was achieved using an ultrashort (L = 9 μm) cantilever on a custom-built, high-speed AFM. By micromachining such cantilevers with a focused ion beam, we optimized them for SMFS rather than tapping-mode imaging. To enhance usability and throughput, we detected the modified cantilevers on a commercial AFM retrofitted with a detection laser system featuring a 3-μm circular spot size. Moreover, individual cantilevers were reused over multiple days. The improved capabilities of the modified cantilevers for SMFS were showcased by unfolding a polyprotein, a popular biophysical assay. Specifically, these cantilevers maintained a 1-μs response time while eliminating cantilever ringing (Q ≅ 0.5). We therefore expect such cantilevers, along with the instrumentational improvements to detect them on a commercial AFM, to accelerate high-precision AFM-based SMFS studies.

Accurate calibration and uncertainty estimation of the normal spring constant of various AFM cantilevers.

PubMed

Song, Yunpeng; Wu, Sen; Xu, Linyan; Fu, Xing

2015-03-10

Measurement of force on a micro- or nano-Newton scale is important when exploring the mechanical properties of materials in the biophysics and nanomechanical fields. The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in microforce measurement. The cantilever probe works as an AFM force sensor, and the spring constant of the cantilever is of great significance to the accuracy of the measurement results. This paper presents a normal spring constant calibration method with the combined use of an electromagnetic balance and a homemade AFM head. When the cantilever presses the balance, its deflection is detected through an optical lever integrated in the AFM head. Meanwhile, the corresponding bending force is recorded by the balance. Then the spring constant can be simply calculated using Hooke's law. During the calibration, a feedback loop is applied to control the deflection of the cantilever. Errors that may affect the stability of the cantilever could be compensated rapidly. Five types of commercial cantilevers with different shapes, stiffness, and operating modes were chosen to evaluate the performance of our system. Based on the uncertainty analysis, the expanded relative standard uncertainties of the normal spring constant of most measured cantilevers are believed to be better than 2%.

Atomic force microscopic investigation of commercial pressure sensitive adhesives for forensic analysis.

PubMed

Canetta, Elisabetta; Adya, Ashok K

2011-07-15

Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), such as those used in packaging and adhesive tapes, are very often encountered in forensic investigations. In criminal activities, packaging tapes may be used for sealing packets containing drugs, explosive devices, or questioned documents, while adhesive and electrical tapes are used occasionally in kidnapping cases. In this work, the potential of using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in both imaging and force mapping (FM) modes to derive additional analytical information from PSAs is demonstrated. AFM has been used to illustrate differences in the ultrastructural and nanomechanical properties of three visually distinguishable commercial PSAs to first test the feasibility of using this technique. Subsequently, AFM was used to detect nanoscopic differences between three visually indistinguishable PSAs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

High quality-factor quartz tuning fork glass probe used in tapping mode atomic force microscopy for surface profile measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yuan-Liu; Xu, Yanhao; Shimizu, Yuki; Matsukuma, Hiraku; Gao, Wei

2018-06-01

This paper presents a high quality-factor (Q-factor) quartz tuning fork (QTF) with a glass probe attached, used in frequency modulation tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the surface profile metrology of micro and nanostructures. Unlike conventionally used QTFs, which have tungsten or platinum probes for tapping mode AFM, and suffer from a low Q-factor influenced by the relatively large mass of the probe, the glass probe, which has a lower density, increases the Q-factor of the QTF probe unit allowing it to obtain better measurement sensitivity. In addition, the process of attaching the probe to the QTF with epoxy resin, which is necessary for tapping mode AFM, is also optimized to further improve the Q-factor of the QTF glass probe. The Q-factor of the optimized QTF glass probe unit is demonstrated to be very close to that of a bare QTF without a probe attached. To verify the effectiveness and the advantages of the optimized QTF glass probe unit, the probe unit is integrated into a home-built tapping mode AFM for conducting surface profile measurements of micro and nanostructures. A blazed grating with fine tool marks of 100 nm, a microprism sheet with a vertical amplitude of 25 µm and a Fresnel lens with a steep slope of 90 degrees are used as measurement specimens. From the measurement results, it is demonstrated that the optimized QTF glass probe unit can achieve higher sensitivity as well as better stability than conventional probes in the measurement of micro and nanostructures.

The structure of high-methoxyl sugar acid gels of citrus pectin as determined by AFM

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Images of native high methoxyl sugar acid gels (HMSAG) were obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the Tapping ModeTM. Electronic thinning of the pectin strands to one pixel wide allowed the pectin network to be viewed in the absence of variable strand widths related to preferentially solvate...

Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy: An Emerging Tool for Fundamental Catalysis Research.

PubMed

Altman, Eric I; Baykara, Mehmet Z; Schwarz, Udo D

2015-09-15

Although atomic force microscopy (AFM) was rapidly adopted as a routine surface imaging apparatus after its introduction in 1986, it has not been widely used in catalysis research. The reason is that common AFM operating modes do not provide the atomic resolution required to follow catalytic processes; rather the more complex noncontact (NC) mode is needed. Thus, scanning tunneling microscopy has been the principal tool for atomic scale catalysis research. In this Account, recent developments in NC-AFM will be presented that offer significant advantages for gaining a complete atomic level view of catalysis. The main advantage of NC-AFM is that the image contrast is due to the very short-range chemical forces that are of interest in catalysis. This motivated our development of 3D-AFM, a method that yields quantitative atomic resolution images of the potential energy surfaces that govern how molecules approach, stick, diffuse, and rebound from surfaces. A variation of 3D-AFM allows the determination of forces required to push atoms and molecules on surfaces, from which diffusion barriers and variations in adsorption strength may be obtained. Pushing molecules towards each other provides access to intermolecular interaction between reaction partners. Following reaction, NC-AFM with CO-terminated tips yields textbook images of intramolecular structure that can be used to identify reaction intermediates and products. Because NC-AFM and STM contrast mechanisms are distinct, combining the two methods can produce unique insight. It is demonstrated for surface-oxidized Cu(100) that simultaneous 3D-AFM/STM yields resolution of both the Cu and O atoms. Moreover, atomic defects in the Cu sublattice lead to variations in the reactivity of the neighboring O atoms. It is shown that NC-AFM also allows a straightforward imaging of work function variations which has been used to identify defect charge states on catalytic surfaces and to map charge transfer within an individual molecule. These advances highlight the potential for NC-AFM-based methods to become the cornerstone upon which a quantitative atomic scale view of each step of a catalytic process may be gained. Realizing this potential will rely on two breakthroughs: (1) development of robust methods for tip functionalization and (2) simplification of NC-AFM instrumentation and control schemes. Quartz force sensors may offer paths forward in both cases. They allow any material with an atomic asperity to be used as a tip, opening the door to a wide range of surface functionalization chemistry. In addition, they do not suffer from the instabilities that motivated the initial adoption of complex control strategies that are still used today.

Carbon nanotube mechanics in scanning probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strus, Mark Christopher

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties which have led to the development of novel nanomechanical materials and devices. In this thesis, the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes are studied with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and, conversely, the use of CNTs to enhance conventional AFM probes is also investigated. First, the performance of AFM probes with multiwalled CNT tips are evaluated during attractive regime AFM imaging of high aspect ratio structures. The presented experimental results show two distinct imaging artifacts, the divot and large ringing artifacts, which are inherent to such CNT AFM probes. Through the adjustment of operating parameters, the connection of these artifacts to CNT bending, adhesion, and stiction is described qualitatively and explained. Next, the adhesion and peeling of CNTs on different substrates is quantitatively investigated with theoretical models and a new AFM mode for nanomechanical peeling. The theoretical model uncovers the rich physics of peeling of CNTs from surfaces, including sudden transitions between different geometric configurations of the nanotube with vastly different interfacial energies. The experimental peeling of CNTs is shown to be capable of resolving differences in CNT peeling energies at attoJoule levels on different materials. AFM peeling force spectroscopy is further studied on a variety of materials, including several polymers, to demonstrate the capability of direct measurement of interfacial energy between an individual nanotube or nanofiber and a given material surface. Theoretical investigations demonstrate that interfacial and flexural energies can be decoupled so that the work of the applied peeling force can be used to estimate the CNT-substrate interfacial fracture energy and nanotube's flexural stiffness. Hundreds of peeling force experiments on graphite, epoxy, and polyimide demonstrate that the peeling force spectroscopy offers a convenient experimental framework to quickly screen different combinations of polymers and functionalized nanotubes for optimal interfacial strength. Finally, multiple CNT AFM probe oscillation states in tapping mode AFM as the cantilever is brought closer to a sample are fully investigated, including two kinds of permanent contact and two types of intermittent contact. Large deformation continuum elastica models of MWCNTs with different end boundary conditions are used to identify whether the CNT remains anchored to the sample in line-contact or in point-contact in the permanent contact regime. Energy dissipation spectroscopy and phase contrast are demonstrated as a way to predict the state of CNT-substrate boundary condition in the intermittent tapping regime on different substrates and to highlight the implications of these different imaging regimes for critical dimension AFM, biological sensing, and nanolithography. Together, this work studies the effect of CNT mechanical interactions in AFM, including artifact-avoidance optimization of and new compositional mapping using CNT AFM probes as well as novel techniques that will potentially enhance the future development of CNT-based nanodevices and materials.

Atomic Force Microscopy for Protein Detection and Their Physicoсhemical Characterization

PubMed Central

Bukharina, Natalia S.; Archakov, Alexander I.; Ivanov, Yuri D.

2018-01-01

This review is focused on the atomic force microscopy (AFM) capabilities to study the properties of protein biomolecules and to detect the proteins in solution. The possibilities of application of a wide range of measuring techniques and modes for visualization of proteins, determination of their stoichiometric characteristics and physicochemical properties, are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the use of AFM as a molecular detector for detection of proteins in solutions at low concentrations, and also for determination of functional properties of single biomolecules, including the activity of individual molecules of enzymes. Prospects for the development of AFM in combination with other methods for studying biomacromolecules are discussed. PMID:29642632

Contact resonances of U-shaped atomic force microscope probes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rezaei, E.; Turner, J. A., E-mail: jaturner@unl.edu

Recent approaches used to characterize the elastic or viscoelastic properties of materials with nanoscale resolution have focused on the contact resonances of atomic force microscope (CR-AFM) probes. The experiments for these CR-AFM methods involve measurement of several contact resonances from which the resonant frequency and peak width are found. The contact resonance values are then compared with the noncontact values in order for the sample properties to be evaluated. The data analysis requires vibration models associated with the probe during contact in order for the beam response to be deconvolved from the measured spectra. To date, the majority of CR-AFMmore » research has used rectangular probes that have a relatively simple vibration response. Recently, U-shaped AFM probes have created much interest because they allow local sample heating. However, the vibration response of these probes is much more complex such that CR-AFM is still in its infancy. In this article, a simplified analytical model of U-shaped probes is evaluated for contact resonance applications relative to a more complex finite element (FE) computational model. The tip-sample contact is modeled using three orthogonal Kelvin-Voigt elements such that the resonant frequency and peak width of each mode are functions of the contact conditions. For the purely elastic case, the frequency results of the simple model are within 8% of the FE model for the lowest six modes over a wide range of contact stiffness values. Results for the viscoelastic contact problem for which the quality factor of the lowest six modes is compared show agreement to within 13%. These results suggest that this simple model can be used effectively to evaluate CR-AFM experimental results during AFM scanning such that quantitative mapping of viscoelastic properties may be possible using U-shaped probes.« less

Gaining insight into the physics of dynamic atomic force microscopy in complex environments using the VEDA simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiracofe, Daniel; Melcher, John; Raman, Arvind

2012-01-01

Dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) continues to grow in popularity among scientists in many different fields, and research on new methods and operating modes continues to expand the resolution, capabilities, and types of samples that can be studied. But many promising increases in capability are accompanied by increases in complexity. Indeed, interpreting modern dAFM data can be challenging, especially on complicated material systems, or in liquid environments where the behavior is often contrary to what is known in air or vacuum environments. Mathematical simulations have proven to be an effective tool in providing physical insight into these non-intuitive systems. In this article we describe recent developments in the VEDA (virtual environment for dynamic AFM) simulator, which is a suite of freely available, open-source simulation tools that are delivered through the cloud computing cyber-infrastructure of nanoHUB (www.nanohub.org). Here we describe three major developments. First, simulations in liquid environments are improved by enhancements in the modeling of cantilever dynamics, excitation methods, and solvation shell forces. Second, VEDA is now able to simulate many new advanced modes of operation (bimodal, phase-modulation, frequency-modulation, etc.). Finally, nineteen different tip-sample models are available to simulate the surface physics of a wide variety different material systems including capillary, specific adhesion, van der Waals, electrostatic, viscoelasticity, and hydration forces. These features are demonstrated through example simulations and validated against experimental data, in order to provide insight into practical problems in dynamic AFM.

Gaining insight into the physics of dynamic atomic force microscopy in complex environments using the VEDA simulator.

PubMed

Kiracofe, Daniel; Melcher, John; Raman, Arvind

2012-01-01

Dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) continues to grow in popularity among scientists in many different fields, and research on new methods and operating modes continues to expand the resolution, capabilities, and types of samples that can be studied. But many promising increases in capability are accompanied by increases in complexity. Indeed, interpreting modern dAFM data can be challenging, especially on complicated material systems, or in liquid environments where the behavior is often contrary to what is known in air or vacuum environments. Mathematical simulations have proven to be an effective tool in providing physical insight into these non-intuitive systems. In this article we describe recent developments in the VEDA (virtual environment for dynamic AFM) simulator, which is a suite of freely available, open-source simulation tools that are delivered through the cloud computing cyber-infrastructure of nanoHUB (www.nanohub.org). Here we describe three major developments. First, simulations in liquid environments are improved by enhancements in the modeling of cantilever dynamics, excitation methods, and solvation shell forces. Second, VEDA is now able to simulate many new advanced modes of operation (bimodal, phase-modulation, frequency-modulation, etc.). Finally, nineteen different tip-sample models are available to simulate the surface physics of a wide variety different material systems including capillary, specific adhesion, van der Waals, electrostatic, viscoelasticity, and hydration forces. These features are demonstrated through example simulations and validated against experimental data, in order to provide insight into practical problems in dynamic AFM.

Quantitative measurements of electromechanical response with a combined optical beam and interferometric atomic force microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Labuda, Aleksander; Proksch, Roger

An ongoing challenge in atomic force microscope (AFM) experiments is the quantitative measurement of cantilever motion. The vast majority of AFMs use the optical beam deflection (OBD) method to infer the deflection of the cantilever. The OBD method is easy to implement, has impressive noise performance, and tends to be mechanically robust. However, it represents an indirect measurement of the cantilever displacement, since it is fundamentally an angular rather than a displacement measurement. Here, we demonstrate a metrological AFM that combines an OBD sensor with a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) to enable accurate measurements of the cantilever velocity and displacement.more » The OBD/LDV AFM allows a host of quantitative measurements to be performed, including in-situ measurements of cantilever oscillation modes in piezoresponse force microscopy. As an example application, we demonstrate how this instrument can be used for accurate quantification of piezoelectric sensitivity—a longstanding goal in the electromechanical community.« less

Analysis of the surface effects on adhesion in MEMS structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rusu, F.; Pustan, M.; Bîrleanu, C.; Müller, R.; Voicu, R.; Baracu, A.

2015-12-01

One of the main failure causes in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is stiction. Stiction is the adhesion of contacting surfaces due to surface forces. Adhesion force depends on the operating conditions and is influenced by the contact area. In this study, the adhesion force between MEMS materials and the AFM tips is analyzed using the spectroscopy in point mode of the AFM. The aim is to predict the stiction failure mode in MEMS. The investigated MEMS materials are silicon, polysilicon, platinum, aluminum, and gold. Three types of investigations were conducted. The first one aimed to determine the variation of the adhesion force with respect to the variation of the roughness. The roughness has a strong influence on the adhesion because the contact area between components increases if the roughness decreases. The second type of investigation aimed to determine the adhesion force in multiple points of each considered sample. The values obtained experimentally for the adhesion force were also validated using the JKR and DMT models. The third type of investigation was conducted with the purpose of determining the influence of the temperature on the adhesion force.

Wide range local resistance imaging on fragile materials by conducting probe atomic force microscopy in intermittent contact mode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vecchiola, Aymeric; Concept Scientific Instruments, ZA de Courtaboeuf, 2 rue de la Terre de Feu, 91940 Les Ulis; Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS-Thales UMR 137, 1 avenue Augustin Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau

An imaging technique associating a slowly intermittent contact mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a home-made multi-purpose resistance sensing device is presented. It aims at extending the widespread resistance measurements classically operated in contact mode AFM to broaden their application fields to soft materials (molecular electronics, biology) and fragile or weakly anchored nano-objects, for which nanoscale electrical characterization is highly demanded and often proves to be a challenging task in contact mode. Compared with the state of the art concerning less aggressive solutions for AFM electrical imaging, our technique brings a significantly wider range of resistance measurement (over 10more » decades) without any manual switching, which is a major advantage for the characterization of materials with large on-sample resistance variations. After describing the basics of the set-up, we report on preliminary investigations focused on academic samples of self-assembled monolayers with various thicknesses as a demonstrator of the imaging capabilities of our instrument, from qualitative and semi-quantitative viewpoints. Then two application examples are presented, regarding an organic photovoltaic thin film and an array of individual vertical carbon nanotubes. Both attest the relevance of the technique for the control and optimization of technological processes.« less

Modeling the Interaction between AFM Tips and Pinned Surface Nanobubbles.

PubMed

Guo, Zhenjiang; Liu, Yawei; Xiao, Qianxiang; Schönherr, Holger; Zhang, Xianren

2016-01-26

Although the morphology of surface nanobubbles has been studied widely with different AFM modes, AFM images may not reflect the real shapes of the nanobubbles due to AFM tip-nanobubble interactions. In addition, the interplay between surface nanobubble deformation and induced capillary force has not been well understood in this context. In our work we used constraint lattice density functional theory to investigate the interaction between AFM tips and pinned surface nanobubbles systematically, especially concentrating on the effects of tip hydrophilicity and shape. For a hydrophilic tip contacting a nanobubble, its hydrophilic nature facilitates its departure from the bubble surface, displaying a weak and intermediate-range attraction. However, when the tip squeezes the nanobubble during the approach process, the nanobubble shows an elastic effect that prevents the tip from penetrating the bubble, leading to a strong nanobubble deformation and repulsive interactions. On the contrary, a hydrophobic tip can easily pierce the vapor-liquid interface of the nanobubble during the approach process, leading to the disappearance of the repulsive force. In the retraction process, however, the adhesion between the tip and the nanobubble leads to a much stronger lengthening effect on nanobubble deformation and a strong long-range attractive force. The trends of force evolution from our simulations agree qualitatively well with recent experimental AFM observations. This favorable agreement demonstrates that our model catches the main intergradient of tip-nanobubble interactions for pinned surface nanobubbles and may therefore provide important insight into how to design minimally invasive AFM experiments.

Atomic force microscopy of biological samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doktycz, Mitchel John

2010-01-01

The ability to evaluate structural-functional relationships in real time has allowed scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to assume a prominent role in post genomic biological research. In this mini-review, we highlight the development of imaging and ancillary techniques that have allowed SPM to permeate many key areas of contemporary research. We begin by examining the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by Binnig and Rohrer in 1982 and discuss how it served to team biologists with physicists to integrate high-resolution microscopy into biological science. We point to the problems of imaging nonconductive biological samples with the STM and relate howmore » this led to the evolution of the atomic force microscope (AFM) developed by Binnig, Quate, and Gerber, in 1986. Commercialization in the late 1980s established SPM as a powerful research tool in the biological research community. Contact mode AFM imaging was soon complemented by the development of non-contact imaging modes. These non-contact modes eventually became the primary focus for further new applications including the development of fast scanning methods. The extreme sensitivity of the AFM cantilever was recognized and has been developed into applications for measuring forces required for indenting biological surfaces and breaking bonds between biomolecules. Further functional augmentation to the cantilever tip allowed development of new and emerging techniques including scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM), scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM), Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) and scanning near field ultrasonic holography (SNFUH).« less

Single molecule imaging of RNA polymerase II using atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhodin, Thor; Fu, Jianhua; Umemura, Kazuo; Gad, Mohammed; Jarvis, Suzi; Ishikawa, Mitsuru

2003-03-01

An atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the shape, orientation and surface topology of RNA polymerase II supported on silanized freshly cleaved mica was made. The overall aim is to define the molecular topology of RNA polymerase II in appropriate fluids to help clarify the relationship of conformational features to biofunctionality. A Nanoscope III atomic force microscope was used in the tapping mode with oxide-sharpened (8-10 nm) Si 3N 4 probes in aqueous zinc chloride buffer. The main structural features observed by AFM were compared to those derived from electron-density plots based on X-ray crystallographic studies. The conformational features included a bilobal silhouette with an inverted umbrella-shaped crater connected to a reaction site. These studies provide a starting point for constructing a 3D-AFM profiling analysis of proteins such as RNA polymerase complexes.

Characterization of the interaction between AFM tips and surface nanobubbles.

PubMed

Walczyk, Wiktoria; Schönherr, Holger

2014-06-24

While the presence of gaseous enclosures observed at various solid-water interfaces, the so-called "surface nanobubles", has been confirmed by many groups in recent years, their formation, properties, and stability have not been convincingly and exhaustively explained. Here we report on an atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of argon nanobubbles on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) in water to elucidate the properties of nanobubble surfaces and the mechanism of AFM tip-nanobubble interaction. In particular, the deformation of the nanobubble-water interface by the AFM tip and the question whether the AFM tip penetrates the nanobubble during scanning were addressed by this combined intermittent contact (tapping) mode and force volume AFM study. We found that the stiffness of nanobubbles was smaller than the cantilever spring constant and comparable with the surface tension of water. The interaction with the AFM tip resulted in severe quasi-linear deformation of the bubbles; however, in the case of tip-bubble attraction, the interface deformed toward the tip. We tested two models of tip-bubble interaction, namely, the capillary force and the dynamic interaction model, and found, depending on the tip properties, good agreement with experimental data. The results showed that the tip-bubble interaction strength and the magnitude of the bubble deformation depend strongly on tip and bubble geometry and on tip and substrate material, and are very sensitive to the presence of contaminations that alter the interfacial tension. In particular, nanobubbles interacted differently with hydrophilic and hydrophobic AFM tips, which resulted in qualitatively and quantitatively different force curves measured on the bubbles in the experiments. To minimize bubble deformation and obtain reliable AFM results, nanobubbles must be measured with a sharp hydrophilic tip and with a cantilever having a very low spring constant in a contamination-free system.

Radiation pressure excitation of a low temperature atomic force/magnetic force microscope for imaging in 4-300 K temperature range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ćelik, Ümit; Karcı, Özgür; Uysallı, Yiǧit; Özer, H. Özgür; Oral, Ahmet

2017-01-01

We describe a novel radiation pressure based cantilever excitation method for imaging in dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the first time. Piezo-excitation is the most common method for cantilever excitation, however it may cause spurious resonance peaks. Therefore, the direct excitation of the cantilever plays a crucial role in AFM imaging. A fiber optic interferometer with a 1310 nm laser was used both for the excitation of the cantilever at the resonance and the deflection measurement of the cantilever in a commercial low temperature atomic force microscope/magnetic force microscope (AFM/MFM) from NanoMagnetics Instruments. The laser power was modulated at the cantilever's resonance frequency by a digital Phase Locked Loop (PLL). The laser beam is typically modulated by ˜500 μW, and ˜141.8 nmpp oscillation amplitude is obtained in moderate vacuum levels between 4 and 300 K. We have demonstrated the performance of the radiation pressure excitation in AFM/MFM by imaging atomic steps in graphite, magnetic domains in CoPt multilayers between 4 and 300 K and Abrikosov vortex lattice in BSCCO(2212) single crystal at 4 K for the first time.

Radiation pressure excitation of a low temperature atomic force/magnetic force microscope for imaging in 4-300 K temperature range.

PubMed

Çelik, Ümit; Karcı, Özgür; Uysallı, Yiğit; Özer, H Özgür; Oral, Ahmet

2017-01-01

We describe a novel radiation pressure based cantilever excitation method for imaging in dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the first time. Piezo-excitation is the most common method for cantilever excitation, however it may cause spurious resonance peaks. Therefore, the direct excitation of the cantilever plays a crucial role in AFM imaging. A fiber optic interferometer with a 1310 nm laser was used both for the excitation of the cantilever at the resonance and the deflection measurement of the cantilever in a commercial low temperature atomic force microscope/magnetic force microscope (AFM/MFM) from NanoMagnetics Instruments. The laser power was modulated at the cantilever's resonance frequency by a digital Phase Locked Loop (PLL). The laser beam is typically modulated by ∼500 μW, and ∼141.8 nm pp oscillation amplitude is obtained in moderate vacuum levels between 4 and 300 K. We have demonstrated the performance of the radiation pressure excitation in AFM/MFM by imaging atomic steps in graphite, magnetic domains in CoPt multilayers between 4 and 300 K and Abrikosov vortex lattice in BSCCO(2212) single crystal at 4 K for the first time.

Non-contact lateral force microscopy.

PubMed

Weymouth, A J

2017-08-16

The goal of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is to measure the short-range forces that act between the tip and the surface. The signal recorded, however, includes long-range forces that are often an unwanted background. Lateral force microscopy (LFM) is a branch of AFM in which a component of force perpendicular to the surface normal is measured. If we consider the interaction between tip and sample in terms of forces, which have both direction and magnitude, then we can make a very simple yet profound observation: over a flat surface, long-range forces that do not yield topographic contrast have no lateral component. Short-range interactions, on the other hand, do. Although contact-mode is the most common LFM technique, true non-contact AFM techniques can be applied to perform LFM without the tip depressing upon the sample. Non-contact lateral force microscopy (nc-LFM) is therefore ideal to study short-range forces of interest. One of the first applications of nc-LFM was the study of non-contact friction. A similar setup is used in magnetic resonance force microscopy to detect spin flipping. More recently, nc-LFM has been used as a true microscopy technique to systems unsuitable for normal force microscopy.

Closer look at the effect of AFM imaging conditions on the apparent dimensions of surface nanobubbles.

PubMed

Walczyk, Wiktoria; Schönherr, Holger

2013-01-15

To date, TM AFM (tapping mode or intermittent contact mode atomic force microscopy) is the most frequently applied direct imaging technique to visualize surface nanobubbles at the solid-aqueous interface. On one hand, AFM is the only profilometric technique that provides estimates of the bubbles' nanoscopic dimensions. On the other hand, the nanoscopic contact angles of surface nanobubbles estimated from their apparent dimensions that are deduced from AFM "height" images of nanobubbles differ markedly from the macrocopic water contact angles on the identical substrates. Here we show in detail how the apparent bubble height and width of surface nanobubbles on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) depend on the free amplitude of the cantilever oscillations and the amplitude setpoint ratio. (The role of these two AFM imaging parameters and their interdependence has not been studied so far for nanobubbles in a systematic way.) In all experiments, even with optimal scanning parameters, nanobubbles at the HOPG-water interface appeared to be smaller in the AFM images than their true size, which was estimated using a method presented herein. It was also observed that the severity of the underestimate increased with increasing bubble height and radius of curvature. The nanoscopic contact angle of >130° for nanobubbles on HOPG extrapolated to zero interaction force was only slightly overestimated and hence significantly higher than the macroscopic contact angle of water on HOPG (63 ± 2°). Thus, the widely reported contact angle discrepancy cannot be solely attributed to inappropriate AFM imaging conditions.

Multimode resistive switching in nanoscale hafnium oxide stack as studied by atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hou, Y., E-mail: houyi@pku.edu.cn, E-mail: lfliu@pku.edu.cn; IMEC, Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Heverlee; Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Heverlee

2016-07-11

The nanoscale resistive switching in hafnium oxide stack is investigated by the conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). The initial oxide stack is insulating and electrical stress from the C-AFM tip induces nanometric conductive filaments. Multimode resistive switching can be observed in consecutive operation cycles at one spot. The different modes are interpreted in the framework of a low defect quantum point contact theory. The model implies that the optimization of the conductive filament active region is crucial for the future application of nanoscale resistive switching devices.

Evidence-Based Nanoscopic and Molecular Framework for Excipient Functionality in Compressed Orally Disintegrating Tablets

PubMed Central

Al-khattawi, Ali; Alyami, Hamad; Townsend, Bill; Ma, Xianghong; Mohammed, Afzal R.

2014-01-01

The work investigates the adhesive/cohesive molecular and physical interactions together with nanoscopic features of commonly used orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) excipients microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and D-mannitol. This helps to elucidate the underlying physico-chemical and mechanical mechanisms responsible for powder densification and optimum product functionality. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) contact mode analysis was performed to measure nano-adhesion forces and surface energies between excipient-drug particles (6-10 different particles per each pair). Moreover, surface topography images (100 nm2–10 µm2) and roughness data were acquired from AFM tapping mode. AFM data were related to ODT macro/microscopic properties obtained from SEM, FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis using DSC and TGA, disintegration testing, Heckel and tabletability profiles. The study results showed a good association between the adhesive molecular and physical forces of paired particles and the resultant densification mechanisms responsible for mechanical strength of tablets. MCC micro roughness was 3 times that of D-mannitol which explains the high hardness of MCC ODTs due to mechanical interlocking. Hydrogen bonding between MCC particles could not be established from both AFM and FTIR solid state investigation. On the contrary, D-mannitol produced fragile ODTs due to fragmentation of surface crystallites during compression attained from its weak crystal structure. Furthermore, AFM analysis has shown the presence of extensive micro fibril structures inhabiting nano pores which further supports the use of MCC as a disintegrant. Overall, excipients (and model drugs) showed mechanistic behaviour on the nano/micro scale that could be related to the functionality of materials on the macro scale. PMID:25025427

Accurate Calibration and Uncertainty Estimation of the Normal Spring Constant of Various AFM Cantilevers

PubMed Central

Song, Yunpeng; Wu, Sen; Xu, Linyan; Fu, Xing

2015-01-01

Measurement of force on a micro- or nano-Newton scale is important when exploring the mechanical properties of materials in the biophysics and nanomechanical fields. The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in microforce measurement. The cantilever probe works as an AFM force sensor, and the spring constant of the cantilever is of great significance to the accuracy of the measurement results. This paper presents a normal spring constant calibration method with the combined use of an electromagnetic balance and a homemade AFM head. When the cantilever presses the balance, its deflection is detected through an optical lever integrated in the AFM head. Meanwhile, the corresponding bending force is recorded by the balance. Then the spring constant can be simply calculated using Hooke’s law. During the calibration, a feedback loop is applied to control the deflection of the cantilever. Errors that may affect the stability of the cantilever could be compensated rapidly. Five types of commercial cantilevers with different shapes, stiffness, and operating modes were chosen to evaluate the performance of our system. Based on the uncertainty analysis, the expanded relative standard uncertainties of the normal spring constant of most measured cantilevers are believed to be better than 2%. PMID:25763650

A simple and efficient quasi 3-dimensional viscoelastic model and software for simulation of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy

DOE PAGES

Solares, Santiago D.

2015-11-26

This study introduces a quasi-3-dimensional (Q3D) viscoelastic model and software tool for use in atomic force microscopy (AFM) simulations. The model is based on a 2-dimensional array of standard linear solid (SLS) model elements. The well-known 1-dimensional SLS model is a textbook example in viscoelastic theory but is relatively new in AFM simulation. It is the simplest model that offers a qualitatively correct description of the most fundamental viscoelastic behaviors, namely stress relaxation and creep. However, this simple model does not reflect the correct curvature in the repulsive portion of the force curve, so its application in the quantitative interpretationmore » of AFM experiments is relatively limited. In the proposed Q3D model the use of an array of SLS elements leads to force curves that have the typical upward curvature in the repulsive region, while still offering a very low computational cost. Furthermore, the use of a multidimensional model allows for the study of AFM tips having non-ideal geometries, which can be extremely useful in practice. Examples of typical force curves are provided for single- and multifrequency tappingmode imaging, for both of which the force curves exhibit the expected features. Lastly, a software tool to simulate amplitude and phase spectroscopy curves is provided, which can be easily modified to implement other controls schemes in order to aid in the interpretation of AFM experiments.« less

Noncontact Viscoelastic Imaging of Living Cells Using a Long-Needle Atomic Force Microscope with Dual-Frequency Modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Dongshi; Charlaix, Elisabeth; Qi, Robert Z.; Tong, Penger

2017-10-01

Imaging of surface topography and elasticity of living cells can provide insight into the roles played by the cells' volumetric and mechanical properties and their response to external forces in regulating the essential cellular events and functions. Here, we report a unique technique of noncontact viscoelastic imaging of live cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a long-needle glass probe. Because only the probe tip is placed in a liquid medium near the cell surface, the AFM cantilever in air functions well under dual-frequency modulation, retaining its high-quality resonant modes. The probe tip interacts with the cell surface through a minute hydrodynamic flow in the nanometer-thin gap region between them without physical contact. Quantitative measurements of the cell height, volume, and Young's modulus are conducted simultaneously. The experiment demonstrates that the long-needle AFM has a wide range of applications in the study of cell mechanics.

Functional dependence of resonant harmonics on nanomechanical parameters in dynamic mode atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Gramazio, Federico; Lorenzoni, Matteo; Pérez-Murano, Francesc; Rull Trinidad, Enrique; Staufer, Urs; Fraxedas, Jordi

2017-01-01

We present a combined theoretical and experimental study of the dependence of resonant higher harmonics of rectangular cantilevers of an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a function of relevant parameters such as the cantilever force constant, tip radius and free oscillation amplitude as well as the stiffness of the sample's surface. The simulations reveal a universal functional dependence of the amplitude of the 6th harmonic (in resonance with the 2nd flexural mode) on these parameters, which can be expressed in terms of a gun-shaped function. This analytical expression can be regarded as a practical tool for extracting qualitative information from AFM measurements and it can be extended to any resonant harmonics. The experiments confirm the predicted dependence in the explored 3-45 N/m force constant range and 2-345 GPa sample's stiffness range. For force constants around 25 N/m, the amplitude of the 6th harmonic exhibits the largest sensitivity for ultrasharp tips (tip radius below 10 nm) and polymers (Young's modulus below 20 GPa).

Quantification of in-contact probe-sample electrostatic forces with dynamic atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Balke, Nina; Jesse, Stephen; Carmichael, Ben; Okatan, M Baris; Kravchenko, Ivan I; Kalinin, Sergei V; Tselev, Alexander

2017-01-04

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods utilizing resonant mechanical vibrations of cantilevers in contact with a sample surface have shown sensitivities as high as few picometers for detecting surface displacements. Such a high sensitivity is harnessed in several AFM imaging modes. Here, we demonstrate a cantilever-resonance-based method to quantify electrostatic forces on a probe in the probe-sample junction in the presence of a surface potential or when a bias voltage is applied to the AFM probe. We find that the electrostatic forces acting on the probe tip apex can produce signals equivalent to a few pm of surface displacement. In combination with modeling, the measurements of the force were used to access the strength of the electrical field at the probe tip apex in contact with a sample. We find an evidence that the electric field strength in the junction can reach ca. 1 V nm -1 at a bias voltage of a few volts and is limited by non-ideality of the tip-sample contact. This field is sufficiently strong to significantly influence material states and kinetic processes through charge injection, Maxwell stress, shifts of phase equilibria, and reduction of energy barriers for activated processes. Besides, the results provide a baseline for accounting for the effects of local electrostatic forces in electromechanical AFM measurements as well as offer additional means to probe ionic mobility and field-induced phenomena in solids.

AFM probing in aqueous environment of Staphylococcus epidermidis cells naturally immobilised on glass: physico-chemistry behind the successful immobilisation.

PubMed

Méndez-Vilas, A; Gallardo-Moreno, A M; Calzado-Montero, R; González-Martín, M L

2008-05-01

AFM probing of microbial cells in liquid environments usually requires them to be physically or chemically attached to a solid surface. The fixation mechanisms may influence the nanomechanical characterization done by force curve mapping using an AFM. To study the response of a microbial cell surface to this kind of local measurement this study attempts to overcome the problem associated to the uncertainties introduced by the different fixation treatments by analysing the surface of Staphylococcus epidermidis cells naturally (non-artificially mediated) immobilised on a glass support surface. The particularities of this natural bacterial fixation process for AFM surface analysis are discussed in terms of theoretical predictions of the XDLVO model applied to the systems bacteria/support substratum and bacteria/AFM tip immersed in water. In this sense, in the first part of this study the conditions for adequate natural fixation of three S. epidermidis strains have been analyzed by taking into account the geometries of the bacterium, substrate and tip. In the second part, bacteria are probed without the risk of any possible artefacts due to the mechanical or chemical fixation procedures. Forces measured over the successfully adhered cells have (directly) shown that the untreated bacterial surface suffers from a combination of both reversible and non-reversible deformations during acquisition of force curves all taken under the same operational conditions. This is revealed directly through high-resolution tapping-mode imaging of the bacterial surface immediately following force curve mapping. The results agree with the two different types of force curves that were repeatedly obtained. Interestingly, one type of these force curves suggests that the AFM tip is breaking (rather than pushing) the cell surface during acquisition of the force curve. In this case, adhesive peaks were always observed, suggesting a mechanical origin of the measured pull-off forces. The other type of force curves shows no adhesive peaks and exhibits juxtaposing of approaching and retraction curves, reflecting elastic deformations.

Nanomechanical properties of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils: a comparative study by nanoindentation, harmonic force microscopy, and Peakforce QNM

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

We report on the use of three different atomic force spectroscopy modalities to determine the nanomechanical properties of amyloid fibrils of the human α-synuclein protein. α-Synuclein forms fibrillar nanostructures of approximately 10 nm diameter and lengths ranging from 100 nm to several microns, which have been associated with Parkinson's disease. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to image the morphology of these protein fibrils deposited on a flat surface. For nanomechanical measurements, we used single-point nanoindentation, in which the AFM tip as the indenter is moved vertically to the fibril surface and back while the force is being recorded. We also used two recently developed AFM surface property mapping techniques: Harmonic force microscopy (HarmoniX) and Peakforce QNM. These modalities allow extraction of mechanical parameters of the surface with a lateral resolution and speed comparable to tapping-mode AFM imaging. Based on this phenomenological study, the elastic moduli of the α-synuclein fibrils determined using these three different modalities are within the range 1.3-2.1 GPa. We discuss the relative merits of these three methods for the determination of the elastic properties of protein fibrils, particularly considering the differences and difficulties of each method. PMID:21711775

Distinguishing Nanobubbles from Nanodroplets with AFM: The Influence of Vertical and Lateral Imaging Forces.

PubMed

An, Hongjie; Tan, Beng Hau; Ohl, Claus-Dieter

2016-12-06

The widespread application of surface-attached nanobubbles and nanodroplets in biomedical engineering and nanotechnology is limited by numerous experimental challenges, in particular, the possibility of contamination in nucleation experiments. These challenges are complicated by recent reports that it can be difficult to distinguish between nanoscale drops and bubbles. Here we identify clear differences in the mechanical responses of nanobubbles and nanodroplets under various modes of AFM imaging that subject the objects to predominantly vertical or lateral forces. This allows us to distinguish among nanodroplets, nanobubbles, and oil-covered nanobubbles in water.

PeakForce Tapping resolves individual microvilli on living cells.

PubMed

Schillers, Hermann; Medalsy, Izhar; Hu, Shuiqing; Slade, Andrea L; Shaw, James E

2016-02-01

Microvilli are a common structure found on epithelial cells that increase the apical surface thus enhancing the transmembrane transport capacity and also serve as one of the cell's mechanosensors. These structures are composed of microfilaments and cytoplasm, covered by plasma membrane. Epithelial cell function is usually coupled to the density of microvilli and its individual size illustrated by diseases, in which microvilli degradation causes malabsorption and diarrhea. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely used to study the topography and morphology of living cells. Visualizing soft and flexible structures such as microvilli on the apical surface of a live cell has been very challenging because the native microvilli structures are displaced and deformed by the interaction with the probe. PeakForce Tapping® is an AFM imaging mode, which allows reducing tip-sample interactions in time (microseconds) and controlling force in the low pico-Newton range. Data acquisition of this mode was optimized by using a newly developed PeakForce QNM-Live Cell probe, having a short cantilever with a 17-µm-long tip that minimizes hydrodynamic effects between the cantilever and the sample surface. In this paper, we have demonstrated for the first time the visualization of the microvilli on living kidney cells with AFM using PeakForce Tapping. The structures observed display a force dependence representing either the whole microvilli or just the tips of the microvilli layer. Together, PeakForce Tapping allows force control in the low pico-Newton range and enables the visualization of very soft and flexible structures on living cells under physiological conditions. © 2015 The Authors Journal of Molecular Recognition Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

An Atomic Force Microscope with Dual Actuation Capability for Biomolecular Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevim, Semih; Shamsudhin, Naveen; Ozer, Sevil; Feng, Luying; Fakhraee, Arielle; Ergeneman, Olgaç; Pané, Salvador; Nelson, Bradley J.; Torun, Hamdi

2016-06-01

We report a modular atomic force microscope (AFM) design for biomolecular experiments. The AFM head uses readily available components and incorporates deflection-based optics and a piezotube-based cantilever actuator. Jetted-polymers have been used in the mechanical assembly, which allows rapid manufacturing. In addition, a FeCo-tipped electromagnet provides high-force cantilever actuation with vertical magnetic fields up to 0.55 T. Magnetic field calibration has been performed with a micro-hall sensor, which corresponds well with results from finite element magnetostatics simulations. An integrated force resolution of 1.82 and 2.98 pN, in air and in DI water, respectively was achieved in 1 kHz bandwidth with commercially available cantilevers made of Silicon Nitride. The controller and user interface are implemented on modular hardware to ensure scalability. The AFM can be operated in different modes, such as molecular pulling or force-clamp, by actuating the cantilever with the available actuators. The electromagnetic and piezoelectric actuation capabilities have been demonstrated in unbinding experiments of the biotin-streptavidin complex.

An Atomic Force Microscope with Dual Actuation Capability for Biomolecular Experiments

PubMed Central

Sevim, Semih; Shamsudhin, Naveen; Ozer, Sevil; Feng, Luying; Fakhraee, Arielle; Ergeneman, Olgaç; Pané, Salvador; Nelson, Bradley J.; Torun, Hamdi

2016-01-01

We report a modular atomic force microscope (AFM) design for biomolecular experiments. The AFM head uses readily available components and incorporates deflection-based optics and a piezotube-based cantilever actuator. Jetted-polymers have been used in the mechanical assembly, which allows rapid manufacturing. In addition, a FeCo-tipped electromagnet provides high-force cantilever actuation with vertical magnetic fields up to 0.55 T. Magnetic field calibration has been performed with a micro-hall sensor, which corresponds well with results from finite element magnetostatics simulations. An integrated force resolution of 1.82 and 2.98 pN, in air and in DI water, respectively was achieved in 1 kHz bandwidth with commercially available cantilevers made of Silicon Nitride. The controller and user interface are implemented on modular hardware to ensure scalability. The AFM can be operated in different modes, such as molecular pulling or force-clamp, by actuating the cantilever with the available actuators. The electromagnetic and piezoelectric actuation capabilities have been demonstrated in unbinding experiments of the biotin-streptavidin complex. PMID:27273214

On the use of SPM to probe the interplay between polymer surface chemistry and polymer surface mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brogly, Maurice; Noel, Olivier; Awada, Houssein; Castelein, Gilles

2007-03-01

Adhesive properties of a polymer surface results from the complex contribution of surface chemistry and activation of sliding and dissipating mechanisms within the polymer surface layer. The purpose of this study is to dissociate the different contributions (chemical and mechanical) included in an AFM force-distance curve in order to establish relationships between the surface viscoelastic properties of the polymer, the surface chemistry of functionalized polymer surfaces and the adhesive forces, as determined by C-AFM experiments. Indeed we are interested in the measurements of local attractive or adhesive forces in AFM contact mode, of controlled chemical and mechanical model substrates. In order to investigate the interplay between mechanical or viscoelastic mechanisms and surface chemistry during the tip - polymer contact, we achieved force measurements on model PDMS polymer networks, whose surfaces are chemically controlled with the same functional groups as before (silicon substrates). On the basis of AFM nano-indentation experiments, surface Young moduli have been determined. The results show that the viscoelastic contribution is dominating in the adhesion force measurement. We propose an original model, which express the local adhesion force to the energy dissipated within the contact and the surface properties of the material (thermodynamic work of adhesion). Moreover we show that the dissipation function is related to Mc, the mass between crosslinks of the network.

Development of a Hybrid Atomic Force Microscopic Measurement System Combined with White Light Scanning Interferometry

PubMed Central

Guo, Tong; Wang, Siming; Dorantes-Gonzalez, Dante J.; Chen, Jinping; Fu, Xing; Hu, Xiaotang

2012-01-01

A hybrid atomic force microscopic (AFM) measurement system combined with white light scanning interferometry for micro/nanometer dimensional measurement is developed. The system is based on a high precision large-range positioning platform with nanometer accuracy on which a white light scanning interferometric module and an AFM head are built. A compact AFM head is developed using a self-sensing tuning fork probe. The head need no external optical sensors to detect the deflection of the cantilever, which saves room on the head, and it can be directly fixed under an optical microscopic interferometric system. To enhance the system’s dynamic response, the frequency modulation (FM) mode is adopted for the AFM head. The measuring data can be traceable through three laser interferometers in the system. The lateral scanning range can reach 25 mm × 25 mm by using a large-range positioning platform. A hybrid method combining AFM and white light scanning interferometry is proposed to improve the AFM measurement efficiency. In this method, the sample is measured firstly by white light scanning interferometry to get an overall coarse morphology, and then, further measured with higher resolution by AFM. Several measuring experiments on standard samples demonstrate the system’s good measurement performance and feasibility of the hybrid measurement method. PMID:22368463

Development of a hybrid atomic force microscopic measurement system combined with white light scanning interferometry.

PubMed

Guo, Tong; Wang, Siming; Dorantes-Gonzalez, Dante J; Chen, Jinping; Fu, Xing; Hu, Xiaotang

2012-01-01

A hybrid atomic force microscopic (AFM) measurement system combined with white light scanning interferometry for micro/nanometer dimensional measurement is developed. The system is based on a high precision large-range positioning platform with nanometer accuracy on which a white light scanning interferometric module and an AFM head are built. A compact AFM head is developed using a self-sensing tuning fork probe. The head need no external optical sensors to detect the deflection of the cantilever, which saves room on the head, and it can be directly fixed under an optical microscopic interferometric system. To enhance the system's dynamic response, the frequency modulation (FM) mode is adopted for the AFM head. The measuring data can be traceable through three laser interferometers in the system. The lateral scanning range can reach 25 mm × 25 mm by using a large-range positioning platform. A hybrid method combining AFM and white light scanning interferometry is proposed to improve the AFM measurement efficiency. In this method, the sample is measured firstly by white light scanning interferometry to get an overall coarse morphology, and then, further measured with higher resolution by AFM. Several measuring experiments on standard samples demonstrate the system's good measurement performance and feasibility of the hybrid measurement method.

Electrical Measurements and Nanomechanics Using Scanning Probe Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Yong

2002-10-01

In the early 1980s, G. Binnig et al. invented the Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) [1], making it possible to obtain atomic resolution images of conducting surfaces. After that, many different types of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) were invented and some of the most useful representatives are Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) [2], Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM) [3] and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) [4,5]. In 1985, G. Binnig et al. [2] invented the AFM, which now is used as a fundamental tool in many fields of research. Developed from AFM, Y. Martin et al. [3] invented EFM in 1987. The development of AC mode AFM allows the detection of weak long-range forces. EFM has also been used to study other systems and phenomena, such as thin liquid films on solid surfaces [6], electrically stressed gold nanowires [7], and spatial charge distribution in quantum wires [8]. In 1991, M. Nonnenmacher et al. [5] invented Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. KPFM is used to study any property that affects the tip-surface Contact Potential Difference (CPD), such as voltage signals in integrated circuits (IC) [9], charged grain boundaries in polycrystalline silicon [10] and surface potential variations in multilayer semiconductor devices [11]. The aim of this poster is to discuss the application of SPM to electrical measurements. The theory of SPM was presented. The AFM was firstly introduced as it was developed before the other two. The design and theory were discussed. The force-distance curve was introduced. After this EFM was presented. EFM was developed from AC mode AFM. The technique was achieved by applying a DC voltage between the tip and the sample. The design, theory and features of it were surveyed. KPFM was also discussed. KPFM was developed from EFM. The central part of this technique is to measure the CPD. Experimental measurements of SPM were described after theory part. Research work using AFM was presented. The newest technique of AFM, UHV-AFM has been used in investigating the nano-mechanical properties of different materials. Normally common AFM has shortcomings as it has either strict limit resolution or difficulties in interpreting the data from the measurements. In order to solve these problems, Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) conditions were applied to acquire quantitative results. A typical UHV-AFM uses a cantilever whose spring constant is relatively high (>100 N/m) to obtain high-resolution image. Experimental measurements using KPFM was presented after AFM. Researchers are using KPFM to acquire the topography and measuring the CPD of semiconductor or metal surfaces. Similarly as in AFM, KPFM works best in UHV environment. A typical UHV-KPFM also uses a cantilever whose spring constant is relatively high. A UHV-KPFM may be able to achieve a high resolution in CPD images. In the past 20 years many different kinds of SPM were invented and used. AFM, EFM, and KPFM are representatives of them. Researchers are still developing new techniques. However, in recent years, they pay more attention in improving the measurement accuracy instead of trying to invent new SPM. These three SPM continue to be frequently used. The current capabilities of SPM do not satisfy us completely. We still cant measure the Electrical field directly. We actually measure the capacitance gradient. There are also some other questions. This is because the electrostatic force depends very strongly on the geometry of the probe at all length scales, so any model is subject to two big problems. First, the geometry is not known with complete accuracy; and second, the tip shape can change during an experiment due to wear. In the future, maybe the problems could be overcome by using a tip with a very well defined shape, such as a carbon nanotube, for which a realistic geometrical model could be more easily constructed, and the wear could be avoided or reduced.

Correlative atomic force microscopy quantitative imaging-laser scanning confocal microscopy quantifies the impact of stressors on live cells in real-time.

PubMed

Bhat, Supriya V; Sultana, Taranum; Körnig, André; McGrath, Seamus; Shahina, Zinnat; Dahms, Tanya E S

2018-05-29

There is an urgent need to assess the effect of anthropogenic chemicals on model cells prior to their release, helping to predict their potential impact on the environment and human health. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have each provided an abundance of information on cell physiology. In addition to determining surface architecture, AFM in quantitative imaging (QI) mode probes surface biochemistry and cellular mechanics using minimal applied force, while LSCM offers a window into the cell for imaging fluorescently tagged macromolecules. Correlative AFM-LSCM produces complimentary information on different cellular characteristics for a comprehensive picture of cellular behaviour. We present a correlative AFM-QI-LSCM assay for the simultaneous real-time imaging of living cells in situ, producing multiplexed data on cell morphology and mechanics, surface adhesion and ultrastructure, and real-time localization of multiple fluorescently tagged macromolecules. To demonstrate the broad applicability of this method for disparate cell types, we show altered surface properties, internal molecular arrangement and oxidative stress in model bacterial, fungal and human cells exposed to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. AFM-QI-LSCM is broadly applicable to a variety of cell types and can be used to assess the impact of any multitude of contaminants, alone or in combination.

Computer Simulation of the Forces Acting on a Submerged Polystyrene Probe as it Approaches the Succinonitrile Melt-Solid Interface

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bune, Andris V.; Kaukler, William; Whitaker, Ann (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A Modeling approach to simulate both mesoscale and microscopic forces acting in a typical AFM experiment is presented. A mesoscale level interaction between the cantilever tip and the sample surface is primarily described by the balance of attractive Van der Waals and repulsive forces. Ultimately, the goal is to measure the forces between a particle and the crystal-melt interface. Two modes of AFM operation are considered in this paper - a stationary and a "tapping" one. The continuous mechanics approach to model tip-surface interaction is presented. At microscopic levels, tip contamination and details of tip-surface interaction are modeled using a molecular dynamics approach for the case of polystyrene - succinonitrile contact. Integration of the mesoscale model with a molecular dynamic model is discussed.

Quantification of in-contact probe-sample electrostatic forces with dynamic atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balke, Nina Wisinger; Jesse, Stephen; Carmichael, Ben D.

Here, atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods utilizing resonant mechanical vibrations of cantilevers in contact with a sample surface have shown sensitivities as high as few picometers for detecting surface displacements. Such a high sensitivity is harnessed in several AFM imaging modes. Here, we demonstrate a cantilever-resonance-based method to quantify electrostatic forces on a probe in the probe-sample junction in the presence of a surface potential or when a bias voltage is applied to the AFM probe. We find that the electrostatic forces acting on the probe tip apex can produce signals equivalent to a few pm of surface displacement. Inmore » combination with modeling, the measurements of the force were used to access the strength of the electrical field at the probe tip apex in contact with a sample. We find an evidence that the electric field strength in the junction can reach ca. 1 V nm –1 at a bias voltage of a few volts and is limited by non-ideality of the tip-sample contact. This field is sufficiently strong to significantly influence material states and kinetic processes through charge injection, Maxwell stress, shifts of phase equilibria, and reduction of energy barriers for activated processes. Besides, the results provide a baseline for accounting for the effects of local electrostatic forces in electromechanical AFM measurements as well as offer additional means to probe ionic mobility and field-induced phenomena in solids.« less

Quantification of In-Contact Probe-Sample Electrostatic Forces with Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy.

PubMed

Balke, Nina; Jesse, Stephen; Carmichael, Ben; Okatan, M; Kravchenko, Ivan; Kalinin, Sergei; Tselev, Alexander

2016-12-13

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) methods utilizing resonant mechanical vibrations of cantilevers in contact with a sample surface have shown sensitivities as high as few picometers for detecting surface displacements. Such a high sensitivity is harnessed in several AFM imaging modes. Here, we demonstrate a cantilever-resonance-based method to quantify electrostatic forces on a probe in the probe-sample junction in the presence of a surface potential or when a bias voltage is applied to the AFM probe. We find that the electrostatic forces acting on the probe tip apex can produce signals equivalent to a few pm of surface displacement. In combination with modeling, the measurements of the force were used to access the strength of the electrical field at the probe tip apex in contact with a sample. We find an evidence that the electric field strength in the junction can reach ca. 1 V/nm at a bias voltage of a few volts and is limited by non-ideality of the tip-sample contact. This field is sufficiently strong to significantly influence material states and kinetic processes through charge injection, Maxwell stress, shifts of phase equilibria, and reduction of energy barriers for activated processes. Besides, the results provide a baseline for accounting for the effects of local electrostatic forces in electromechanical AFM measurements as well as offer additional means to probe ionic mobility and field-induced phenomena in solids. Copyright 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Quantification of in-contact probe-sample electrostatic forces with dynamic atomic force microscopy

DOE PAGES

Balke, Nina Wisinger; Jesse, Stephen; Carmichael, Ben D.; ...

2017-01-04

Here, atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods utilizing resonant mechanical vibrations of cantilevers in contact with a sample surface have shown sensitivities as high as few picometers for detecting surface displacements. Such a high sensitivity is harnessed in several AFM imaging modes. Here, we demonstrate a cantilever-resonance-based method to quantify electrostatic forces on a probe in the probe-sample junction in the presence of a surface potential or when a bias voltage is applied to the AFM probe. We find that the electrostatic forces acting on the probe tip apex can produce signals equivalent to a few pm of surface displacement. Inmore » combination with modeling, the measurements of the force were used to access the strength of the electrical field at the probe tip apex in contact with a sample. We find an evidence that the electric field strength in the junction can reach ca. 1 V nm –1 at a bias voltage of a few volts and is limited by non-ideality of the tip-sample contact. This field is sufficiently strong to significantly influence material states and kinetic processes through charge injection, Maxwell stress, shifts of phase equilibria, and reduction of energy barriers for activated processes. Besides, the results provide a baseline for accounting for the effects of local electrostatic forces in electromechanical AFM measurements as well as offer additional means to probe ionic mobility and field-induced phenomena in solids.« less

A control approach to cross-coupling compensation of piezotube scanners in tapping-mode atomic force microscope imaging.

PubMed

Wu, Ying; Shi, Jian; Su, Chanmin; Zou, Qingze

2009-04-01

In this article, an approach based on the recently developed inversion-based iterative control (IIC) to cancel the cross-axis coupling effect of piezoelectric tube scanners (piezoscanners) in tapping-mode atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging is proposed. Cross-axis coupling effect generally exists in piezoscanners used for three-dimensional (x-y-z axes) nanopositioning in applications such as AFM, where the vertical z-axis movement can be generated by the lateral x-y axes scanning. Such x/y-to-z cross-coupling becomes pronounced when the scanning is at large range and/or at high speed. In AFM applications, the coupling-caused position errors, when large, can generate various adverse effects, including large imaging and topography distortions, and damage of the cantilever probe and/or the sample. This paper utilizes the IIC technique to obtain the control input to precisely track the coupling-caused x/y-to-z displacement (with sign-flipped). Then the obtained input is augmented as a feedforward control to the existing feedback control in tapping-mode imaging, resulting in the cancellation of the coupling effect. The proposed approach is illustrated through two exemplary applications in industry, the pole-tip recession examination, and the nanoasperity measurement on hard-disk drive. Experimental results show that the x/y-to-z coupling effect in large-range (20 and 45 microm) tapping-mode imaging at both low to high scan rates (2, 12.2 to 24.4 Hz) can be effectively removed.

Nonlinear tapping dynamics of multi-walled carbon nanotube tipped atomic force microcantilevers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, S. I.; Howell, S. W.; Raman, A.; Reifenberger, R.; Nguyen, C. V.; Meyyappan, M.

2004-05-01

The nonlinear dynamics of an atomic force microcantilever (AFM) with an attached multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) tip is investigated experimentally and theoretically. We present the experimental nonlinear frequency response of a MWCNT tipped microcantilever in the tapping mode. Several unusual features in the response distinguish it from those traditionally observed for conventional tips. The MWCNT tipped AFM probe is apparently immune to conventional imaging instabilities related to the coexistence of attractive and repulsive tapping regimes. A theoretical interaction model for the system using an Euler elastica MWCNT model is developed and found to predict several unusual features of the measured nonlinear response.

View of the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli M-17 and its interaction with the nanoparticles of zinc oxide by means of atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagitova, A.; Yaminsky, I.; Meshkov, G.

2016-08-01

Visualization of the structure of biological objects plays a key role in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology and IT-technology. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a promising method of studying of objects’ morphology and structure. In this work, AFM was used to determine the size and shape of the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli M-17 and visualization its interaction with the nanoparticles of zinc oxide. The suspension of E.coli bacteria was applied to natural mica and studied by contact mode using the FemtoScan multifunctional scanning probe microscope.

Corrosion study of AA2024-T3 by scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy and in situ atomic force microscopy scratching

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schmutz, P.; Frankel, G.S.

1998-07-01

The localized corrosion of AA2024-T3, and the behavior of intermetallic particles in particular, were studied using different capabilities of the atomic force microscope (AFM). The role of intermetallic particles in determining the locations and rates of localized corrosion was determined using scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy in air after exposure to chloride solutions. Al-Cu-Mg particles, which have a noble Volta potential in air because of an altered surface film, are actively dissolved in chloride solution after a certain induction time. Al-Cu(Fe, Mn) particles are heterogeneous in nature and exhibit nonuniform dissolution in chloride solution as well as trenching of themore » matrix around the particles. Light scratching of the surface by rastering with the AFM tip in contact mode in chloride solution results in accelerated dissolution of both pure Al and alloy 2024-T3. The abrasion associated with contact AFM in situ resulted in the immediate dissolution of the Al-Cu-Mg particles because of a destabilization of the surface film.« less

High resolution atomic force microscopy of double-stranded RNA.

PubMed

Ares, Pablo; Fuentes-Perez, Maria Eugenia; Herrero-Galán, Elías; Valpuesta, José M; Gil, Adriana; Gomez-Herrero, Julio; Moreno-Herrero, Fernando

2016-06-09

Double-stranded (ds) RNA mediates the suppression of specific gene expression, it is the genetic material of a number of viruses, and a key activator of the innate immune response against viral infections. The ever increasing list of roles played by dsRNA in the cell and its potential biotechnological applications over the last decade has raised an interest for the characterization of its mechanical properties and structure, and that includes approaches using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and other single-molecule techniques. Recent reports have resolved the structure of dsDNA with AFM at unprecedented resolution. However, an equivalent study with dsRNA is still lacking. Here, we have visualized the double helix of dsRNA under near-physiological conditions and at sufficient resolution to resolve the A-form sub-helical pitch periodicity. We have employed different high-sensitive force-detection methods and obtained images with similar spatial resolution. Therefore, we show here that the limiting factors for high-resolution AFM imaging of soft materials in liquid medium are, rather than the imaging mode, the force between the tip and the sample and the sharpness of the tip apex.

Effect of cantilever geometry on the optical lever sensitivities and thermal noise method of the atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Sader, John E; Lu, Jianing; Mulvaney, Paul

2014-11-01

Calibration of the optical lever sensitivities of atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers is especially important for determining the force in AFM measurements. These sensitivities depend critically on the cantilever mode used and are known to differ for static and dynamic measurements. Here, we calculate the ratio of the dynamic and static sensitivities for several common AFM cantilevers, whose shapes vary considerably, and experimentally verify these results. The dynamic-to-static optical lever sensitivity ratio is found to range from 1.09 to 1.41 for the cantilevers studied - in stark contrast to the constant value of 1.09 used widely in current calibration studies. This analysis shows that accuracy of the thermal noise method for the static spring constant is strongly dependent on cantilever geometry - neglect of these dynamic-to-static factors can induce errors exceeding 100%. We also discuss a simple experimental approach to non-invasively and simultaneously determine the dynamic and static spring constants and optical lever sensitivities of cantilevers of arbitrary shape, which is applicable to all AFM platforms that have the thermal noise method for spring constant calibration.

Quantitative comparison of two independent lateral force calibration techniques for the atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Barkley, Sarice S; Deng, Zhao; Gates, Richard S; Reitsma, Mark G; Cannara, Rachel J

2012-02-01

Two independent lateral-force calibration methods for the atomic force microscope (AFM)--the hammerhead (HH) technique and the diamagnetic lateral force calibrator (D-LFC)--are systematically compared and found to agree to within 5 % or less, but with precision limited to about 15 %, using four different tee-shaped HH reference probes. The limitations of each method, both of which offer independent yet feasible paths toward traceable accuracy, are discussed and investigated. We find that stiff cantilevers may produce inconsistent D-LFC values through the application of excessively high normal loads. In addition, D-LFC results vary when the method is implemented using different modes of AFM feedback control, constant height and constant force modes, where the latter is more consistent with the HH method and closer to typical experimental conditions. Specifically, for the D-LFC apparatus used here, calibration in constant height mode introduced errors up to 14 %. In constant force mode using a relatively stiff cantilever, we observed an ≈ 4 % systematic error per μN of applied load for loads ≤ 1 μN. The issue of excessive load typically emerges for cantilevers whose flexural spring constant is large compared with the normal spring constant of the D-LFC setup (such that relatively small cantilever flexural displacements produce relatively large loads). Overall, the HH method carries a larger uncertainty, which is dominated by uncertainty in measurement of the flexural spring constant of the HH cantilever as well as in the effective length dimension of the cantilever probe. The D-LFC method relies on fewer parameters and thus has fewer uncertainties associated with it. We thus show that it is the preferred method of the two, as long as care is taken to perform the calibration in constant force mode with low applied loads.

The nanoscale phase distinguishing of PCL-PB-PCL blended in epoxy resin by tapping mode atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Huiqin; Sun, Limin; Shen, Guangxia; Liang, Qi

2012-02-01

In this work, we investigated the bulk phase distinguishing of the poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-polybutadiene-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL-PB-PCL) triblock copolymer blended in epoxy resin by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM). We found that at a set-point amplitude ratio ( r sp) less than or equal to 0.85, a clear phase contrast could be obtained using a probe with a force constant of 40 N/m. When r sp was decreased to 0.1 or less, the measured size of the PB-rich domain relatively shrank; however, the height images of the PB-rich domain would take reverse (translating from the original light to dark) at r sp = 0.85. Force-probe measurements were carried out on the phase-separated regions by TM-AFM. According to the phase shift angle vs. r sp curve, it could be concluded that the different force exerting on the epoxy matrix or on the PB-rich domain might result in the height and phase image reversion. Furthermore, the indentation depth vs. r sp plot showed that with large tapping force (lower r sp), the indentation depth for the PB-rich domain was nearly identical for the epoxy resin matrix.

Local oxidation using scanning probe microscope for fabricating magnetic nanostructures.

PubMed

Takemura, Yasushi

2010-07-01

Local oxidation technique using atomic force microscope (AFM) was studied. The local oxidation of ferromagnetic metal thin films was successfully performed by AFM under both contact and dynamic force modes. Modification of magnetic and electrical properties of magnetic devices fabricated by the AFM oxidation was achieved. Capped oxide layers deposited on the ferromagnetic metal films are advantageous for stable oxidation due to hydrophilic surface of oxide. The oxide layer is also expected to prevent magnetic devices from degradation by oxidation of ferromagnetic metal. As for modification of magnetic property, the isolated region of CoFe layer formed by nanowires of CoFe-oxide exhibited peculiar characteristic attributed to the isolated magnetization property and pinning of domain wall during magnetization reversal. Temperature dependence of current-voltage characteristic of the planar-type tunnel junction consisting of NiFe/NiFe-oxide/NiFe indicated that the observed current was dominated by intrinsic tunneling current at the oxide barrier.

Surface electrical properties of stainless steel fibres: An AFM-based study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Jun; D'Haese, Cécile; Nysten, Bernard

2015-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) electrical modes were used to study the surface electrical properties of stainless steel fibres. The surface electrical conductivity was studied by current sensing AFM and I-V spectroscopy. Kelvin probe force microscopy was used to measure the surface contact potential. The oxide film, known as passivation layer, covering the fibre surface gives rise to the observation of an apparently semiconducting behaviour. The passivation layer generally exhibits a p-type semiconducting behaviour, which is attributed to the predominant formation of chromium oxide on the surface of the stainless steel fibres. At the nanoscale, different behaviours are observed from points to points, which may be attributed to local variations of the chemical composition and/or thickness of the passivation layer. I-V curves are well fitted with an electron tunnelling model, indicating that electron tunnelling may be the predominant mechanism for electron transport.

The effect of glycerin solution density and viscosity on vibration amplitude of oblique different piezoelectric MC near the surface in 3D modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korayem, A. H.; Abdi, M.; Korayem, M. H.

2018-06-01

The surface topography in nanoscale is one of the most important applications of AFM. The analysis of piezoelectric microcantilevers vibration behavior is essential to improve the AFM performance. To this end, one of the appropriate methods to simulate the dynamic behavior of microcantilever (MC) is a numerical solution with FEM in the 3D modeling using COMSOL software. The present study aims to simulate different geometries of the four-layered AFM piezoelectric MCs in 2D and 3D modeling in a liquid medium using COMSOL software. The 3D simulation was done in a spherical container using FSI domain in COMSOL. In 2D modeling by applying Hamilton's Principle based on Euler-Bernoulli Beam theory, the governing motion equation was derived and discretized with FEM. In this mode, the hydrodynamic force was assumed with a string of spheres. The effect of this force along with the squeezed-film force was considered on MC equations. The effect of fluid density and viscosity on the MC vibrations that immersed in different glycerin solutions was investigated in 2D and 3D modes and the results were compared with the experimental results. The frequencies and time responses of MC close to the surface were obtained considering tip-sample forces. The surface topography of MCs different geometries were compared in the liquid medium and the comparison was done in both tapping and non-contact mode. Various types of surface roughness were considered in the topography for MC different geometries. Also, the effect of geometric dimensions on the surface topography was investigated. In liquid medium, MC is installed at an oblique position to avoid damaging the MC due to the squeezed-film force in the vicinity of MC surface. Finally, the effect of MC's angle on surface topography and time response of the system was investigated.

Single molecular dynamic interactions between glycophorin A and lectin as probed by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Yan, Chao; Yersin, Alexandre; Afrin, Rehana; Sekiguchi, Hiroshi; Ikai, Atsushi

2009-09-01

Glycophorin A (GpA) is one of the most abundant transmembrane proteins in human erythrocytes and its interaction with lectins has been studied as model systems for erythrocyte related biological processes. We performed a force measurement study using the force mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the single molecular level biophysical mechanisms involved in GpA-lectin interactions. GpA was mounted on a mica surface or natively presented on the erythrocyte membrane and probed with an AFM tip coated with the monomeric but multivalent Psathyrella velutina lectin (PVL) through covalent crosslinkers. A dynamic force spectroscopy study revealed similar interaction properties in both cases, with the unbinding force centering around 60 pN with a weak loading rate dependence. Hence we identified the presence of one energy barrier in the unbinding process. Force profile analysis showed that more than 70% of GpAs are free of cytoskeletal associations in agreement with previous reports.

Microscopic Analysis of Current and Mechanical Properties of Nafion® Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Hiesgen, Renate; Helmly, Stefan; Galm, Ines; Morawietz, Tobias; Handl, Michael; Friedrich, K. Andreas

2012-01-01

The conductivity of fuel cell membranes as well as their mechanical properties at the nanometer scale were characterized using advanced tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. AFM produces high-resolution images under continuous current flow of the conductive structure at the membrane surface and provides some insight into the bulk conducting network in Nafion membranes. The correlation of conductivity with other mechanical properties, such as adhesion force, deformation and stiffness, were simultaneously measured with the current and provided an indication of subsurface phase separations and phase distribution at the surface of the membrane. The distribution of conductive pores at the surface was identified by the formation of water droplets. A comparison of nanostructure models with high-resolution current images is discussed in detail. PMID:24958429

Fast and controlled fabrication of porous graphene oxide: application of AFM tapping for mechano-chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Liangyong; Korobko, Alexander V.; Bus, Marcel; Boshuizen, Bart; Sudhölter, Ernst J. R.; Besseling, Nicolaas A. M.

2018-05-01

This paper describes a novel method to fabricate porous graphene oxide (PGO) from GO by exposure to oxygen plasma. Compared to other methods to fabricate PGO described so far, e.g. the thermal and steam etching methods, oxygen plasma etching method is much faster. We studied the development of the porosity with exposure time using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the development of PGO upon oxygen-plasma exposure can be controlled by tapping mode AFM scanning using a Si tip. AFM tapping stalls the growth of pores upon further plasma exposure at a level that coincides with the fraction of sp2 carbons in the GO starting material. We suggest that AFM tapping procedure changes the bond structure of the intermediate PGO structure, and these stabilized PGO structures cannot be further etched by oxygen plasma. This constitutes the first report of tapping AFM as a tool for local mechano-chemistry.

Fast and controlled fabrication of porous graphene oxide: application of AFM tapping for mechano-chemistry.

PubMed

Chu, Liangyong; Korobko, Alexander V; Bus, Marcel; Boshuizen, Bart; Sudhölter, Ernst J R; Besseling, Nicolaas A M

2018-05-04

This paper describes a novel method to fabricate porous graphene oxide (PGO) from GO by exposure to oxygen plasma. Compared to other methods to fabricate PGO described so far, e.g. the thermal and steam etching methods, oxygen plasma etching method is much faster. We studied the development of the porosity with exposure time using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the development of PGO upon oxygen-plasma exposure can be controlled by tapping mode AFM scanning using a Si tip. AFM tapping stalls the growth of pores upon further plasma exposure at a level that coincides with the fraction of sp 2 carbons in the GO starting material. We suggest that AFM tapping procedure changes the bond structure of the intermediate PGO structure, and these stabilized PGO structures cannot be further etched by oxygen plasma. This constitutes the first report of tapping AFM as a tool for local mechano-chemistry.

Nanoscale infrared (IR) spectroscopy and imaging of structural lipids in human stratum corneum using an atomic force microscope to directly detect absorbed light from a tunable IR laser source.

PubMed

Marcott, Curtis; Lo, Michael; Kjoller, Kevin; Domanov, Yegor; Balooch, Guive; Luengo, Gustavo S

2013-06-01

An atomic force microscope (AFM) and a tunable infrared (IR) laser source have been combined in a single instrument (AFM-IR) capable of producing ~200-nm spatial resolution IR spectra and absorption images. This new capability enables IR spectroscopic characterization of human stratum corneum at unprecendented levels. Samples of normal and delipidized stratum corneum were embedded, cross-sectioned and mounted on ZnSe prisms. A pulsed tunable IR laser source produces thermomechanical expansion upon absorption, which is detected through excitation of contact resonance modes in the AFM cantilever. In addition to reducing the total lipid content, the delipidization process damages the stratum corneum morphological structure. The delipidized stratum corneum shows substantially less long-chain CH2 -stretching IR absorption band intensity than normal skin. AFM-IR images that compare absorbances at 2930/cm (lipid) and 3290/cm (keratin) suggest that regions of higher lipid concentration are located at the perimeter of corneocytes in the normal stratum corneum. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Atomic force microscopy imaging of macromolecular complexes.

PubMed

Santos, Sergio; Billingsley, Daniel; Thomson, Neil

2013-01-01

This chapter reviews amplitude modulation (AM) AFM in air and its applications to high-resolution imaging and interpretation of macromolecular complexes. We discuss single DNA molecular imaging and DNA-protein interactions, such as those with topoisomerases and RNA polymerase. We show how relative humidity can have a major influence on resolution and contrast and how it can also affect conformational switching of supercoiled DNA. Four regimes of AFM tip-sample interaction in air are defined and described, and relate to water perturbation and/or intermittent mechanical contact of the tip with either the molecular sample or the surface. Precise control and understanding of the AFM operational parameters is shown to allow the user to switch between these different regimes: an interpretation of the origins of topographical contrast is given for each regime. Perpetual water contact is shown to lead to a high-resolution mode of operation, which we term SASS (small amplitude small set-point) imaging, and which maximizes resolution while greatly decreasing tip and sample wear and any noise due to perturbation of the surface water. Thus, this chapter provides sufficient information to reliably control the AFM in the AM AFM mode of operation in order to image both heterogeneous samples and single macromolecules including complexes, with high resolution and with reproducibility. A brief introduction to AFM, its versatility and applications to biology is also given while providing references to key work and general reviews in the field.

Chemical Phenomena of Atomic Force Microscopy Scanning

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ievlev, Anton V.; Brown, Chance; Burch, Matthew J.

Atomic force microscopy is widely used for nanoscale characterization of materials by scientists worldwide. The long-held belief of ambient AFM is that the tip is generally chemically inert but can be functionalized with respect to the studied sample. This implies that basic imaging and scanning procedures do not affect surface and bulk chemistry of the studied sample. However, an in-depth study of the confined chemical processes taking place at the tip–surface junction and the associated chemical changes to the material surface have been missing as of now. Here, we used a hybrid system that combines time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometrymore » with an atomic force microscopy to investigate the chemical interactions that take place at the tip–surface junction. Investigations showed that even basic contact mode AFM scanning is able to modify the surface of the studied sample. In particular, we found that the silicone oils deposited from the AFM tip into the scanned regions and spread to distances exceeding 15 μm from the tip. These oils were determined to come from standard gel boxes used for the storage of the tips. In conclusion, the explored phenomena are important for interpreting and understanding results of AFM mechanical and electrical studies relying on the state of the tip–surface junction.« less

Chemical Phenomena of Atomic Force Microscopy Scanning

DOE PAGES

Ievlev, Anton V.; Brown, Chance; Burch, Matthew J.; ...

2018-01-30

Atomic force microscopy is widely used for nanoscale characterization of materials by scientists worldwide. The long-held belief of ambient AFM is that the tip is generally chemically inert but can be functionalized with respect to the studied sample. This implies that basic imaging and scanning procedures do not affect surface and bulk chemistry of the studied sample. However, an in-depth study of the confined chemical processes taking place at the tip–surface junction and the associated chemical changes to the material surface have been missing as of now. Here, we used a hybrid system that combines time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometrymore » with an atomic force microscopy to investigate the chemical interactions that take place at the tip–surface junction. Investigations showed that even basic contact mode AFM scanning is able to modify the surface of the studied sample. In particular, we found that the silicone oils deposited from the AFM tip into the scanned regions and spread to distances exceeding 15 μm from the tip. These oils were determined to come from standard gel boxes used for the storage of the tips. In conclusion, the explored phenomena are important for interpreting and understanding results of AFM mechanical and electrical studies relying on the state of the tip–surface junction.« less

Measuring nanoscale viscoelastic parameters of cells directly from AFM force-displacement curves.

PubMed

Efremov, Yuri M; Wang, Wen-Horng; Hardy, Shana D; Geahlen, Robert L; Raman, Arvind

2017-05-08

Force-displacement (F-Z) curves are the most commonly used Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) mode to measure the local, nanoscale elastic properties of soft materials like living cells. Yet a theoretical framework has been lacking that allows the post-processing of F-Z data to extract their viscoelastic constitutive parameters. Here, we propose a new method to extract nanoscale viscoelastic properties of soft samples like living cells and hydrogels directly from conventional AFM F-Z experiments, thereby creating a common platform for the analysis of cell elastic and viscoelastic properties with arbitrary linear constitutive relations. The method based on the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle was validated using finite element (FE) simulations and by comparison with the existed AFM techniques on living cells and hydrogels. The method also allows a discrimination of which viscoelastic relaxation model, for example, standard linear solid (SLS) or power-law rheology (PLR), best suits the experimental data. The method was used to extract the viscoelastic properties of benign and cancerous cell lines (NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, NMuMG epithelial, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells). Finally, we studied the changes in viscoelastic properties related to tumorigenesis including TGF-β induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition on NMuMG cells and Syk expression induced phenotype changes in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Exploratory Study of RNA Polymerase II Using Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhodin, Thor; Umemura, Kazuo; Gad, Mohammed; Jarvis, Suzanne; Ishikawa, Mitsuru; Fu, Jianhua

2002-03-01

An exploratory study of the microtopological dimensions and shape features of yeast RNA polymerase II (y-poly II) on freshly cleaved mica was made in phosphate aqueous buffer solution at room temperature following previous work by Hansma and others. The molecules were imaged by stabilization on freshly cleaved mica at a limiting resolution of 10 Å and scanned using dynamical atomic force microscopy with a 10 nm multi-wall carbon nanotube in the resonance frequency modulation mode. They indicated microtopological shape and dimensional features similar to those predicted by electron density plots derived from the X-ray crystallographic model. It is concluded that this is considered primarily a feasibility study with definitive conclusions subject to more detailed systematic measurements of the 3D microtopology. These measurements appear to establish validity of the noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) approach into defining the primary microtopology and biochemical functionality of RNA polymerase II. Further nc-AFM studies at higher resolution using dynamical nc-AFM will be required to clearly define the detailed 3D microtopology of RNA polymerase II in anaerobic aqueous environments for both static and dynamic conditions.

Optimal sensitivity for molecular recognition MAC-mode AFM

PubMed

Schindler; Badt; Hinterdorfer; Kienberger; Raab; Wielert-Badt; Pastushenko

2000-02-01

Molecular recognition force microscopy (MRFM) using the magnetic AC mode (MAC mode) atomic force microscope (AFM) was recently investigated to locate and probe recognition sites. A flexible crosslinker carrying a ligand is bound to the tip for the molecular recognition of receptors on the surface of a sample. In this report, the driving frequency is calculated which optimizes the sensitivity (S). The sensitivity of MRFM is defined as the relative change of the magnetically excited cantilever deflection amplitude arising from a crosslinker/antibody/antigen connection that is characterized by a very small force constant. The sensitivity is calculated in a damped oscillator model with a certain value of quality factor Q, which, together with load, defines the frequency response (unloaded oscillator shows resonance at Q > 0.707). If Q < 1, the greatest value of S corresponds to zero driving frequency omega (measured in units of eigenfrequency). Therefore, for Q < 1, MAC-mode has no advantage in comparison with DC-mode. Two additional extremes are found at omegaL = (1 - 1/Q)(1/2) and omegaR = (1 + 1/Q)(1/2), with corresponding sensitivities S(L) = Q2/(2Q - 1), S(R) = Q2/(2Q + 1). The L-extreme exists only for Q > 1, and then S(L) > S(R), i.e. the L-extreme is the main one. For Q > 1, S(L) > 1, and for Q > 2.41, S(R) > 1. These are the critical Q-values, above which selecting driving frequency equal to sigmaL or sigmaR brings advantage to MAC mode vs. DC mode. Satisfactory quality of the oscillator model is demonstrated by comparison of some results with those calculated within the classical description of cantilevers.

Effect of tip polarity on Kelvin probe force microscopy images of thin insulator CaF2 films on Si(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurtsever, Ayhan; Sugimoto, Yoshiaki; Fukumoto, Masaki; Abe, Masayuki; Morita, Seizo

2012-08-01

We investigate thin insulating CaF2 films on a Si (111) surface using a combination of noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). Atomic-scale NC-AFM and KPFM images are obtained in different imaging modes by employing two different tip polarities. The KPFM image contrast and the distance-dependent variation of the local contact potential difference (LCPD) give rise to a tip-polarity-dependent contrast inversion. Ca2+ cations had a higher LCPD contrast than F- anions for a positively terminated tip, while the LCPD provided by a negatively charged tip gave a higher contrast for F- anions. Thus, this result implies that it is essential to determine the tip apex polarity to correctly interpret LCPD signals acquired by KPFM.

Characterization of chemically and enzymatically treated hemp fibres using atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, Michael; Mussone, Paolo G.; Abboud, Zeinab; Bressler, David C.

2014-09-01

The mechanical and moisture resistance properties of natural fibre reinforced composites are dependent on the adhesion between the matrix of choice and the fibre. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of NaOH swelling of hemp fibres prior to enzymatic treatment and a novel chemical sulfonic acid method on the physical properties of hemp fibres. The colloidal properties of treated hemp fibres were studied exclusively using an atomic force microscope. AFM imaging in tapping mode revealed that each treatment rendered the surface topography of the hemp fibres clean and exposed the individual fibre bundles. Hemp fibres treated with laccase had no effect on the surface adhesion forces measured. Interestingly, mercerization prior to xylanase + cellulase and laccase treatments resulted in greater enzyme access evident in the increased adhesion force measurements. Hemp fibres treated with sulfonic acid showed an increase in surface de-fibrillation and smoothness. A decrease in adhesion forces for 4-aminotoulene-3-sulfonic acid (AT3S) treated fibres suggested a reduction in surface polarity. This work demonstrated that AFM can be used as a tool to estimate the surface forces and roughness for modified fibres and that enzymatic coupled with chemical methods can be used to improve the surface properties of natural fibres for composite applications. Further, this work is one of the first that offers some insight into the effect of mercerization prior to enzymes and the effect on the surface topography. AFM will be used to selectively screen treated fibres for composite applications based on the adhesion forces associated with the colloidal interface between the AFM tip and the fibre surfaces.

Three-channel false colour AFM images for improved interpretation of complex surfaces: a study of filamentous cyanobacteria.

PubMed

Kurk, Toby; Adams, David G; Connell, Simon D; Thomson, Neil H

2010-05-01

Imaging signals derived from the atomic force microscope (AFM) are typically presented as separate adjacent images with greyscale or pseudo-colour palettes. We propose that information-rich false-colour composites are a useful means of presenting three-channel AFM image data. This method can aid the interpretation of complex surfaces and facilitate the perception of information that is convoluted across data channels. We illustrate this approach with images of filamentous cyanobacteria imaged in air and under aqueous buffer, using both deflection-modulation (contact) mode and amplitude-modulation (tapping) mode. Topography-dependent contrast in the error and tertiary signals aids the interpretation of the topography signal by contributing additional data, resulting in a more detailed image, and by showing variations in the probe-surface interaction. Moreover, topography-independent contrast and topography-dependent contrast in the tertiary data image (phase or friction) can be distinguished more easily as a consequence of the three dimensional colour-space.

Enhanced quality factors and force sensitivity by attaching magnetic beads to cantilevers for atomic force microscopy in liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoof, Sebastian; Nand Gosvami, Nitya; Hoogenboom, Bart W.

2012-12-01

Dynamic-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid remains complicated due to the strong viscous damping of the cantilever resonance. Here, we show that a high-quality resonance (Q >20) can be achieved in aqueous solution by attaching a microgram-bead at the end of the nanogram-cantilever. The resulting increase in cantilever mass causes the resonance frequency to drop significantly. However, the force sensitivity—as expressed via the minimum detectable force gradient—is hardly affected, because of the enhanced quality factor. Through the enhancement of the quality factor, the attached bead also reduces the relative importance of noise in the deflection detector. It can thus yield an improved signal-to-noise ratio when this detector noise is significant. We describe and analyze these effects for a set-up that includes magnetic actuation of the cantilevers and that can be easily implemented in any AFM system that is compatible with an inverted optical microscope.

High-speed broadband nanomechanical property quantification and imaging of life science materials using atomic force microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Juan

Nanoscale morphological characterization and mechanical properties quantification of soft and biological materials play an important role in areas ranging from nano-composite material synthesis and characterization, cellular mechanics to drug design. Frontier studies in these areas demand the coordination between nanoscale morphological evolution and mechanical behavior variations through simultaneous measurement of these two aspects of properties. Atomic force microscope (AFM) is very promising in achieving such simultaneous measurements at high-speed and broadband owing to its unique capability in applying force stimuli and then, measuring the response at specific locations in a physiologically friendly environment with pico-newton force and nanometer spatial resolution. Challenges, however, arise as current AFM systems are unable to account for the complex and coupled dynamics of the measurement system and probe-sample interaction during high-speed imaging and broadband measurements. In this dissertation, the creation of a set of dynamics and control tools to probe-based high-speed imaging and rapid broadband nanomechanical spectroscopy of soft and biological materials are presented. Firstly, advanced control-based approaches are presented to improve the imaging performance of AFM imaging both in air and in liquid. An adaptive contact mode (ACM) imaging scheme is proposed to replace the traditional contact mode (CM) imaging by addressing the major concerns in both the speed and the force exerted to the sample. In this work, the image distortion caused by the topography tracking error is accounted for in the topography quantification and the quantified sample topography is utilized in a gradient-based optimization method to adjust the cantilever deflection set-point for each scanline closely around the minimal level needed for maintaining a stable probe-sample contact, and a data-driven iterative feedforward control that utilizes a prediction of the next-line tracking is implemented to enhance the sample topography tracking. An adaptive multi-loop mode (AMLM) imaging approach is proposed to substantially increase the imaging speed of tapping mode (TM) while preserving the advantages of TM over CM by integrating an inner-outer feedback control loop to regulate the TM-deflection on top of the conventional TM-amplitude feedback control to improve the sample topography tracking. Experiments demonstrated that the proposed ACM and AMLM are capable of increasing the imaging speed by at least 20 times for conventional contact and tapping mode imaging, respectively, with no loss of imaging quality and well controlled tip-sample interaction force. In addition, an adaptive mode imaging for in-liquid topography quantification on live cells is presented. The experiment results demonstrated that instead of keeping constant scanning speed, the proposed speed optimization scheme is able to increase the imaging speed on live human prostate cancer cells by at least eight-fold with no loss of imaging quality. Secondly, control based approaches to accurate nanomechanical quantification on soft materials for both broadband and in-liquid force-curve measurements are proposed to address the adverse effects caused by the system coupling dynamics and the cantilever acceleration, which were not compensated for by the conventional AFM measurement approach. The proposed nanomechanical measurement approaches are demonstrated through experiments to measure the viscoelastic properties of different polymer samples in air and live human cells in liquid to study the variation of rate-dependent elastic modulus of cervix cancer cell during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process.

Electrostatic nanolithography in polymer materials: an alternative technique for nanostructures formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyuksyutov, Sergei F.; Paramonov, Pavel B.; Sigalov, Grigori; Vaia, Richard A.; Juhl, Shane; Sancaktar, Erol

2003-10-01

The combination of localized softening attolitres (10^2 -10^4) of polymer film by Jule heating, extremely non-uniform electric field gradients to polarize and manipulate the soften polymer, and single step technique using conventional atomic force microscopy (AFM), establishes a new paradigm for nanolithography in a broad class of polymer materials allowing rapid (order of milliseconds) creation of raised and depressed nanostructures without external heating of a polymer film of AFM tip-film contact [1]. In this work we present recent studies of AFM-assisted electrostatic nanolithography (AFMEN) such as amplitude-modulated AFMEN, and the humidity influence on nanostructures formation during contact mode AFMEN. It has been shown that the aspect ratio of nanostructures grows on the order of magnitude (0.2), while the lateral dimensions of nanodots decreases down to 10-15 nm. [1] S.F. Lyuksyutov, R.A. Vaia, P.B. Paramonov, S. Juhl, L. Waterhouse, R.M. Ralich, G. Sigalov, and E. Sancaktar, "Electrostatic nanolithography in polymers using atomic force microscopy," Nature Materials 2, 468-472 (2003)

The relation of apple texture with cell wall nanostructure studied using an atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Cybulska, Justyna; Zdunek, Artur; Psonka-Antonczyk, Katarzyna M; Stokke, Bjørn T

2013-01-30

In this study, the relation of the nanostructure of cell walls with their texture was investigated for six different apple cultivars. Cell wall material (CWM) and cellulose microfibrils were imaged by atomic force microscope (AFM). The mean diameter of cellulose microfibrils for each cultivar was estimated based on the AFM height topographs obtained using the tapping mode of dried specimens. Additionally, crystallinity of cellulose microfibrils and pectin content was determined. Texture of apple cultivars was evaluated by sensory and instrumental analysis. Differences in cellulose diameter as determined from the AFM height topographs of the nanostructure of cell walls of the apple cultivars are found to relate to the degree of crystallinity and pectin content. Cultivars with thicker cellulose microfibrils also revealed crisper, harder and juicier texture, and greater acoustic emission. The data suggest that microfibril thickness affects the mechanical strength of cell walls which has consequences for sensory and instrumental texture. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design and Realization of 3D Printed AFM Probes.

PubMed

Alsharif, Nourin; Burkatovsky, Anna; Lissandrello, Charles; Jones, Keith M; White, Alice E; Brown, Keith A

2018-05-01

Atomic force microscope (AFM) probes and AFM imaging by extension are the product of exceptionally refined silicon micromachining, but are also restricted by the limitations of these fabrication techniques. Here, the nanoscale additive manufacturing technique direct laser writing is explored as a method to print monolithic cantilevered probes for AFM. Not only are 3D printed probes found to function effectively for AFM, but they also confer several advantages, most notably the ability to image in intermittent contact mode with a bandwidth approximately ten times larger than analogous silicon probes. In addition, the arbitrary structural control afforded by 3D printing is found to enable programming the modal structure of the probe, a capability that can be useful in the context of resonantly amplifying nonlinear tip-sample interactions. Collectively, these results show that 3D printed probes complement those produced using conventional silicon micromachining and open the door to new imaging techniques. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Digital force-feedback for protein unfolding experiments using atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bippes, Christian A.; Janovjak, Harald; Kedrov, Alexej; Muller, Daniel J.

2007-01-01

Since its invention in the 1990s single-molecule force spectroscopy has been increasingly applied to study protein (un-)folding, cell adhesion, and ligand-receptor interactions. In most force spectroscopy studies, the cantilever of an atomic force microscope (AFM) is separated from a surface at a constant velocity, thus applying an increasing force to folded bio-molecules or bio-molecular bonds. Recently, Fernandez and co-workers introduced the so-called force-clamp technique. Single proteins were subjected to a defined constant force allowing their life times and life time distributions to be directly measured. Up to now, the force-clamping was performed by analogue PID controllers, which require complex additional hardware and might make it difficult to combine the force-feedback with other modes such as constant velocity. These points may be limiting the applicability and versatility of this technique. Here we present a simple, fast, and all-digital (software-based) PID controller that yields response times of a few milliseconds in combination with a commercial AFM. We demonstrate the performance of our feedback loop by force-clamp unfolding of single Ig27 domains of titin and the membrane proteins bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and the sodium/proton antiporter NhaA.

Near-field deformation of a liquid interface by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Mortagne, C; Chireux, V; Ledesma-Alonso, R; Ogier, M; Risso, F; Ondarçuhu, T; Legendre, D; Tordjeman, Ph

2017-07-01

We experiment the interaction between a liquid puddle and a spherical probe by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for a probe radius R ranging from 10 nm to 30 μm. We have developed a new experimental setup by coupling an AFM with a high-speed camera and an inverted optical microscope. Interaction force-distance curves (in contact mode) and frequency shift-distance curves (in frequency modulation mode) are measured for different bulk model liquids for which the probe-liquid Hamaker constant H_{pl} is known. The experimental results, analyzed in the frame of the theoretical model developed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 106104 (2012)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.108.106104 and Phys. Rev. E 85, 061602 (2012)PLEEE81539-375510.1103/PhysRevE.85.061602, allow to determine the "jump-to-contact" critical distance d_{min} below which the liquid jumps and wets the probe. Comparison between theory and experiments shows that the probe-liquid interaction at nanoscale is controlled by the liquid interface deformation. This work shows a very good agreement between the theoretical model and the experiments and paves the way to experimental studies of liquids at the nanoscale.

Near-field deformation of a liquid interface by atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mortagne, C.; Chireux, V.; Ledesma-Alonso, R.; Ogier, M.; Risso, F.; Ondarçuhu, T.; Legendre, D.; Tordjeman, Ph.

2017-07-01

We experiment the interaction between a liquid puddle and a spherical probe by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for a probe radius R ranging from 10 nm to 30 μ m . We have developed a new experimental setup by coupling an AFM with a high-speed camera and an inverted optical microscope. Interaction force-distance curves (in contact mode) and frequency shift-distance curves (in frequency modulation mode) are measured for different bulk model liquids for which the probe-liquid Hamaker constant Hp l is known. The experimental results, analyzed in the frame of the theoretical model developed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 106104 (2012), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.106104 and Phys. Rev. E 85, 061602 (2012), 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.061602, allow to determine the "jump-to-contact" critical distance dmin below which the liquid jumps and wets the probe. Comparison between theory and experiments shows that the probe-liquid interaction at nanoscale is controlled by the liquid interface deformation. This work shows a very good agreement between the theoretical model and the experiments and paves the way to experimental studies of liquids at the nanoscale.

Spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy of biomass.

PubMed

Tetard, L; Passian, A; Farahi, R H; Kalluri, U C; Davison, B H; Thundat, T

2010-05-01

Scanning probe microscopy has emerged as a powerful approach to a broader understanding of the molecular architecture of cell walls, which may shed light on the challenge of efficient cellulosic ethanol production. We have obtained preliminary images of both Populus and switchgrass samples using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results show distinctive features that are shared by switchgrass and Populus. These features may be attributable to the lignocellulosic cell wall composition, as the collected images exhibit the characteristic macromolecular globule structures attributable to the lignocellulosic systems. Using both AFM and a single case of mode synthesizing atomic force microscopy (MSAFM) to characterize Populus, we obtained images that clearly show the cell wall structure. The results are of importance in providing a better understanding of the characteristic features of both mature cells as well as developing plant cells. In addition, we present spectroscopic investigation of the same samples.

Quantification of surface displacements and electromechanical phenomena via dynamic atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Balke, Nina; Jesse, Stephen; Yu, Pu

Detection of dynamic surface displacements associated with local changes in material strain provides access to a number of phenomena and material properties. Contact resonance-enhanced methods of atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been shown capable of detecting ~1–3 pm-level surface displacements, an approach used in techniques such as piezoresponse force microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy, and ultrasonic force microscopy. Here, based on an analytical model of AFM cantilever vibrations, we demonstrate a guideline to quantify surface displacements with high accuracy by taking into account the cantilever shape at the first resonant contact mode, depending on the tip–sample contact stiffness. The approachmore » has been experimentally verified and further developed for piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) using well-defined ferroelectric materials. These results open up a way to accurate and precise measurements of surface displacement as well as piezoelectric constants at the pm-scale with nanometer spatial resolution and will allow avoiding erroneous data interpretations and measurement artifacts. Furthermore, this analysis is directly applicable to all cantilever-resonance-based scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques.« less

Quantification of surface displacements and electromechanical phenomena via dynamic atomic force microscopy

DOE PAGES

Balke, Nina; Jesse, Stephen; Yu, Pu; ...

2016-09-15

Detection of dynamic surface displacements associated with local changes in material strain provides access to a number of phenomena and material properties. Contact resonance-enhanced methods of atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been shown capable of detecting ~1–3 pm-level surface displacements, an approach used in techniques such as piezoresponse force microscopy, atomic force acoustic microscopy, and ultrasonic force microscopy. Here, based on an analytical model of AFM cantilever vibrations, we demonstrate a guideline to quantify surface displacements with high accuracy by taking into account the cantilever shape at the first resonant contact mode, depending on the tip–sample contact stiffness. The approachmore » has been experimentally verified and further developed for piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) using well-defined ferroelectric materials. These results open up a way to accurate and precise measurements of surface displacement as well as piezoelectric constants at the pm-scale with nanometer spatial resolution and will allow avoiding erroneous data interpretations and measurement artifacts. Furthermore, this analysis is directly applicable to all cantilever-resonance-based scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques.« less

Transformation twinning of Ni-Mn-Ga characterized with temperature-controlled atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Reinhold, Matthew; Watson, Chad; Knowlton, William B; Müllner, Peter

2010-06-01

The magnetomechanical properties of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni-Mn-Ga single crystals depend strongly on the twin microstructure, which can be modified through thermomagnetomechanical training. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) were used to characterize the evolution of twin microstructures during thermomechanical training of a Ni-Mn-Ga single crystal. Experiments were performed in the martensite phase at 25 degrees C and in the austenite phase at 55 degrees C. Two distinct twinning surface reliefs were observed at room temperature. At elevated temperature (55 degrees C), the surface relief of one twinning mode disappeared while the other relief remained unchanged. When cooled back to 25 degrees C, the twin surface relief recovered. The relief persisting at elevated temperature specifies the positions of twin boundaries that were present when the sample was polished prior to surface characterization. AFM and MFM following thermomechanical treatment provide a nondestructive method to identify the crystallographic orientation of each twin and of each twin boundary plane. Temperature dependent AFM and MFM experiments reveal the twinning history thereby establishing the technique as a unique predictive tool for revealing the path of the martensitic and reverse transformations of magnetic shape memory alloys.

Transformation twinning of Ni–Mn–Ga characterized with temperature-controlled atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Reinhold, Matthew; Watson, Chad; Knowlton, William B.; Müllner, Peter

2010-01-01

The magnetomechanical properties of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals depend strongly on the twin microstructure, which can be modified through thermomagnetomechanical training. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) were used to characterize the evolution of twin microstructures during thermomechanical training of a Ni–Mn–Ga single crystal. Experiments were performed in the martensite phase at 25 °C and in the austenite phase at 55 °C. Two distinct twinning surface reliefs were observed at room temperature. At elevated temperature (55 °C), the surface relief of one twinning mode disappeared while the other relief remained unchanged. When cooled back to 25 °C, the twin surface relief recovered. The relief persisting at elevated temperature specifies the positions of twin boundaries that were present when the sample was polished prior to surface characterization. AFM and MFM following thermomechanical treatment provide a nondestructive method to identify the crystallographic orientation of each twin and of each twin boundary plane. Temperature dependent AFM and MFM experiments reveal the twinning history thereby establishing the technique as a unique predictive tool for revealing the path of the martensitic and reverse transformations of magnetic shape memory alloys. PMID:20589105

Atomic Force Microscopy: A Powerful Tool to Address Scaffold Design in Tissue Engineering.

PubMed

Marrese, Marica; Guarino, Vincenzo; Ambrosio, Luigi

2017-02-13

Functional polymers currently represent a basic component of a large range of biological and biomedical applications including molecular release, tissue engineering, bio-sensing and medical imaging. Advancements in these fields are driven by the use of a wide set of biodegradable polymers with controlled physical and bio-interactive properties. In this context, microscopy techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are emerging as fundamental tools to deeply investigate morphology and structural properties at micro and sub-micrometric scale, in order to evaluate the in time relationship between physicochemical properties of biomaterials and biological response. In particular, AFM is not only a mere tool for screening surface topography, but may offer a significant contribution to understand surface and interface properties, thus concurring to the optimization of biomaterials performance, processes, physical and chemical properties at the micro and nanoscale. This is possible by capitalizing the recent discoveries in nanotechnologies applied to soft matter such as atomic force spectroscopy to measure surface forces through force curves. By tip-sample local interactions, several information can be collected such as elasticity, viscoelasticity, surface charge densities and wettability. This paper overviews recent developments in AFM technology and imaging techniques by remarking differences in operational modes, the implementation of advanced tools and their current application in biomaterials science, in terms of characterization of polymeric devices in different forms (i.e., fibres, films or particles).

Atomic force microscope based on vertical silicon probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walter, Benjamin; Mairiaux, Estelle; Faucher, Marc

2017-06-01

A family of silicon micro-sensors for Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is presented that allows to operate with integrated transducers from medium to high frequencies together with moderate stiffness constants. The sensors are based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems technology. The vertical design specifically enables a long tip to oscillate perpendicularly to the surface to be imaged. The tip is part of a resonator including quasi-flexural composite beams, and symmetrical transducers that can be used as piezoresistive detector and/or electro-thermal actuator. Two vertical probes (Vprobes) were operated up to 4.3 MHz with stiffness constants 150 N/m to 500 N/m and the capability to oscillate from 10 pm to 90 nm. AFM images of several samples both in amplitude modulation (tapping-mode) and in frequency modulation were obtained.

Tip induced mechanical deformation of epitaxial graphene grown on reconstructed 6H-SiC(0001) surface during scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy studies.

PubMed

Meza, José Antonio Morán; Lubin, Christophe; Thoyer, François; Cousty, Jacques

2015-01-26

The structural and mechanical properties of an epitaxial graphene (EG) monolayer thermally grown on top of a 6H-SiC(0001) surface were studied by combined dynamic scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). Experimental STM, dynamic STM and AFM images of EG on 6H-SiC(0001) show a lattice with a 1.9 nm period corresponding to the (6 × 6) quasi-cell of the SiC surface. The corrugation amplitude of this (6 × 6) quasi-cell, measured from AFM topographies, increases with the setpoint value of the frequency shift Δf (15-20 Hz, repulsive interaction). Excitation variations map obtained simultaneously with the AFM topography shows that larger dissipation values are measured in between the topographical bumps of the (6 × 6) quasi-cell. These results demonstrate that the AFM tip deforms the graphene monolayer. During recording in dynamic STM mode, a frequency shift (Δf) map is obtained in which Δf values range from 41 to 47 Hz (repulsive interaction). As a result, we deduced that the STM tip, also, provokes local mechanical distortions of the graphene monolayer. The origin of these tip-induced distortions is discussed in terms of electronic and mechanical properties of EG on 6H-SiC(0001).

Evolution of nano-rheological properties of Nafion¯ thin films during pH modification by strong base treatment: A static and dynamic force spectroscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eslami, Babak; López-Guerra, Enrique A.; Raftari, Maryam; Solares, Santiago D.

2016-04-01

Addition of a strong base to Nafion® proton exchange membranes is a common practice in industry to increase their overall performance in fuel cells. Here, we investigate the evolution of the nano-rheological properties of Nafion thin films as a function of the casting pH, via characterization with static and dynamic, contact and intermittent-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The addition of KOH causes non-monotonic changes in the viscoelastic properties of the films, which behave as highly dissipative, softer materials near neutral pH values, and as harder, more elastic materials at extreme pH values. We quantify this behavior through calculation of the temporal evolution of the compliance and the glassy compliance under static AFM measurements. We complement these observations with dynamic AFM metrics, including dissipated power and virial (for intermittent-contact-mode measurements), and contact resonance frequency and quality factor (for dynamic contact-mode measurements). We explain the non-monotonic material property behavior in terms of the degree of ionic crosslinking and moisture content of the films, which vary with the addition of KOH. This work focuses on the special case study of the addition of strong bases, but the observed mechanical property changes are broadly related to water plasticizing effects and ionic crosslinking, which are also important in other types of films.

Formation of a memristor matrix based on titanium oxide and investigation by probe-nanotechnology methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Avilov, V. I.; Ageev, O. A.; Kolomiitsev, A. S.

2014-12-15

The results of investigation of a memristor-matrix model on the basis of titanium-oxide nanoscale structures (ONSs) fabricated by methods of focused ion beams and atomic-force microscopy (AFM) are presented. The effect of the intensity of interaction between the AFM probe and the sample surface on the memristor effect in the titanium ONS is shown. The memristor effect in the titanium ONS is investigated by an AFM in the mode of spreading-resistance map. The possibility of the recording and erasure of information in the submicron cells is shown on the basis of using the memristor effect in the titanium ONS, whichmore » is most promising for developing the technological processes of the formation of resistive operation memory cells.« less

Direct Imaging of Protein Organization in an Intact Bacterial Organelle Using High-Resolution Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The function of bioenergetic membranes is strongly influenced by the spatial arrangement of their constituent membrane proteins. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to probe protein organization at high resolution, allowing individual proteins to be identified. However, previous AFM studies of biological membranes have typically required that curved membranes are ruptured and flattened during sample preparation, with the possibility of disruption of the native protein arrangement or loss of proteins. Imaging native, curved membranes requires minimal tip–sample interaction in both lateral and vertical directions. Here, long-range tip–sample interactions are reduced by optimizing the imaging buffer. Tapping mode AFM with high-resonance-frequency small and soft cantilevers, in combination with a high-speed AFM, reduces the forces due to feedback error and enables application of an average imaging force of tens of piconewtons. Using this approach, we have imaged the membrane organization of intact vesicular bacterial photosynthetic “organelles”, chromatophores. Despite the highly curved nature of the chromatophore membrane and lack of direct support, the resolution was sufficient to identify the photosystem complexes and quantify their arrangement in the native state. Successive imaging showed the proteins remain surprisingly static, with minimal rotation or translation over several-minute time scales. High-order assemblies of RC-LH1-PufX complexes are observed, and intact ATPases are successfully imaged. The methods developed here are likely to be applicable to a broad range of protein-rich vesicles or curved membrane systems, which are an almost ubiquitous feature of native organelles. PMID:28114766

Resolving dual binding conformations of cellulosome cohesin-dockerin complexes using single-molecule force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Jobst, Markus A; Milles, Lukas F; Schoeler, Constantin; Ott, Wolfgang; Fried, Daniel B; Bayer, Edward A; Gaub, Hermann E; Nash, Michael A

2015-10-31

Receptor-ligand pairs are ordinarily thought to interact through a lock and key mechanism, where a unique molecular conformation is formed upon binding. Contrary to this paradigm, cellulosomal cohesin-dockerin (Coh-Doc) pairs are believed to interact through redundant dual binding modes consisting of two distinct conformations. Here, we combined site-directed mutagenesis and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to study the unbinding of Coh:Doc complexes under force. We designed Doc mutations to knock out each binding mode, and compared their single-molecule unfolding patterns as they were dissociated from Coh using an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever. Although average bulk measurements were unable to resolve the differences in Doc binding modes due to the similarity of the interactions, with a single-molecule method we were able to discriminate the two modes based on distinct differences in their mechanical properties. We conclude that under native conditions wild-type Doc from Clostridium thermocellum exocellulase Cel48S populates both binding modes with similar probabilities. Given the vast number of Doc domains with predicted dual binding modes across multiple bacterial species, our approach opens up new possibilities for understanding assembly and catalytic properties of a broad range of multi-enzyme complexes.

Friction measurements on InAs NWs by AFM manipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pettersson, Hakan; Conache, Gabriela; Gray, Struan; Bordag, Michael; Ribayrol, Aline; Froberg, Linus; Samuelson, Lars; Montelius, Lars

2008-03-01

We discuss a new approach to measure the friction force between elastically deformed nanowires and a surface. The wires are bent, using an AFM, into an equilibrium shape determined by elastic restoring forces within the wire and friction between the wire and the surface. From measurements of the radius of curvature of the bent wires, elasticity theory allows the friction force per unit length to be calculated. We have studied friction properties of InAs nanowires deposited on SiO2, silanized SiO2 and Si3N4 substrates. The wires were typically from 0.5 to a few microns long, with diameters varying between 20 and 80 nm. Manipulation is done in a `Retrace Lift' mode, where feedback is turned off for the reverse scan and the tip follows a nominal path. The effective manipulation force during the reverse scan can be changed by varying an offset in the height of the tip over the surface. We will report on interesting static- and sliding friction experiments with nanowires on the different substrates, including how the friction force per unit length varies with the diameter of the wires.

Dynamic characterization of AFM probes by laser Doppler vibrometry and stroboscopic holographic methodologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuppers, J. D.; Gouverneur, I. M.; Rodgers, M. T.; Wenger, J.; Furlong, C.

2006-08-01

In atomic probe microscopy, micro-probes of various sizes, geometries, and materials are used to define the interface between the samples under investigation and the measuring detectors and instrumentation. Therefore, measuring resolution in atomic probe microscopy is highly dependent on the transfer function characterizing the micro-probes used. In this paper, characterization of the dynamic transfer function of specific micro-cantilever probes used in an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) operating in the tapping mode is presented. Characterization is based on the combined application of laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) and real-time stroboscopic optoelectronic holographic microscopy (OEHM) methodologies. LDV is used for the rapid measurement of the frequency response of the probes due to an excitation function containing multiple frequency components. Data obtained from the measured frequency response is used to identify the principal harmonics. In order to identify mode shapes corresponding to the harmonics, full-field of view OEHM is applied. This is accomplished by measurements of motion at various points on the excitation curve surrounding the identified harmonics. It is shown that the combined application of LDV and OEHM enables the high-resolution characterization of mode shapes of vibration, damping characteristics, as well as transient response of the micro-cantilever probes. Such characterization is necessary in high-resolution AFM measurements.

Athermalization in atomic force microscope based force spectroscopy using matched microstructure coupling.

PubMed

Torun, H; Finkler, O; Degertekin, F L

2009-07-01

The authors describe a method for athermalization in atomic force microscope (AFM) based force spectroscopy applications using microstructures that thermomechanically match the AFM probes. The method uses a setup where the AFM probe is coupled with the matched structure and the displacements of both structures are read out simultaneously. The matched structure displaces with the AFM probe as temperature changes, thus the force applied to the sample can be kept constant without the need for a separate feedback loop for thermal drift compensation, and the differential signal can be used to cancel the shift in zero-force level of the AFM.

Improved AFM Mapping of ICF Target Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, D. K.; Drake, T.; Frey, D.; Huang, H.; Stephens, R. B.

2003-10-01

Targets for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) research are made from spherical shells with very strict requirements on surface smoothness. Hydrodynamic instabilities are amplified by the presence of surface defects, greatly reducing the gain of ICF targets. Sub-micron variations in the surface can be examined using an Atomic Force Microscope. The current sphere mapping assembly at General Atomics is designed to trace near the equator of a rotating sphere under the AFM head. Spheres are traced on three mutually orthogonal planes. The ˜10 mm piezo-electric actuator range limits how far off the equator we can scan spheres of millimeter diameter. Because only a small fraction of the target's surface can be covered, localized high-mode defects are difficult to detect. In order to meet the needs of ICF research, we need to scan more surface area of the sphere with the AFM. By integrating an additional stepping motor to the sphere mapping assembly, we will be able to recenter the piezo driver of the AFM while mapping. This additional ability allows us to increase the amount of the sphere's surface we are able to scan with the AFM by extending the range of the AFM from the sphere's equator.

Advanced atomic force microscopy: Development and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walters, Deron A.

Over the decade since atomic force microscopy (AFM) was invented, development of new microscopes has been closely intertwined with application of AFM to problems of interest in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. New techniques such as tapping mode AFM move quickly in our lab from the designer's bench to the user's table-since this is often the same piece of furniture. In return, designers get ample feedback as to what problems are limiting current instruments, and thus need most urgent attention. Tip sharpness and characterization are such a problem. Chapter 1 describes an AFM designed to operate in a scanning electron microscope, whose electron beam is used to deposit sharp carbonaceous tips. These tips can be tested and used in situ. Another limitation is addressed in Chapter 2: the difficulty of extracting more than just topographic information from a sample. A combined AFM/confocal optical microscope was built to provide simultaneous, independent images of the topography and fluorescence of a sample. In combination with staining or antibody labelling, this could provide submicron information about the composition of a sample. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss two generations of small cantilevers developed for lower-noise, higher-speed AFM of biological samples. In Chapter 4, a 26 mum cantilever is used to image the process of calcite growth from solution at a rate of 1.6 sec/frame. Finally, Chapter 5 explores in detail a biophysics problem that motivates us to develop fast, quiet, and gentle microscopes; namely, the control of crystal growth in seashells by the action of soluble proteins on a growing calcite surface.

Insulated Conducting Cantilevered Nanotips and Two-Chamber Recording System for High Resolution Ion Sensing AFM

PubMed Central

Meckes, Brian; Arce, Fernando Teran; Connelly, Laura S.; Lal, Ratnesh

2014-01-01

Biological membranes contain ion channels, which are nanoscale pores allowing controlled ionic transport and mediating key biological functions underlying normal/abnormal living. Synthetic membranes with defined pores are being developed to control various processes, including filtration of pollutants, charge transport for energy storage, and separation of fluids and molecules. Although ionic transport (currents) can be measured with single channel resolution, imaging their structure and ionic currents simultaneously is difficult. Atomic force microscopy enables high resolution imaging of nanoscale structures and can be modified to measure ionic currents simultaneously. Moreover, the ionic currents can also be used to image structures. A simple method for fabricating conducting AFM cantilevers to image pore structures at high resolution is reported. Tungsten microwires with nanoscale tips are insulated except at the apex. This allows simultaneous imaging via cantilever deflections in normal AFM force feedback mode as well as measuring localized ionic currents. These novel probes measure ionic currents as small as picoampere while providing nanoscale spatial resolution surface topography and is suitable for measuring ionic currents and conductance of biological ion channels. PMID:24663394

Defects in oxide surfaces studied by atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy

PubMed Central

König, Thomas; Simon, Georg H; Heinke, Lars; Lichtenstein, Leonid

2011-01-01

Summary Surfaces of thin oxide films were investigated by means of a dual mode NC-AFM/STM. Apart from imaging the surface termination by NC-AFM with atomic resolution, point defects in magnesium oxide on Ag(001) and line defects in aluminum oxide on NiAl(110), respectively, were thoroughly studied. The contact potential was determined by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and the electronic structure by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). On magnesium oxide, different color centers, i.e., F0, F+, F2+ and divacancies, have different effects on the contact potential. These differences enabled classification and unambiguous differentiation by KPFM. True atomic resolution shows the topography at line defects in aluminum oxide. At these domain boundaries, STS and KPFM verify F2+-like centers, which have been predicted by density functional theory calculations. Thus, by determining the contact potential and the electronic structure with a spatial resolution in the nanometer range, NC-AFM and STM can be successfully applied on thin oxide films beyond imaging the topography of the surface atoms. PMID:21977410

Actuation of atomic force microscopy microcantilevers using contact acoustic nonlinearities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torello, D.; Degertekin, F. Levent, E-mail: levent.degertekin@me.gatech.edu

2013-11-15

A new method of actuating atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers is proposed in which a high frequency (>5 MHz) wave modulated by a lower frequency (∼300 kHz) wave passes through a contact acoustic nonlinearity at the contact interface between the actuator and the cantilever chip. The nonlinearity converts the high frequency, modulated signal to a low frequency drive signal suitable for actuation of tapping-mode AFM probes. The higher harmonic content of this signal is filtered out mechanically by the cantilever transfer function, providing for clean output. A custom probe holder was designed and constructed using rapid prototyping technologies and off-the-shelfmore » components and was interfaced with an Asylum Research MFP-3D AFM, which was then used to evaluate the performance characteristics with respect to standard hardware and linear actuation techniques. Using a carrier frequency of 14.19 MHz, it was observed that the cantilever output was cleaner with this actuation technique and added no significant noise to the system. This setup, without any optimization, was determined to have an actuation bandwidth on the order of 10 MHz, suitable for high speed imaging applications. Using this method, an image was taken that demonstrates the viability of the technique and is compared favorably to images taken with a standard AFM setup.« less

Atomic force microscopy for two-dimensional materials: A tutorial review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hang; Huang, Junxiang; Wang, Yongwei; Liu, Rui; Huai, Xiulan; Jiang, Jingjing; Anfuso, Chantelle

2018-01-01

Low dimensional materials exhibit distinct properties compared to their bulk counterparts. A plethora of examples have been demonstrated in two-dimensional (2-D) materials, including graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). These novel and intriguing properties at the nano-, molecular- and even monatomic scales have triggered tremendous interest and research, from fundamental studies to practical applications and even device fabrication. The unique behaviors of 2-D materials result from the special structure-property relationships that exist between surface topographical variations and mechanical responses, electronic structures, optical characteristics, and electrochemical properties. These relationships are generally convoluted and sensitive to ambient and external perturbations. Characterizing these systems thus requires techniques capable of providing multidimensional information under controlled environments, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM). Today, AFM plays a key role in exploring the basic principles underlying the functionality of 2-D materials. In this tutorial review, we provide a brief introduction to some of the unique properties of 2-D materials, followed by a summary of the basic principles of AFM and the various AFM modes most appropriate for studying these systems. Following that, we will focus on five important properties of 2-D materials and their characterization in more detail, including recent literature examples. These properties include nanomechanics, nanoelectromechanics, nanoelectrics, nanospectroscopy, and nanoelectrochemistry.

Sharp-Tip Silver Nanowires Mounted on Cantilevers for High-Aspect-Ratio High-Resolution Imaging.

PubMed

Ma, Xuezhi; Zhu, Yangzhi; Kim, Sanggon; Liu, Qiushi; Byrley, Peter; Wei, Yang; Zhang, Jin; Jiang, Kaili; Fan, Shoushan; Yan, Ruoxue; Liu, Ming

2016-11-09

Despite many efforts to fabricate high-aspect-ratio atomic force microscopy (HAR-AFM) probes for high-fidelity, high-resolution topographical imaging of three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured surfaces, current HAR probes still suffer from unsatisfactory performance, low wear-resistivity, and extravagant prices. The primary objective of this work is to demonstrate a novel design of a high-resolution (HR) HAR AFM probe, which is fabricated through a reliable, cost-efficient benchtop process to precisely implant a single ultrasharp metallic nanowire on a standard AFM cantilever probe. The force-displacement curve indicated that the HAR-HR probe is robust against buckling and bending up to 150 nN. The probes were tested on polymer trenches, showing a much better image fidelity when compared with standard silicon tips. The lateral resolution, when scanning a rough metal thin film and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW-CNTs), was found to be better than 8 nm. Finally, stable imaging quality in tapping mode was demonstrated for at least 15 continuous scans indicating high resistance to wear. These results demonstrate a reliable benchtop fabrication technique toward metallic HAR-HR AFM probes with performance parallel or exceeding that of commercial HAR probes, yet at a fraction of their cost.

Membrane-based actuation for high-speed single molecule force spectroscopy studies using AFM.

PubMed

Sarangapani, Krishna; Torun, Hamdi; Finkler, Ofer; Zhu, Cheng; Degertekin, Levent

2010-07-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based dynamic force spectroscopy of single molecular interactions involves characterizing unbinding/unfolding force distributions over a range of pulling speeds. Owing to their size and stiffness, AFM cantilevers are adversely affected by hydrodynamic forces, especially at pulling speeds >10 microm/s, when the viscous drag becomes comparable to the unbinding/unfolding forces. To circumvent these adverse effects, we have fabricated polymer-based membranes capable of actuating commercial AFM cantilevers at speeds >or=100 microm/s with minimal viscous drag effects. We have used FLUENT, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, to simulate high-speed pulling and fast actuation of AFM cantilevers and membranes in different experimental configurations. The simulation results support the experimental findings on a variety of commercial AFM cantilevers and predict significant reduction in drag forces when membrane actuators are used. Unbinding force experiments involving human antibodies using these membranes demonstrate that it is possible to achieve bond loading rates >or=10(6) pN/s, an order of magnitude greater than that reported with commercial AFM cantilevers and systems.

Single- and multi-frequency detection of surface displacements via scanning probe microscopy.

PubMed

Romanyuk, Konstantin; Luchkin, Sergey Yu; Ivanov, Maxim; Kalinin, Arseny; Kholkin, Andrei L

2015-02-01

Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) provides a novel opportunity to detect picometer-level displacements induced by an electric field applied through a conducting tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Recently, it was discovered that superb vertical sensitivity provided by PFM is high enough to monitor electric-field-induced ionic displacements in solids, the technique being referred to as electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM). ESM has been implemented only in multi-frequency detection modes such as dual AC resonance tracking (DART) and band excitation, where the response is recorded within a finite frequency range, typically around the first contact resonance. In this paper, we analyze and compare signal-to-noise ratios of the conventional single-frequency method with multi-frequency regimes of measuring surface displacements. Single-frequency detection ESM is demonstrated using a commercial AFM.

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy in ambient environments utilizing robust feedback tuning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilpatrick, J. I.; Gannepalli, A.; Cleveland, J. P.; Jarvis, S. P.

2009-02-01

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) is rapidly evolving as the technique of choice in the pursuit of high resolution imaging of biological samples in ambient environments. The enhanced stability afforded by this dynamic AFM mode combined with quantitative analysis enables the study of complex biological systems, at the nanoscale, in their native physiological environment. The operational bandwidth and accuracy of constant amplitude FM-AFM in low Q environments is heavily dependent on the cantilever dynamics and the performance of the demodulation and feedback loops employed to oscillate the cantilever at its resonant frequency with a constant amplitude. Often researchers use ad hoc feedback gains or instrument default values that can result in an inability to quantify experimental data. Poor choice of gains or exceeding the operational bandwidth can result in imaging artifacts and damage to the tip and/or sample. To alleviate this situation we present here a methodology to determine feedback gains for the amplitude and frequency loops that are specific to the cantilever and its environment, which can serve as a reasonable "first guess," thus making quantitative FM-AFM in low Q environments more accessible to the nonexpert. This technique is successfully demonstrated for the low Q systems of air (Q ˜40) and water (Q ˜1). In addition, we present FM-AFM images of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells acquired using the gains calculated by this methodology demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique.

Combined low-temperature scanning tunneling/atomic force microscope for atomic resolution imaging and site-specific force spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schwarz, Udo; Albers, Boris J.; Liebmann, Marcus

2008-02-27

The authors present the design and first results of a low-temperature, ultrahigh vacuum scanning probe microscope enabling atomic resolution imaging in both scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) modes. A tuning-fork-based sensor provides flexibility in selecting probe tip materials, which can be either metallic or nonmetallic. When choosing a conducting tip and sample, simultaneous STM/NC-AFM data acquisition is possible. Noticeable characteristics that distinguish this setup from similar systems providing simultaneous STM/NC-AFM capabilities are its combination of relative compactness (on-top bath cryostat needs no pit), in situ exchange of tip and sample at low temperatures, short turnaroundmore » times, modest helium consumption, and unrestricted access from dedicated flanges. The latter permits not only the optical surveillance of the tip during approach but also the direct deposition of molecules or atoms on either tip or sample while they remain cold. Atomic corrugations as low as 1 pm could successfully be resolved. In addition, lateral drifts rates of below 15 pm/h allow long-term data acquisition series and the recording of site-specific spectroscopy maps. Results obtained on Cu(111) and graphite illustrate the microscope's performance.« less

Silica-Coated Core-Shell Structured Polystyrene Nanospheres and Their Size-Dependent Mechanical Properties.

PubMed

Cao, Xu; Pan, Guoshun; Huang, Peng; Guo, Dan; Xie, Guoxin

2017-08-22

The core-shell structured PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres were synthesized on the basis of a modified Stöber method. The mechanical properties of monodisperse nanospheres were characterized with nanoindentation on the basis of the atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface morphologies of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres was scanned with the tapping mode of AFM, and the force-distance curves were measured with the contact mode of AFM. Different contact models were compared for the analyses of experimental data. The elastic moduli of PS/SiO 2 composite nanosphere (4-40 GPa) and PS nanosphere (∼3.4 GPa) were obtained with the Hertz and Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) models, respectively, and the JKR model was proven to be more appropriate for calculating the elastic modulus of PS/SiO 2 nanospheres. The elastic modulus of SiO 2 shell gradually approached a constant value (∼46 GPa) with the increase of SiO 2 shell thickness. A core-shell model was proposed for describing the relationship between PS/SiO 2 composite nanosphere's elastic modulus and shell thickness. The mechanical properties of the composite nanospheres were reasonably explained on the basis of the growth mechanism of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres, in particular the SiO 2 shell's formation process. Available research data of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres in this work can provide valuable guidance for their effective application in surface engineering, micro/nanomanufacturing, lubrication, and so on.

Analysis of nanomechanical properties of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes under the influence of lytic factors in an in vitro model using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Tokarska-Rodak, Małgorzata; Kozioł-Montewka, Maria; Skrzypiec, Krzysztof; Chmielewski, Tomasz; Mendyk, Ewaryst; Tylewska-Wierzbanowska, Stanisława

2015-11-12

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an experimental technique which recently has been used in biology, microbiology, and medicine to investigate the topography of surfaces and in the evaluation of mechanical properties of cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the complement system and specific anti-Borrelia antibodies in in vitro conditions on the modification of nanomechanical features of B. burgdorferi B31 cells. In order to assess the influence of the complement system and anti-Borrelia antibodies on B. burgdorferi s.s. B31 spirochetes, the bacteria were incubated together with plasma of identified status. The samples were applied on the surface of mica disks. Young's modulus and adhesive forces were analyzed with a NanoScope V, MultiMode 8 AFM microscope (Bruker) by the PeakForce QNM technique in air using NanoScope Analysis 1.40 software (Bruker). The average value of flexibility of spirochetes' surface expressed by Young's modulus was 10185.32 MPa, whereas the adhesion force was 3.68 nN. AFM is a modern tool with a broad spectrum of observational and measurement abilities. Young's modulus and the adhesion force can be treated as parameters in the evaluation of intensity and changes which take place in pathogenic microorganisms under the influence of various lytic factors. The visualization of the changes in association with nanomechanical features provides a realistic portrayal of the lytic abilities of the elements of the innate and adaptive human immune system.

Method for identifying biochemical and chemical reactions and micromechanical processes using nanomechanical and electronic signal identification

DOEpatents

Holzrichter, J.F.; Siekhaus, W.J.

1997-04-15

A scanning probe microscope, such as an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), is operated in a stationary mode on a site where an activity of interest occurs to measure and identify characteristic time-varying micromotions caused by biological, chemical, mechanical, electrical, optical, or physical processes. The tip and cantilever assembly of an AFM is used as a micromechanical detector of characteristic micromotions transmitted either directly by a site of interest or indirectly through the surrounding medium. Alternatively, the exponential dependence of the tunneling current on the size of the gap in the STM is used to detect micromechanical movement. The stationary mode of operation can be used to observe dynamic biological processes in real time and in a natural environment, such as polymerase processing of DNA for determining the sequence of a DNA molecule. 6 figs.

Method for identifying biochemical and chemical reactions and micromechanical processes using nanomechanical and electronic signal identification

DOEpatents

Holzrichter, John F.; Siekhaus, Wigbert J.

1997-01-01

A scanning probe microscope, such as an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), is operated in a stationary mode on a site where an activity of interest occurs to measure and identify characteristic time-varying micromotions caused by biological, chemical, mechanical, electrical, optical, or physical processes. The tip and cantilever assembly of an AFM is used as a micromechanical detector of characteristic micromotions transmitted either directly by a site of interest or indirectly through the surrounding medium. Alternatively, the exponential dependence of the tunneling current on the size of the gap in the STM is used to detect micromechanical movement. The stationary mode of operation can be used to observe dynamic biological processes in real time and in a natural environment, such as polymerase processing of DNA for determining the sequence of a DNA molecule.

Nano-Wilhelmy investigation of dynamic wetting properties of AFM tips through tip-nanobubble interaction

PubMed Central

Wang, Yuliang; Wang, Huimin; Bi, Shusheng; Guo, Bin

2016-01-01

The dynamic wetting properties of atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips are of much concern in many AFM-related measurement, fabrication, and manipulation applications. In this study, the wetting properties of silicon and silicon nitride AFM tips are investigated through dynamic contact angle measurement using a nano-Wilhelmy balance based method. This is done by capillary force measurement during extension and retraction motion of AFM tips relative to interfacial nanobubbles. The working principle of the proposed method and mathematic models for dynamic contact angle measurement are presented. Geometric models of AFM tips were constructed using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images taken from different view directions. The detailed process of tip-nanobubble interaction was investigated using force-distance curves of AFM on nanobubbles. Several parameters including nanobubble height, adhesion and capillary force between tip and nanobubbles are extracted. The variation of these parameters was studied over nanobubble surfaces. The dynamic contact angles of the AFM tips were calculated from the capillary force measurements. The proposed method provides direct measurement of dynamic contact angles for AFM tips and can also be taken as a general approach for nanoscale dynamic wetting property investigation. PMID:27452115

Nano-Wilhelmy investigation of dynamic wetting properties of AFM tips through tip-nanobubble interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yuliang; Wang, Huimin; Bi, Shusheng; Guo, Bin

2016-07-01

The dynamic wetting properties of atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips are of much concern in many AFM-related measurement, fabrication, and manipulation applications. In this study, the wetting properties of silicon and silicon nitride AFM tips are investigated through dynamic contact angle measurement using a nano-Wilhelmy balance based method. This is done by capillary force measurement during extension and retraction motion of AFM tips relative to interfacial nanobubbles. The working principle of the proposed method and mathematic models for dynamic contact angle measurement are presented. Geometric models of AFM tips were constructed using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images taken from different view directions. The detailed process of tip-nanobubble interaction was investigated using force-distance curves of AFM on nanobubbles. Several parameters including nanobubble height, adhesion and capillary force between tip and nanobubbles are extracted. The variation of these parameters was studied over nanobubble surfaces. The dynamic contact angles of the AFM tips were calculated from the capillary force measurements. The proposed method provides direct measurement of dynamic contact angles for AFM tips and can also be taken as a general approach for nanoscale dynamic wetting property investigation.

Resolving dual binding conformations of cellulosome cohesin-dockerin complexes using single-molecule force spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Jobst, Markus A; Milles, Lukas F; Schoeler, Constantin; Ott, Wolfgang; Fried, Daniel B; Bayer, Edward A; Gaub, Hermann E; Nash, Michael A

2015-01-01

Receptor-ligand pairs are ordinarily thought to interact through a lock and key mechanism, where a unique molecular conformation is formed upon binding. Contrary to this paradigm, cellulosomal cohesin-dockerin (Coh-Doc) pairs are believed to interact through redundant dual binding modes consisting of two distinct conformations. Here, we combined site-directed mutagenesis and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to study the unbinding of Coh:Doc complexes under force. We designed Doc mutations to knock out each binding mode, and compared their single-molecule unfolding patterns as they were dissociated from Coh using an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever. Although average bulk measurements were unable to resolve the differences in Doc binding modes due to the similarity of the interactions, with a single-molecule method we were able to discriminate the two modes based on distinct differences in their mechanical properties. We conclude that under native conditions wild-type Doc from Clostridium thermocellum exocellulase Cel48S populates both binding modes with similar probabilities. Given the vast number of Doc domains with predicteddual binding modes across multiple bacterial species, our approach opens up newpossibilities for understanding assembly and catalytic properties of a broadrange of multi-enzyme complexes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10319.001 PMID:26519733

Force Spectroscopy with 9-μs Resolution and Sub-pN Stability by Tailoring AFM Cantilever Geometry.

PubMed

Edwards, Devin T; Faulk, Jaevyn K; LeBlanc, Marc-André; Perkins, Thomas T

2017-12-19

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is a powerful yet accessible means to characterize the unfolding/refolding dynamics of individual molecules and resolve closely spaced, transiently occupied folding intermediates. On a modern commercial AFM, these applications and others are now limited by the mechanical properties of the cantilever. Specifically, AFM-based SMFS data quality is degraded by a commercial cantilever's limited combination of temporal resolution, force precision, and force stability. Recently, we modified commercial cantilevers with a focused ion beam to optimize their properties for SMFS. Here, we extend this capability by modifying a 40 × 18 μm 2 cantilever into one terminated with a gold-coated, 4 × 4 μm 2 reflective region connected to an uncoated 2-μm-wide central shaft. This "Warhammer" geometry achieved 8.5-μs resolution coupled with improved force precision and sub-pN stability over 100 s when measured on a commercial AFM. We highlighted this cantilever's biological utility by first resolving a calmodulin unfolding intermediate previously undetected by AFM and then measuring the stabilization of calmodulin by myosin light chain kinase at dramatically higher unfolding velocities than in previous AFM studies. More generally, enhancing data quality via an improved combination of time resolution, force precision, and force stability will broadly benefit biological applications of AFM. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Characterizing the effect of polymyxin B antibiotics to lipopolysaccharide on Escherichia coli surface using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Oh, Yoo Jin; Plochberger, Birgit; Rechberger, Markus; Hinterdorfer, Peter

2017-06-01

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gram-negative bacterial outer membranes is the first target for antimicrobial agents, due to their spatial proximity to outer environments of microorganisms. To develop antibacterial compounds with high specificity for LPS binding, the understanding of the molecular nature and their mode of recognition is of key importance. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and single molecular force spectroscopy were used to characterize the effects of antibiotic polymyxin B (PMB) to the bacterial membrane at the nanoscale. Isolated LPS layer and the intact bacterial membrane were examined with respect to morphological changes at different concentrations of PMB. Our results revealed that 3 hours of 10 μg/mL of PMB exposure caused the highest roughness changes on intact bacterial surfaces, arising from the direct binding of PMB to LPS on the bacterial membrane. Single molecular force spectroscopy was used to probe specific interaction forces between the isolated LPS layer and PMB coupled to the AFM tip. A short range interaction regime mediated by electrostatic forces was visible. Unbinding forces between isolated LPS and PMB were about 30 pN at a retraction velocity of 500 nm/s. We further investigated the effects of the polycationic peptide PMB on bacterial outer membranes and monitored its influences on the deterioration of the bacterial membrane structure. Polymyxin B binding led to rougher appearances and wrinkles on the outer membranes surface, which may finally lead to lethal membrane damage of bacteria. Our studies indicate the potential of AFM for applications in pathogen recognition and nano-resolution approaches in microbiology. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dissipative and electrostatic force spectroscopy of indium arsenide quantum dots by non-contact atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stomp, Romain-Pierre

This thesis is devoted to the studies of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QD) by low-temperature Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in frequency modulation mode. Several spectroscopic methods are developed to investigate single electron charging from a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) to an individual InAs QD. Furthermore, a new technique to measure the absolute tip-sample capacitance is also demonstrated. The main observables are the electrostatic force between the metal-coated AFM tip and sample as well as the sample-induced energy dissipation, and therefore no tunneling current has to be collected at the AFM tip. Measurements were performed by recording simultaneously the shift in the resonant frequency and the Q-factor degradation of the oscillating cantilever either as a function of tip-sample voltage or distance. The signature of single electron charging was detected as an abrupt change in the frequency shift as well as corresponding peaks in the dissipation. The main experimental features in the force agree well with the semi-classical theory of Coulomb blockade by considering the free energy of the system. The observed dissipation peaks can be understood as a back-action effect on the oscillating cantilever beam due to the fluctuation in time of electrons tunneling back and forth between the 2DEG and the QD. It was also possible to extract the absolute value of the tip-sample capacitance, as a consequence of the spectroscopic analysis of the electrostic force as a function of tip-sample distance for different values of the applied voltage. At the same time, the contact potential difference and the residual non-capacitive force could also be determined as a function of tip-sample distance.

Corrosion process monitoring by AFM higher harmonic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babicz, S.; Zieliński, A.; Smulko, J.; Darowicki, K.

2017-11-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) was invented in 1986 as an alternative to the scanning tunnelling microscope, which cannot be used in studies of non-conductive materials. Today the AFM is a powerful, versatile and fundamental tool for visualizing and studying the morphology of material surfaces. Moreover, additional information for some materials can be recovered by analysing the AFM’s higher cantilever modes when the cantilever motion is inharmonic and generates frequency components above the excitation frequency, usually close to the resonance frequency of the lowest oscillation mode. This method has been applied and developed to monitor corrosion processes. The higher-harmonic imaging is especially helpful for sharpening boundaries between objects in heterogeneous samples, which can be used to identify variations in steel structures (e.g. corrosion products, steel heterogeneity). The corrosion products have different chemical structures because they are composed of chemicals other than the original metal base (mainly iron oxides). Thus, their physicochemical properties are different from the primary basis. These structures have edges at which higher harmonics should be more intense because of stronger interference between the tip and the specimen structure there. This means that the AFM’s higher-harmonic imaging is an excellent tool for monitoring surficial effects of the corrosion process.

AFM as an analysis tool for high-capacity sulfur cathodes for Li–S batteries

PubMed Central

Sörgel, Seniz; Costa, Rémi; Carlé, Linus; Galm, Ines; Cañas, Natalia; Pascucci, Brigitta; Friedrich, K Andreas

2013-01-01

Summary In this work, material-sensitive atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to analyse the cathodes of lithium–sulfur batteries. A comparison of their nanoscale electrical, electrochemical, and morphological properties was performed with samples prepared by either suspension-spraying or doctor-blade coating with different binders. Morphological studies of the cathodes before and after the electrochemical tests were performed by using AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cathodes that contained polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and were prepared by spray-coating exhibited a superior stability of the morphology and the electric network associated with the capacity and cycling stability of these batteries. A reduction of the conductive area determined by conductive AFM was found to correlate to the battery capacity loss for all cathodes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements of Li2S exposed to ambient air showed that insulating Li2S hydrolyses to insulating LiOH. This validates the significance of electrical ex-situ AFM analysis after cycling. Conductive tapping mode AFM indicated the existence of large carbon-coated sulfur particles. Based on the analytical findings, the first results of an optimized cathode showed a much improved discharge capacity of 800 mA·g(sulfur)−1 after 43 cycles. PMID:24205455

Automatic hammering of nano-patterns on special polymer film by using a vibrating AFM tip

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Complicated nano-patterns with linewidth less than 18 nm can be automatically hammered by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip in tapping mode with high speed. In this study, the special sample was thin poly(styrene-ethylene/butylenes-styrene) (SEBS) block copolymer film with hexagonal spherical microstructures. An ordinary silicon tip was used as a nano-hammer, and the entire hammering process is controlled by a computer program. Experimental results demonstrate that such structure-tailored thin films enable AFM tip hammering to be performed on their surfaces. Both imprinted and embossed nano-patterns can be generated by using a vibrating tip with a larger tapping load and by using a predefined program to control the route of tip movement as it passes over the sample’s surface. Specific details for the fabrication of structure-tailored SEBS film and the theory for auto-hammering patterns were presented in detail. PMID:22889045

Tip-enhanced Raman mapping with top-illumination AFM.

PubMed

Chan, K L Andrew; Kazarian, Sergei G

2011-04-29

Tip-enhanced Raman mapping is a powerful, emerging technique that offers rich chemical information and high spatial resolution. Currently, most of the successes in tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) measurements are based on the inverted configuration where tips and laser are approaching the sample from opposite sides. This results in the limitation of measurement for transparent samples only. Several approaches have been developed to obtain tip-enhanced Raman mapping in reflection mode, many of which involve certain customisations of the system. We have demonstrated in this work that it is also possible to obtain TERS nano-images using an upright microscope (top-illumination) with a gold-coated Si atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever without significant modification to the existing integrated AFM/Raman system. A TERS image of a single-walled carbon nanotube has been achieved with a spatial resolution of ∼ 20-50 nm, demonstrating the potential of this technique for studying non-transparent nanoscale materials.

A low-noise measurement system for scanning thermal microscopy resistive nanoprobes based on a transformer ratio-arm bridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Świątkowski, Michał; Wojtuś, Arkadiusz; Wielgoszewski, Grzegorz; Rudek, Maciej; Piasecki, Tomasz; Jóźwiak, Grzegorz; Gotszalk, Teodor

2018-04-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a widely used technology for the investigation and characterization of nanomaterials. Its functionality can be easily expanded by applying dedicated extension modules, which can measure the electrical conductivity or temperature of a sample. In this paper, we introduce a transformer ratio-arm bridge setup dedicated to AFM-based thermal imaging. One of the key features of the thermal module is the use of a low-power driving signal that prevents undesirable tip heating during resistance measurement, while the other is the sensor location in a ratio-arm transformer bridge working in the audio frequency range and ensuring galvanic isolation of the tip, enabling contact-mode scanning of electronic circuits. The proposed expansion module is compact and it can be integrated onto the AFM head close to the cantilever. The calibration process and the resolution of 11 mK of the proposed setup are shown.

Homoepitaxial growth of metal halide crystals investigated by reflection high-energy electron diffraction

DOE PAGES

Chen, Pei; Kuttipillai, Padmanaban S.; Wang, Lili; ...

2017-01-10

Here, we report the homoepitaxial growth of a metal halide on single crystals investigated with in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Epitaxial growth of NaCl on NaCl (001) is explored as a function of temperature and growth rate which provides the first detailed report of RHEED oscillations for metal halide growth. Layer-by-layer growth is observed at room temperature accompanied by clear RHEED oscillations while the growth mode transitions to an island (3D) mode at low temperature. At higher temperatures (>100 °C), RHEED oscillations and AFM data indicate a transition to a step-flowmore » growth mode. To show the importance of such metal halide growth, green organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are demonstrated using a doped NaCl film with a phosphorescent emitter as the emissive layer. This study demonstrates the ability to perform in situ and non-destructive RHEED monitoring even on insulating substrates and could enable doped single crystals and crystalline substrates for a range of optoelectronic applications.« less

Multi-frequency data analysis in AFM by wavelet transform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pukhova, V.; Ferrini, G.

2017-10-01

Interacting cantilevers in AFM experiments generate non-stationary, multi-frequency signals consisting of numerous excited flexural and torsional modes and their harmonics. The analysis of such signals is challenging, requiring special methodological approaches and a powerful mathematical apparatus. The most common approach to the signal analysis is to apply Fourier transform analysis. However, FT gives accurate spectra for stationary signals, and for signals changing their spectral content over time, FT provides only an averaged spectrum. Hence, for non-stationary and rapidly varying signals, such as those from interacting cantilevers, a method that shows the spectral evolution in time is needed. One of the most powerful techniques, allowing detailed time-frequency representation of signals, is the wavelet transform. It is a method of analysis that allows representation of energy associated to the signal at a particular frequency and time, providing correlation between the spectral and temporal features of the signal, unlike FT. This is particularly important in AFM experiments because signals nonlinearities contains valuable information about tip-sample interactions and consequently surfaces properties. The present work is aimed to show the advantages of wavelet transform in comparison with FT using as an example the force curve analysis in dynamic force spectroscopy.

G-mode magnetic force microscopy: Separating magnetic and electrostatic interactions using big data analytics

DOE PAGES

Collins, Liam; Belianinov, Alex; Proksch, Roger; ...

2016-05-09

We develop a full information capture approach for Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), referred to as generalized mode (G-Mode) MFM. G-Mode MFM acquires and stores the full data stream from the photodetector at sampling rates approaching the intrinsic photodiode limit. The data can be subsequently compressed, denoised, and analyzed, without information loss. Also, 3 G-Mode MFM is implemented and compared to traditional heterodyne based MFM on model systems including domain structures in ferromagnetic Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) and electronically and magnetically inhomogeneous high entropy alloy, CoFeMnNiSn. We investigate the use of information theory to mine the G-Mode MFM data and demonstratemore » its usefulness for extracting information which may be hidden in traditional MFM modes, including signatures of nonlinearities and mode coupling phenomena. Finally we demonstrate detection and separation of magnetic and electrostatic tip-sample interactions from a single G-Mode image, by analyzing the entire frequency response of the cantilever. G-Mode MFM is immediately implementable on any AFM platform and as such is expected to be a useful technique for probing spatiotemporal cantilever dynamics and mapping material properties as well as their mutual interactions.« less

Quantitative force measurements in liquid using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchihashi, Takayuki; Higgins, Michael J.; Yasuda, Satoshi; Jarvis, Suzanne P.; Akita, Seiji; Nakayama, Yoshikazu; Sader, John E.

2004-10-01

The measurement of short-range forces with the atomic force microscope (AFM) typically requires implementation of dynamic techniques to maintain sensitivity and stability. While frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) is used widely for high-resolution imaging and quantitative force measurements in vacuum, quantitative force measurements using FM-AFM in liquids have proven elusive. Here we demonstrate that the formalism derived for operation in vacuum can also be used in liquids, provided certain modifications are implemented. To facilitate comparison with previous measurements taken using surface forces apparatus, we choose a model system (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane) that is known to exhibit short-ranged structural ordering when confined between two surfaces. Force measurements obtained are found to be in excellent agreement with previously reported results. This study therefore establishes FM-AFM as a powerful tool for the quantitative measurement of forces in liquid.

Combination of Universal Mechanical Testing Machine with Atomic Force Microscope for Materials Research

PubMed Central

Zhong, Jian; He, Dannong

2015-01-01

Surface deformation and fracture processes of materials under external force are important for understanding and developing materials. Here, a combined horizontal universal mechanical testing machine (HUMTM)-atomic force microscope (AFM) system is developed by modifying UMTM to combine with AFM and designing a height-adjustable stabilizing apparatus. Then the combined HUMTM-AFM system is evaluated. Finally, as initial demonstrations, it is applied to analyze the relationship among macroscopic mechanical properties, surface nanomorphological changes under external force, and fracture processes of two kinds of representative large scale thin film materials: polymer material with high strain rate (Parafilm) and metal material with low strain rate (aluminum foil). All the results demonstrate the combined HUMTM-AFM system overcomes several disadvantages of current AFM-combined tensile/compression devices including small load force, incapability for large scale specimens, disability for materials with high strain rate, and etc. Therefore, the combined HUMTM-AFM system is a promising tool for materials research in the future. PMID:26265357

Combination of Universal Mechanical Testing Machine with Atomic Force Microscope for Materials Research.

PubMed

Zhong, Jian; He, Dannong

2015-08-12

Surface deformation and fracture processes of materials under external force are important for understanding and developing materials. Here, a combined horizontal universal mechanical testing machine (HUMTM)-atomic force microscope (AFM) system is developed by modifying UMTM to combine with AFM and designing a height-adjustable stabilizing apparatus. Then the combined HUMTM-AFM system is evaluated. Finally, as initial demonstrations, it is applied to analyze the relationship among macroscopic mechanical properties, surface nanomorphological changes under external force, and fracture processes of two kinds of representative large scale thin film materials: polymer material with high strain rate (Parafilm) and metal material with low strain rate (aluminum foil). All the results demonstrate the combined HUMTM-AFM system overcomes several disadvantages of current AFM-combined tensile/compression devices including small load force, incapability for large scale specimens, disability for materials with high strain rate, and etc. Therefore, the combined HUMTM-AFM system is a promising tool for materials research in the future.

Mapping the amide I absorption in single bacteria and mammalian cells with resonant infrared nanospectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldassarre, L.; Giliberti, V.; Rosa, A.; Ortolani, M.; Bonamore, A.; Baiocco, P.; Kjoller, K.; Calvani, P.; Nucara, A.

2016-02-01

Infrared (IR) nanospectroscopy performed in conjunction with atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a novel, label-free spectroscopic technique that meets the increasing request for nano-imaging tools with chemical specificity in the field of life sciences. In the novel resonant version of AFM-IR, a mid-IR wavelength-tunable quantum cascade laser illuminates the sample below an AFM tip working in contact mode, and the repetition rate of the mid-IR pulses matches the cantilever mechanical resonance frequency. The AFM-IR signal is the amplitude of the cantilever oscillations driven by the thermal expansion of the sample after absorption of mid-IR radiation. Using purposely nanofabricated polymer samples, here we demonstrate that the AFM-IR signal increases linearly with the sample thickness t for t \\gt 50 nm, as expected from the thermal expansion model of the sample volume below the AFM tip. We then show the capability of the apparatus to derive information on the protein distribution in single cells through mapping of the AFM-IR signal related to the amide-I mid-IR absorption band at 1660 cm-1. In Escherichia Coli bacteria we see how the topography changes, observed when the cell hosts a protein over-expression plasmid, are correlated with the amide I signal intensity. In human HeLa cells we obtain evidence that the protein distribution in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus is uneven, with a lateral resolution better than 100 nm.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eslami, Babak; López-Guerra, Enrique A.; Raftari, Maryam

Addition of a strong base to Nafion{sup ®} proton exchange membranes is a common practice in industry to increase their overall performance in fuel cells. Here, we investigate the evolution of the nano-rheological properties of Nafion thin films as a function of the casting pH, via characterization with static and dynamic, contact and intermittent-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The addition of KOH causes non-monotonic changes in the viscoelastic properties of the films, which behave as highly dissipative, softer materials near neutral pH values, and as harder, more elastic materials at extreme pH values. We quantify this behavior through calculationmore » of the temporal evolution of the compliance and the glassy compliance under static AFM measurements. We complement these observations with dynamic AFM metrics, including dissipated power and virial (for intermittent-contact-mode measurements), and contact resonance frequency and quality factor (for dynamic contact-mode measurements). We explain the non-monotonic material property behavior in terms of the degree of ionic crosslinking and moisture content of the films, which vary with the addition of KOH. This work focuses on the special case study of the addition of strong bases, but the observed mechanical property changes are broadly related to water plasticizing effects and ionic crosslinking, which are also important in other types of films.« less

Size-Dependent Affinity of Glycine and Its Short Oligomers to Pyrite Surface: A Model for Prebiotic Accumulation of Amino Acid Oligomers on a Mineral Surface

PubMed Central

Afrin, Rehana; Ganbaatar, Narangerel; Aono, Masashi; Cleaves, H. James; Yano, Taka-aki; Hara, Masahiko

2018-01-01

The interaction strength of progressively longer oligomers of glycine, (Gly), di-Gly, tri-Gly, and penta-Gly, with a natural pyrite surface was directly measured using the force mode of an atomic force microscope (AFM). In recent years, selective activation of abiotically formed amino acids on mineral surfaces, especially that of pyrite, has been proposed as an important step in many origins of life scenarios. To investigate such notions, we used AFM-based force measurements to probe possible non-covalent interactions between pyrite and amino acids, starting from the simplest amino acid, Gly. Although Gly itself interacted with the pyrite surface only weakly, progressively larger unbinding forces and binding frequencies were obtained using oligomers from di-Gly to penta-Gly. In addition to an expected increase of the configurational entropy and size-dependent van der Waals force, the increasing number of polar peptide bonds, among others, may be responsible for this observation. The effect of chain length was also investigated by performing similar experiments using l-lysine vs. poly-l-lysine (PLL), and l-glutamic acid vs. poly-l-glutamic acid. The results suggest that longer oligomers/polymers of amino acids can be preferentially adsorbed on pyrite surfaces. PMID:29370126

Replication of Muscle Cell Using Bioimprint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samsuri, Fahmi; Mitchell, John S.; Alkaisi, Maan M.; Evans, John J.

2009-07-01

In our earlier study a heat-curable PDMS or a UV curable elastomer, was used as the replicating material to introduce Bioimprint methodology to facilitate cell imaging [1-2] But, replicating conditions for thermal polymerization is known to cause cell dehydration during curing. In this study, a new type of polymer was developed for use in living cell replica formation, and it was tested on human muscle cells. The cells were incubated and cultured according to standard biological culturing procedures, and they were grown for about 10 days. The replicas were then separated from the muscle cells and taken for analysis under an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The new polymer was designed to be biocompatible with higher resolution and fast curing process compared to other types of silicon-based organic polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Muscle cell imprints were achieved and higher resolution images were able to show the micro structures of the muscle cells, including the cellular fibers and cell membranes. The AFM is able to image features at nanoscale resolution. This capacity enables a number of characteristics of biological cells to be visualized in a unique manner. Polymer and muscle cells preparations were developed at Hamilton, in collaboration between Plant and Food Research and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury. Tapping mode was used for the AFM image analysis as it has low tip-sample forces and non-destructive imaging capability. We will be presenting the bioimprinting processes of muscle cells, their AFM imaging and characterization of the newly developed polymer.

Nanoscale multiple gaseous layers on a hydrophobic surface.

PubMed

Zhang, Lijuan; Zhang, Xuehua; Fan, Chunhai; Zhang, Yi; Hu, Jun

2009-08-18

The nanoscale gas state at the interfaces of liquids (water, acid, and salt solutions) and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was investigated via tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). For the first time, we report that the interfacial gases could form bilayers and trilayers, i.e., on the top of a flat gas layer, there are one or two more gas layers. The formation of these gas layers could be induced by a local supersaturation of gases, which can be achieved by (1) temperature difference between the liquids and the HOPG substrates or (2) exchange ethanol with water. Furthermore, we found that the gas layers were less stable than spherical bubbles. They could transform to bubbles with time or under the perturbation of the AFM tip.

Atomic force measurements of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid and its salt with CH 3, OH, and CONHCH 3 functionalized self-assembled monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morales-Cruz, Angel L.; Tremont, Rolando; Martínez, Ramón; Romañach, Rodolfo; Cabrera, Carlos R.

2005-03-01

Chemical and mechanical properties of different compounds can be elucidated by measuring fundamental forces such as adhesion, attraction and repulsion, between modified surfaces by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in force mode calibration. This work presents a combination of AFM, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and crystallization techniques to study the forces of interaction between excipients and active ingredients used in pharmaceutical formulations. SAMs of 16-mercaptohexadecanoate, which represent magnesium stereate, were used to modify the probe tip, whereas CH3-, OH- and CONHCH3-functional SAMs were formed on a gold-coated mica substrate, and used as examples of the surfaces of lactose and theophylline. The crystals of lactose and theophylline were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The modification of gold surfaces with 16-mercaptohexadecanoate, 10-mercapto-1-decanol (OH-functional SAM), 1-decanethiol (CH3-functional) and N-methyl-11-mercaptoundecanamide (CONHCH3-functional SAM) was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) in specular reflectance mode. XPS and AES results of the modified surfaces showed the presence of sulfur binding, and kinetic energies that correspond to the presence of 10-mercapto-1-decanol, 1-decanethiol, N-methyl-11-mercaptoundecanamide and the salt of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid. The absorption bands in the IR spectra further confirm the modification of the gold-coated substrates with these compounds. Force versus distance measurements were performed between the modified tip and the modified gold-coated mica substrates. The mean adhesion forces between the COO-Ca2+ functionalized tip and the CH3-, OH-, and CONHCH3-modified substrates were determined to be 4.5, 8.9 and 6.3 nN, respectively. The magnitude of the adhesion force (ion-dipole) interaction between the modified tip and substrate decreases in the following order: COO-Ca2+/OH > COO-Ca2+/CONHCH3 > COO-Ca2+/CH3.

High-stroke silicon-on-insulator MEMS nanopositioner: Control design for non-raster scan atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maroufi, Mohammad, E-mail: Mohammad.Maroufi@uon.edu.au; Fowler, Anthony G., E-mail: Anthony.Fowler@uon.edu.au; Bazaei, Ali, E-mail: Ali.Bazaei@newcastle.edu.au

A 2-degree of freedom microelectromechanical systems nanopositioner designed for on-chip atomic force microscopy (AFM) is presented. The device is fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator-based process and is designed as a parallel kinematic mechanism. It contains a central scan table and two sets of electrostatic comb actuators along each orthogonal axis, which provides displacement ranges greater than ±10 μm. The first in-plane resonance modes are located at 1274 Hz and 1286 Hz for the X and Y axes, respectively. To measure lateral displacements of the stage, electrothermal position sensors are incorporated in the design. To facilitate high-speed scans, the highly resonant dynamics ofmore » the system are controlled using damping loops in conjunction with internal model controllers that enable accurate tracking of fast sinusoidal set-points. To cancel the effect of sensor drift on controlled displacements, washout controllers are used in the damping loops. The feedback controlled nanopositioner is successfully used to perform several AFM scans in contact mode via a Lissajous scan method with a large scan area of 20 μm × 20 μm. The maximum scan rate demonstrated is 1 kHz.« less

Influences of thickness, scanning velocity and relative humidity on the frictional properties of WS2 nanosheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Dongdong; Peng, Jinfeng; Liu, Sisi; Zheng, Xuejun; Yan, Xinyang; He, Wenyuan

2018-01-01

Distinguishing with the traditional cantilever mechanics method, we propose the extended cantilever mechanics method to calibrate the lateral calibration factor by using the normal spring constant obtained from atomic force microscopy (AFM) but not the Young’s modulus and the width of the cantilever, before the influences of thickness, scanning velocity and humidity on the frictional properties are investigated via friction measurement performed by the lateral force mode (LFM) of AFM. Tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets were prepared through hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route, and AFM and Raman microscope were used to investigate the frictional properties, thickness and crystalline structure. The friction force and coefficient decrease monotonically with the increase of the nanosheet’s thickness, and the friction coefficient minimum value is close to 0.012 when the thickness larger than 5 nm. The friction property variation on the nanosheet’s thickness can be explained by the puckering effect of tip-sheet adhesion according thickness dependence of bending stiffness in the frame of continuum mechanics. The friction force is a constant value 1.7 nN when the scanning speed larger than the critical value 3.10 μm s-1, while it logarithmically increases for the scanning speed less than the critical value. It is easy to understand through the energy dissipation model and the thermally activated effect. The friction force and friction coefficient increase with the relative humidity at the range of 30%-60%, and the latter is at the range of 0.010-0.013. Influence of relative humidity is discussed via the increasing area of the water monolayer during the water adsorption process. The research can not only enrich nanotribology theory, but also prompt two dimensions materials for nanomechanical applications.

Kinetic Roughening and Energetics of Tetragonal Lysozyme Crystal Growth: A Preliminary Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gorti, Sridhar; Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Pusey, Marc L.

2004-01-01

We examined particulars of crystal growth from measurements obtained at both microscopic and molecular levels. The crystal growth measurements performed at the microscopic level are well characterized by a model that balances the flux of macromolecules towards the crystal surface with the flux of the crystal surface. Numerical evaluation of model with measurements of crystal growth, in time, provided accurate estimates for the average growth velocities. Growth velocities thus obtained were also interpreted using well-established phenomenological theories. Moreover, we find that microscopic measurements of growth velocity measurements obtained as a function of temperature best characterizes changes in crystal growth modes, when present. We also examined the possibility of detecting a change in crystal growth modes at the molecular level using atomic force microscopy, AFM. From preliminary AFM measurements performed at various supersaturations, we find that magnitude of surface height fluctuations, h(x), increases with supersaturation. Further examination of surface height fluctuations using methods established for fluctuation spectroscopy also enabled the discovery of the existence of a characteristic length, c, which may possibly determine the mode of crystal growth. Although the results are preliminary, we establish the non- critical divergence of 5 and the root-mean-square (rms) magnitude of height-height fluctuations as the kinetic roughening transition temperatures are approached. Moreover, we also examine approximate models for interpreting the non-critical behavior of both 6 and rms magnitude of height-height fluctuations, as the solution supersaturation is increased towards the kinetic roughening supersaturation.

Tip in–light on: Advantages, challenges, and applications of combining AFM and Raman microscopy on biological samples

PubMed Central

Gierlinger, Notburga

2016-01-01

Abstract Scanning probe microscopies and spectroscopies, especially AFM and Confocal Raman microscopy are powerful tools to characterize biological materials. They are both non‐destructive methods and reveal mechanical and chemical properties on the micro and nano‐scale. In the last years the interest for increasing the lateral resolution of optical and spectral images has driven the development of new technologies that overcome the diffraction limit of light. The combination of AFM and Raman reaches resolutions of about 50–150 nm in near‐field Raman and 1.7–50 nm in tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and both give a molecular information of the sample and the topography of the scanned surface. In this review, the mentioned approaches are introduced, the main advantages and problems for application on biological samples discussed and some examples for successful experiments given. Finally the potential of colocated AFM and Raman measurements is shown on a case study of cellulose‐lignin films: the topography structures revealed by AFM can be related to a certain chemistry by the colocated Raman scan and additionally the mechanical properties be revealed by using the digital pulsed force mode. Microsc. Res. Tech. 80:30–40, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. PMID:27514318

Quantitative force measurements using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy—theoretical foundations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sader, John E.; Uchihashi, Takayuki; Higgins, Michael J.; Farrell, Alan; Nakayama, Yoshikazu; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

2005-03-01

Use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) in quantitative force measurements inherently requires a theoretical framework enabling conversion of the observed deflection properties of the cantilever to an interaction force. In this paper, the theoretical foundations of using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) in quantitative force measurements are examined and rigorously elucidated, with consideration being given to both 'conservative' and 'dissipative' interactions. This includes a detailed discussion of the underlying assumptions involved in such quantitative force measurements, the presentation of globally valid explicit formulae for evaluation of so-called 'conservative' and 'dissipative' forces, discussion of the origin of these forces, and analysis of the applicability of FM-AFM to quantitative force measurements in liquid.

Determination of the Activation Energy of the Enzymatic Biodegradation Process in Microfabricated Polyhydroxyalkanoate Thin Films Using In-Situ, Real Time Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morse, Clinton; Latuga, Brian M.; Delfaus, Stephen; Devore, Thomas C.; Augustine, Brian H.; Hughes, W. Christopher; Warne, Paul G.

2003-11-01

Using the liquid cell capability of the atomic force microscope (AFM), we report the determination of the activation energy of the biodegradation process of the enzymatic biodegradation of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate / poly 3-hydroxyvalerate [P(3HB-HV)] thin films. We have prepared P(3HB-3HV) copolymer microstructures by the selective dewetting of soft lithographically patterned gold substrates with features sizes down to 10 mm. These have been then used as an internal height standard to measure the volume of material as a function of biodegradation time. Biodegradation is measured in-situ and real time using contact mode AFM in an enzymatic solution produced from Streptomyces sp. bacteria. The temperature dependent biodegradation has been measured over a temperature range from 23oC to 40oC. We will discuss the calculation of the activation energy of this process as well as a physical model to describe three distinct regions in the biodegradation process that have been observed.

Direct measurement of IgM-Antigen interaction energy on individual red blood cells.

PubMed

Yeow, Natasha; Tabor, Rico F; Garnier, Gil

2017-07-01

Most blood grouping tests rely on the principle of red blood cells (RBCs) agglutination. Agglutination is triggered by the binding of specific blood grouping antibodies to the corresponding RBC surface antigen on multiple cells. The interaction energies between blood grouping antibodies and antigens have been poorly defined in immunohaematology. Here for the first time, we functionalized atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers with the IgM form of blood grouping antibodies to probe populations of individual RBCs of different groups under physiological conditions. The force-mapping mode of AFM allowed us to measure specific antibody - antigen interactions, and simultaneously localize and quantify antigen sites on the scanned cell surface. This study provides a new insight of the interactions between IgM antibodies and its corresponding antigen. The technique and information can be translated to develop better blood typing diagnostics and optimize target-specific drug delivery for medical applications. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Characterization of microstructure of ibuprofen-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and ibuprofen-beta-cyclodextrin by atomic force microscope].

PubMed

Wang, Li-juan; Zhu, Zhao-jing; Che, Ke-ke; Ju, Feng-ge

2008-09-01

The microstructures of ibuprofen-hydroxypropyl-bets-cyclodextrin (IBU-HP-beta-CyD) and ibuprofen-beta-cyclodextrin (IBU-beta-CyD) were observed by atomic force microscope (AFM). The high resolving capability of AFM has the tungsten filament probe with the spring constant of 0.06 N x m(-1). Samples were observed in a small scale scanning area of 10.5 nm x 10.5 nm and 800 x 800 pixels. The original scanning images were gained by tapping mode at room temperature. Their three-dimensional reconstruction of microstructure was performed by G3DR software. The outer diameters of HP-beta-CyD and beta-CyD are 1.53 nm. The benzene diameter of IBU is 0.62 nm, fitting to the inner diameters of HP-beta-CyD and beta-CyD. The benzene and hydrophobic chain of IBU enter into the hole of cyclodextrin at 1:1 ratio. The results were evidenced by IR, X-ray diffraction and the phase solubility.

Development and calibration of a compact self-sensing atomic force microscope head for micro-nano characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Tong; Wang, Siming; Zhao, Jian; Chen, Jinping; Fu, Xing; Hu, Xiaotang

2011-12-01

A compact self-sensing atomic force microscope (AFM) head is developed for the micro-nano dimensional measurement. This AFM head works in tapping mode equipped with a commercial self-sensing probe. This kind of probe can benefit not only from the tuning fork's stable resonant frequency and high quality factor but also from the silicon cantilever's reasonable spring constant. The head is convenient to operate by its simplicity of structure, since it does not need any optical detector to measure the bending of the cantilever. The compact structure makes the head ease to combine with other measuring methods. According to the probe"s characteristics, a method is proposed to quickly calculate the cantilever"s resonance amplitude through measuring its electro-mechanical coupling factor. An experiment system is established based on the nano-measuring machine (NMM) as a high precision positioning stage. Using this system, the approach/retract test is carried out for calibrating the head. The tests can be traced to the meter definition by interferometers in NMM. Experimental results show that the non-linearity error of this AFM head is smaller than 1%, the sensitivity reaches 0.47nm/mV and the measurement stroke is several hundreds of nanometers.

Structure, cell wall elasticity and polysaccharide properties of living yeast cells, as probed by AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsteens, David; Dupres, Vincent; McEvoy, Kevin; Wildling, Linda; Gruber, Hermann J.; Dufrêne, Yves F.

2008-09-01

Although the chemical composition of yeast cell walls is known, the organization, assembly, and interactions of the various macromolecules remain poorly understood. Here, we used in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) in three different modes to probe the ultrastructure, cell wall elasticity and polymer properties of two brewing yeast strains, i.e. Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and S. cerevisiae. Topographic images of the two strains revealed smooth and homogeneous cell surfaces, and the presence of circular bud scars on dividing cells. Nanomechanical measurements demonstrated that the cell wall elasticity of S. carlsbergensis is homogeneous. By contrast, the bud scar of S. cerevisiae was found to be stiffer than the cell wall, presumably due to the accumulation of chitin. Notably, single molecule force spectroscopy with lectin-modified tips revealed major differences in polysaccharide properties of the two strains. Polysaccharides were clearly more extended on S. cerevisiae, suggesting that not only oligosaccharides, but also polypeptide chains of the mannoproteins were stretched. Consistent with earlier cell surface analyses, these findings may explain the very different aggregation properties of the two organisms. This study demonstrates the power of using multiple complementary AFM modalities for probing the organization and interactions of the various macromolecules of microbial cell walls.

Mechanical properties of monolayer graphene oxide.

PubMed

Suk, Ji Won; Piner, Richard D; An, Jinho; Ruoff, Rodney S

2010-11-23

Mechanical properties of ultrathin membranes consisting of one layer, two overlapped layers, and three overlapped layers of graphene oxide platelets were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging in contact mode. In order to evaluate both the elastic modulus and prestress of thin membranes, the AFM measurement was combined with the finite element method (FEM) in a new approach for evaluating the mechanics of ultrathin membranes. Monolayer graphene oxide was found to have a lower effective Young's modulus (207.6 ± 23.4 GPa when a thickness of 0.7 nm is used) as compared to the value reported for "pristine" graphene. The prestress (39.7-76.8 MPa) of the graphene oxide membranes obtained by solution-based deposition was found to be 1 order of magnitude lower than that obtained by others for mechanically cleaved graphene. The novel AFM imaging and FEM-based mapping methods presented here are of general utility for obtaining the elastic modulus and prestress of thin membranes.

Imaging and Force Recognition of Single Molecular Behaviors Using Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Li, Mi; Dang, Dan; Liu, Lianqing; Xi, Ning; Wang, Yuechao

2017-01-01

The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has provided a powerful tool for investigating the behaviors of single native biological molecules under physiological conditions. AFM can not only image the conformational changes of single biological molecules at work with sub-nanometer resolution, but also sense the specific interactions of individual molecular pair with piconewton force sensitivity. In the past decade, the performance of AFM has been greatly improved, which makes it widely used in biology to address diverse biomedical issues. Characterizing the behaviors of single molecules by AFM provides considerable novel insights into the underlying mechanisms guiding life activities, contributing much to cell and molecular biology. In this article, we review the recent developments of AFM studies in single-molecule assay. The related techniques involved in AFM single-molecule assay were firstly presented, and then the progress in several aspects (including molecular imaging, molecular mechanics, molecular recognition, and molecular activities on cell surface) was summarized. The challenges and future directions were also discussed. PMID:28117741

Atomic force microscopy nanomanipulation of silicon nanocrystals for nanodevice fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Decossas, Sébastien; Mazen, Frédéric; Baron, Thierry; Brémond, Georges; Souifi, Abdelkader

2003-12-01

An atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip has been used to manipulate silicon nanocrystals deposited by low-pressure chemical vapour deposition on thermally oxidized p-type Si wafer. Three nanomanipulation methods are presented. The first one catches a nanocrystal with the AFM tip and deposits it elsewhere: the tip is used as an electrostatic 'nano-crane'. The second one simultaneously manipulates a set of nanocrystals in order to draw well-defined unidimensional lines: the tip is used as a 'nano-broom'. The third one manipulates individual nanocrystals with a precision of about 10 nm using both oscillating and contact AFM modes. Switching from strong interaction forces (chemical) to weak ones (van der Waals, electrostatic or capillarity) is the basis of these manipulation methods. We have applied the second method to connect two electrodes drawn by e-beam and lift-off with a 70 nm long silicon nanocrystal chain. Current versus voltage characterization of the nanofabricated device shows that the increase in nanocrystal density gives rise to conduction between the connected electrodes. Resonant tunnelling effects resulting from Si nanocrystal (nc-Si) multiple tunnel junctions have been observed at 300 K. We also show that offset charges directly influence the position of the resonant tunnelling peaks. Finally, the possibility of manipulating nc-Si with a diameter of around 5 nm is shown to be a promising way to fabricate single electron devices operating at room temperature and fully compatible with silicon technology.

Modular apparatus for electrostatic actuation of common atomic force microscope cantilevers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Long, Christian J., E-mail: christian.long@nist.gov; Maryland Nanocenter, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742; Cannara, Rachel J.

2015-07-15

Piezoelectric actuation of atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers often suffers from spurious mechanical resonances in the loop between the signal driving the cantilever and the actual tip motion. These spurious resonances can reduce the accuracy of AFM measurements and in some cases completely obscure the cantilever response. To address these limitations, we developed a specialized AFM cantilever holder for electrostatic actuation of AFM cantilevers. The holder contains electrical contacts for the AFM cantilever chip, as well as an electrode (or electrodes) that may be precisely positioned with respect to the back of the cantilever. By controlling the voltages on themore » AFM cantilever and the actuation electrode(s), an electrostatic force is applied directly to the cantilever, providing a near-ideal transfer function from drive signal to tip motion. We demonstrate both static and dynamic actuations, achieved through the application of direct current and alternating current voltage schemes, respectively. As an example application, we explore contact resonance atomic force microscopy, which is a technique for measuring the mechanical properties of surfaces on the sub-micron length scale. Using multiple electrodes, we also show that the torsional resonances of the AFM cantilever may be excited electrostatically, opening the door for advanced dynamic lateral force measurements with improved accuracy and precision.« less

Single ricin detection by atomic force microscopy chemomechanical mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Guojun; Zhou, Jianfeng; Park, Bosoon; Xu, Bingqian

2009-07-01

The authors report on a study of detecting ricin molecules immobilized on chemically modified Au (111) surface by chemomechanically mapping the molecular interactions with a chemically modified atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip. AFM images resolved the different fold-up conformations of single ricin molecule as well as their intramolecule structure of A- and B-chains. AFM force spectroscopy study of the interaction indicates that the unbinding force has a linear relation with the logarithmic force loading rate, which agrees well with calculations using one-barrier bond dissociation model.

Measuring Detachment of Aspergillus niger spores from Colonies with an Atomic Force Microscope.

PubMed

Li, Xian; Zhang, Tengfei Tim; Wang, Shugang

2018-06-26

Detachment of fungal spores from moldy surfaces and the subsequent aerosolization can lead to adverse health effects. Spore aerosolization occurs when the forces for aerosolization exceed the binding forces of spores with their colonies. The threshold force to detach a spore from a growing colony remains unknown. This investigation measured the detachment of spores of Aspergillus niger from a colony using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The spores were first affixed to the cantilever of the AFM with ultraviolet curing glue, and then the colony was moved downward until the spores detached. The threshold detachment forces were inferred from the deflection of the cantilever. In addition, the spores were aerosolized in a wind tunnel by a gradual increase of the blowing air speed. The forces measured by the AFM were compared with the hydrodynamic forces for aerosolization. The AFM measurements revealed that a force of 3.27 ± 0.25 nN was required to detach a single spore from the four-day-old colony, while 1.98 ± 0.13 nN was sufficient for the 10-day-old colony. Slightly smaller detachment forces were observed by the AFM than were determined by the aerosolization tests. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Adhesion between peptides/antibodies and breast cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, J.; Paetzell, E.; Bogorad, A.; Soboyejo, W. O.

2010-06-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were used to measure the adhesion forces between the receptors on breast cancer cells specific to human luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) peptides and antibodies specific to the EphA2 receptor. The adhesion forces between LHRH-coated AFM tips and human MDA-MB-231 cells (breast cancer cells) were shown to be about five times greater than those between LHRH-coated AFM tips and normal Hs578Bst breast cells. Similarly, those between EphA2 antibody-coated AFM tips and breast cancer cells were over five times greater than those between EphA2 antibody-coated AFM tips and normal breast cells. The results suggest that AFM can be used for the detection of breast cancer cells in biopsies. The implications of the results are also discussed for the early detection and localized treatment of cancer.

Morphological Properties of Siloxane-Hydrogel Contact Lens Surfaces.

PubMed

Stach, Sebastian; Ţălu, Ştefan; Trabattoni, Silvia; Tavazzi, Silvia; Głuchaczka, Alicja; Siek, Patrycja; Zając, Joanna; Giovanzana, Stefano

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to quantitatively characterize the micromorphology of contact lens (CL) surfaces using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and multifractal analysis. AFM and multifractal analysis were used to characterize the topography of new and worn siloxane-hydrogel CLs made of Filcon V (I FDA group). CL surface roughness was studied by AFM in intermittent-contact mode, in air, on square areas of 25 and 100 μm 2 , by using a Nanoscope V MultiMode (Bruker). Detailed surface characterization of the surface topography was obtained using statistical parameters of 3-D (three-dimensional) surface roughness, in accordance with ISO 25178-2: 2012. Before wear, the surface was found to be characterized by out-of-plane and sharp structures, whilst after a wear of 8 h, two typical morphologies were observed. One morphology (sharp type) has a similar aspect as the unworn CLs and the other morphology (smooth type) is characterized by troughs and bumpy structures. The analysis of the AFM images revealed a multifractal geometry. The generalized dimension D q and the singularity spectrum f(α) provided quantitative values that characterize the local scale properties of CL surface geometry at nanometer scale. Surface statistical parameters deduced by multifractal analysis can be used to assess the CL micromorphology and can be used by manufacturers in developing CLs with improved surface characteristics. These parameters can also be used in understanding the tribological interactions of the back surface of the CL with the corneal surface and the front surface of the CL with the under-surface of the eyelid (friction, wear, and micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication at a nanometer scale).

Taking nanomedicine teaching into practice with atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Carvalho, Filomena A; Freitas, Teresa; Santos, Nuno C

2015-12-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a useful and powerful tool to study molecular interactions applied to nanomedicine. The aim of the present study was to implement a hands-on atomic AFM course for graduated biosciences and medical students. The course comprises two distinct practical sessions, where students get in touch with the use of an atomic force microscope by performing AFM scanning images of human blood cells and force spectroscopy measurements of the fibrinogen-platelet interaction. Since the beginning of this course, in 2008, the overall rating by the students was 4.7 (out of 5), meaning a good to excellent evaluation. Students were very enthusiastic and produced high-quality AFM images and force spectroscopy data. The implementation of the hands-on AFM course was a success, giving to the students the opportunity of contact with a technique that has a wide variety of applications on the nanomedicine field. In the near future, nanomedicine will have remarkable implications in medicine regarding the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of different diseases. AFM enables students to observe single molecule interactions, enabling the understanding of molecular mechanisms of different physiological and pathological processes at the nanoscale level. Therefore, the introduction of nanomedicine courses in bioscience and medical school curricula is essential. Copyright © 2015 The American Physiological Society.

High-speed atomic force microscopy coming of age

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ando, Toshio

2012-02-01

High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is now materialized. It allows direct visualization of dynamic structural changes and dynamic processes of functioning biological molecules in physiological solutions, at high spatiotemporal resolution. Dynamic molecular events unselectively appear in detail in an AFM movie, facilitating our understanding of how biological molecules operate to function. This review describes a historical overview of technical development towards HS-AFM, summarizes elementary devices and techniques used in the current HS-AFM, and then highlights recent imaging studies. Finally, future challenges of HS-AFM studies are briefly discussed.

Minimising the effect of nanoparticle deformation in intermittent contact amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Babic, Bakir, E-mail: bakir.babic@measurement.gov.au; Lawn, Malcolm A.; Coleman, Victoria A.

The results of systematic height measurements of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles using intermittent contact amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy (IC-AM-AFM) are presented. The experimental findings demonstrate that PS nanoparticles deform during AFM imaging, as indicated by a reduction in the measured particle height. This deformation depends on the IC-AM-AFM imaging parameters, material composition, and dimensional properties of the nanoparticles. A model for nanoparticle deformation occurring during IC-AM-AFM imaging is developed as a function of the peak force which can be calculated for a particular set of experimental conditions. The undeformed nanoparticle height can be estimated from the model by extrapolation tomore » zero peak force. A procedure is proposed to quantify and minimise nanoparticle deformation during IC-AM-AFM imaging, based on appropriate adjustments of the experimental control parameters.« less

Fundamental aspects of electric double layer force-distance measurements at liquid-solid interfaces using atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Black, Jennifer M.; Zhu, Mengyang; Zhang, Pengfei; Unocic, Raymond R.; Guo, Daqiang; Okatan, M. Baris; Dai, Sheng; Cummings, Peter T.; Kalinin, Sergei V.; Feng, Guang; Balke, Nina

2016-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) force-distance measurements are used to investigate the layered ion structure of Ionic Liquids (ILs) at the mica surface. The effects of various tip properties on the measured force profiles are examined and reveal that the measured ion position is independent of tip properties, while the tip radius affects the forces required to break through the ion layers as well as the adhesion force. Force data is collected for different ILs and directly compared with interfacial ion density profiles predicted by molecular dynamics. Through this comparison it is concluded that AFM force measurements are sensitive to the position of the ion with the larger volume and mass, suggesting that ion selectivity in force-distance measurements are related to excluded volume effects and not to electrostatic or chemical interactions between ions and AFM tip. The comparison also revealed that at distances greater than 1 nm the system maintains overall electroneutrality between the AFM tip and sample, while at smaller distances other forces (e.g., van der waals interactions) dominate and electroneutrality is no longer maintained. PMID:27587276

In situ probing the interior of single bacterial cells at nanometer scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Boyin; Hemayet Uddin, Md; Ng, Tuck Wah; Paterson, David L.; Velkov, Tony; Li, Jian; Fu, Jing

2014-10-01

We report a novel approach to probe the interior of single bacterial cells at nanometre resolution by combining focused ion beam (FIB) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). After removing layers of pre-defined thickness in the order of 100 nm on the target bacterial cells with FIB milling, AFM of different modes can be employed to probe the cellular interior under both ambient and aqueous environments. Our initial investigations focused on the surface topology induced by FIB milling and the hydration effects on AFM measurements, followed by assessment of the sample protocols. With fine-tuning of the process parameters, in situ AFM probing beneath the bacterial cell wall was achieved for the first time. We further demonstrate the proposed method by performing a spatial mapping of intracellular elasticity and chemistry of the multi-drug resistant strain Klebsiella pneumoniae cells prior to and after it was exposed to the ‘last-line’ antibiotic polymyxin B. Our results revealed increased stiffness occurring in both surface and interior regions of the treated cells, suggesting loss of integrity of the outer membrane from polymyxin treatments. In addition, the hydrophobicity measurement using a functionalized AFM tip was able to highlight the evident hydrophobic portion of the cell such as the regions containing cell membrane. We expect that the proposed FIB-AFM platform will help in gaining deeper insights of bacteria-drug interactions to develop potential strategies for combating multi-drug resistance.

Laser ablated hard coating for microtools

DOEpatents

McLean, II, William; Balooch, Mehdi; Siekhaus, Wigbert J.

1998-05-05

Wear-resistant coatings composed of laser ablated hard carbon films, are deposited by pulsed laser ablation using visible light, on instruments such as microscope tips and micro-surgical tools. Hard carbon, known as diamond-like carbon (DLC), films produced by pulsed laser ablation using visible light enhances the abrasion resistance, wear characteristics, and lifetimes of small tools or instruments, such as small, sharp silicon tips used in atomic probe microscopy without significantly affecting the sharpness or size of these devices. For example, a 10-20 nm layer of diamond-like carbon on a standard silicon atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, enables the useful operating life of the tip to be increased by at least twofold. Moreover, the low inherent friction coefficient of the DLC coating leads to higher resolution for AFM tips operating in the contact mode.

Adhesive force between graphene nanoscale flakes and living biological cells.

PubMed

Al Faouri, Radwan; Henry, Ralph; Biris, Alexandru S; Sleezer, Rob; Salamo, Gregory J

2017-11-01

We report on a measurement technique that quantifies the adhesive force between multi-layers of graphene flakes and the cell wall of live Escherichia coli cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in-fluid Peak Force- Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping mode. To measure the adhesive force, we made use of the negative charge of E. coli cells to allow them to stick to positively charged surfaces, such as glass or silicon, that were covered by poly-L-Lysine. With this approach, cells were held in place for AFM characterization. Both pristine graphene (PG) flakes and functionalized graphene (FG) flakes were put on the E. coli cells and measurements of lateral size, flake thickness, and adhesion were made. Using this approach, the measured values of the adhesive force between multi-layers of graphene flakes (total thickness of 50 nm) and E. coli was determined to be equal or greater than 431 ± 65pN for (PG) and 694 ± 98pN for the (FG). More interestingly, the adhesive force of a graphene flake (thickness 1.3 nm) with the cell is determined to be equal or greater than 38.2 ± 16.4pN for the (PG) and 34.8 ± 15.3pN for the (FG). These interaction values can play an important role in determining and understanding the possible toxicity of graphene flakes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Direct Measurement of the Wettability of Minerals Using Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Y.; Xu, L.; Lu, H.; Wang, H.; Shi, Y.

2016-12-01

The wettability of reservoir rock plays an essential role in affecting the states of fluids (water, oil, etc) in pores which are constructed with various minerals. The contact angle method, which is based on the optical microscope photographs of millimeter-sized droplets on a smooth mineral surface, is one of the most widely employed methods to evaluate the wettability of a rock. However, the real reservoir rocks are composed of several kinds of minerals and thus nonhomogeneous, which leads to different wettability at different location of the rock. The mineral grains are usually micrometer-sized so that the traditional optical contact angle method cannot obtain the wettability of different minerals in the rock. Here we used a tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM, MFP-3D-BIO, Asylum Research) to measure the contact angles of micrometer-sized water droplets on different minerals in a tight sand rock which is mainly composed of quartz, albite, potash feldspar and anorthite. The water droplets varied from submicron to several tens micron in diameter. With the optimization of tool and operation parameters, the AFM tip was well controlled so that the nanoscale morphology of the contact configuration between water film and the mineral surface can be obtained at high resolution without disturbing the liquid surface. The AFM results showed that the contact angles of water on quartz and albite were 30-40 ° and 37-45 °, respectively. The AFM method provides a new measure for the wettability evaluation of reservoir rocks, and it is with potential to be applied to oil and gas hydrate studies.

Going Vertical To Improve the Accuracy of Atomic Force Microscopy Based Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Walder, Robert; Van Patten, William J; Adhikari, Ayush; Perkins, Thomas T

2018-01-23

Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is a powerful technique to characterize the energy landscape of individual proteins, the mechanical properties of nucleic acids, and the strength of receptor-ligand interactions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based SMFS benefits from ongoing progress in improving the precision and stability of cantilevers and the AFM itself. Underappreciated is that the accuracy of such AFM studies remains hindered by inadvertently stretching molecules at an angle while measuring only the vertical component of the force and extension, degrading both measurements. This inaccuracy is particularly problematic in AFM studies using double-stranded DNA and RNA due to their large persistence length (p ≈ 50 nm), often limiting such studies to other SMFS platforms (e.g., custom-built optical and magnetic tweezers). Here, we developed an automated algorithm that aligns the AFM tip above the DNA's attachment point to a coverslip. Importantly, this algorithm was performed at low force (10-20 pN) and relatively fast (15-25 s), preserving the connection between the tip and the target molecule. Our data revealed large uncorrected lateral offsets for 100 and 650 nm DNA molecules [24 ± 18 nm (mean ± standard deviation) and 180 ± 110 nm, respectively]. Correcting this offset yielded a 3-fold improvement in accuracy and precision when characterizing DNA's overstretching transition. We also demonstrated high throughput by acquiring 88 geometrically corrected force-extension curves of a single individual 100 nm DNA molecule in ∼40 min and versatility by aligning polyprotein- and PEG-based protein-ligand assays. Importantly, our software-based algorithm was implemented on a commercial AFM, so it can be broadly adopted. More generally, this work illustrates how to enhance AFM-based SMFS by developing more sophisticated data-acquisition protocols.

Material properties of viral nanocages explored by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

van Rosmalen, Mariska G M; Roos, Wouter H; Wuite, Gijs J L

2015-01-01

Single-particle nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an emergent technique to characterize the material properties of nano-sized proteinaceous systems. AFM uses a very small tip attached to a cantilever to scan the surface of the substrate. As a result of the sensitive feedback loop of AFM, the force applied by the tip on the substrate during scanning can be controlled and monitored. By accurately controlling this scanning force, topographical maps of fragile substrates can be acquired to study the morphology of the substrate. In addition, mechanical properties of the substrate like stiffness and breaking point can be determined by using the force spectroscopy capability of AFM. Here we discuss basics of AFM operation and how this technique is used to determine the structure and mechanical properties of protein nanocages, in particular viral particles. Knowledge of morphology as well as mechanical properties is essential for understanding viral life cycles, including genome packaging, capsid maturation, and uncoating, but also contributes to the development of diagnostics, vaccines, imaging modalities, and targeted therapeutic devices based on viruslike particles.

A Computer-Controlled Classroom Model of an Atomic Force Microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engstrom, Tyler A.; Johnson, Matthew M.; Eklund, Peter C.; Russin, Timothy J.

2015-12-01

The concept of "seeing by feeling" as a way to circumvent limitations on sight is universal on the macroscopic scale—reading Braille, feeling one's way around a dark room, etc. The development of the atomic force microscope (AFM) in 1986 extended this concept to imaging in the nanoscale. While there are classroom demonstrations that use a tactile probe to map the topography or some other property of a sample, the rastering of the probe over the sample is manually controlled, which is both tedious and potentially inaccurate. Other groups have used simulation or tele-operation of an AFM probe. In this paper we describe a teaching AFM with complete computer control to map out topographic and magnetic properties of a "crystal" consisting of two-dimensional arrays of spherical marble "atoms." Our AFM is well suited for lessons on the "Big Ideas of Nanoscale" such as tools and instrumentation, as well as a pre-teaching activity for groups with remote access AFM or mobile AFM. The principle of operation of our classroom AFM is the same as that of a real AFM, excepting the nature of the force between sample and probe.

Surface conformations of anti-ricin aptamer and its affinity to ricin determined by atomic force microscopy and surface plasmon resonance

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The specific interactions between ricin and anti-ricin aptamer were measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectrometry and the results were compared. In AFM, a single-molecule experiment with ricin functionalized AFM tip was used for scanning the aptamer mol...

Structure and Nanomechanics of Model Membranes by Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopy: Insights into the Role of Cholesterol and Sphingolipids.

PubMed

Gumí-Audenis, Berta; Costa, Luca; Carlá, Francesco; Comin, Fabio; Sanz, Fausto; Giannotti, Marina I

2016-12-19

Biological membranes mediate several biological processes that are directly associated with their physical properties but sometimes difficult to evaluate. Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are model systems widely used to characterize the structure of biological membranes. Cholesterol (Chol) plays an essential role in the modulation of membrane physical properties. It directly influences the order and mechanical stability of the lipid bilayers, and it is known to laterally segregate in rafts in the outer leaflet of the membrane together with sphingolipids (SLs). Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful tool as it is capable to sense and apply forces with high accuracy, with distance and force resolution at the nanoscale, and in a controlled environment. AFM-based force spectroscopy (AFM-FS) has become a crucial technique to study the nanomechanical stability of SLBs by controlling the liquid media and the temperature variations. In this contribution, we review recent AFM and AFM-FS studies on the effect of Chol on the morphology and mechanical properties of model SLBs, including complex bilayers containing SLs. We also introduce a promising combination of AFM and X-ray (XR) techniques that allows for in situ characterization of dynamic processes, providing structural, morphological, and nanomechanical information.

Structure and Nanomechanics of Model Membranes by Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopy: Insights into the Role of Cholesterol and Sphingolipids

PubMed Central

Gumí-Audenis, Berta; Costa, Luca; Carlá, Francesco; Comin, Fabio; Sanz, Fausto; Giannotti, Marina I.

2016-01-01

Biological membranes mediate several biological processes that are directly associated with their physical properties but sometimes difficult to evaluate. Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are model systems widely used to characterize the structure of biological membranes. Cholesterol (Chol) plays an essential role in the modulation of membrane physical properties. It directly influences the order and mechanical stability of the lipid bilayers, and it is known to laterally segregate in rafts in the outer leaflet of the membrane together with sphingolipids (SLs). Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful tool as it is capable to sense and apply forces with high accuracy, with distance and force resolution at the nanoscale, and in a controlled environment. AFM-based force spectroscopy (AFM-FS) has become a crucial technique to study the nanomechanical stability of SLBs by controlling the liquid media and the temperature variations. In this contribution, we review recent AFM and AFM-FS studies on the effect of Chol on the morphology and mechanical properties of model SLBs, including complex bilayers containing SLs. We also introduce a promising combination of AFM and X-ray (XR) techniques that allows for in situ characterization of dynamic processes, providing structural, morphological, and nanomechanical information. PMID:27999368

Fundamental aspects of electric double layer force-distance measurements at liquid-solid interfaces using atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Black, Jennifer M.; Zhu, Mengyang; Zhang, Pengfei

In this paper, atomic force microscopy (AFM) force-distance measurements are used to investigate the layered ion structure of Ionic Liquids (ILs) at the mica surface. The effects of various tip properties on the measured force profiles are examined and reveal that the measured ion position is independent of tip properties, while the tip radius affects the forces required to break through the ion layers as well as the adhesion force. Force data is collected for different ILs and directly compared with interfacial ion density profiles predicted by molecular dynamics. Through this comparison it is concluded that AFM force measurements aremore » sensitive to the position of the ion with the larger volume and mass, suggesting that ion selectivity in force-distance measurements are related to excluded volume effects and not to electrostatic or chemical interactions between ions and AFM tip. Finally, the comparison also revealed that at distances greater than 1 nm the system maintains overall electroneutrality between the AFM tip and sample, while at smaller distances other forces (e.g., van der waals interactions) dominate and electroneutrality is no longer maintained.« less

Fundamental aspects of electric double layer force-distance measurements at liquid-solid interfaces using atomic force microscopy

DOE PAGES

Black, Jennifer M.; Zhu, Mengyang; Zhang, Pengfei; ...

2016-09-02

In this paper, atomic force microscopy (AFM) force-distance measurements are used to investigate the layered ion structure of Ionic Liquids (ILs) at the mica surface. The effects of various tip properties on the measured force profiles are examined and reveal that the measured ion position is independent of tip properties, while the tip radius affects the forces required to break through the ion layers as well as the adhesion force. Force data is collected for different ILs and directly compared with interfacial ion density profiles predicted by molecular dynamics. Through this comparison it is concluded that AFM force measurements aremore » sensitive to the position of the ion with the larger volume and mass, suggesting that ion selectivity in force-distance measurements are related to excluded volume effects and not to electrostatic or chemical interactions between ions and AFM tip. Finally, the comparison also revealed that at distances greater than 1 nm the system maintains overall electroneutrality between the AFM tip and sample, while at smaller distances other forces (e.g., van der waals interactions) dominate and electroneutrality is no longer maintained.« less

Application of atomic force microscopy as a nanotechnology tool in food science.

PubMed

Yang, Hongshun; Wang, Yifen; Lai, Shaojuan; An, Hongjie; Li, Yunfei; Chen, Fusheng

2007-05-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a method for detecting nanoscale structural information. First, this review explains the fundamentals of AFM, including principle, manipulation, and analysis. Applications of AFM are then reported in food science and technology research, including qualitative macromolecule and polymer imaging, complicated or quantitative structure analysis, molecular interaction, molecular manipulation, surface topography, and nanofood characterization. The results suggested that AFM could bring insightful knowledge on food properties, and the AFM analysis could be used to illustrate some mechanisms of property changes during processing and storage. However, the current difficulty in applying AFM to food research is lacking appropriate methodology for different food systems. Better understanding of AFM technology and developing corresponding methodology for complicated food systems would lead to a more in-depth understanding of food properties at macromolecular levels and enlarge their applications. The AFM results could greatly improve the food processing and storage technologies.

Detection of stiff nanoparticles within cellular structures by contact resonance atomic force microscopy subsurface nanomechanical imaging.

PubMed

Reggente, Melania; Passeri, Daniele; Angeloni, Livia; Scaramuzzo, Francesca Anna; Barteri, Mario; De Angelis, Francesca; Persiconi, Irene; De Stefano, Maria Egle; Rossi, Marco

2017-05-04

Detecting stiff nanoparticles buried in soft biological matrices by atomic force microscopy (AFM) based techniques represents a new frontier in the field of scanning probe microscopies, originally developed as surface characterization methods. Here we report the detection of stiff (magnetic) nanoparticles (NPs) internalized in cells by using contact resonance AFM (CR-AFM) employed as a potentially non-destructive subsurface characterization tool. Magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) NPs were internalized in microglial cells from cerebral cortices of mouse embryos of 18 days by phagocytosis. Nanomechanical imaging of cells was performed by detecting the contact resonance frequencies (CRFs) of an AFM cantilever held in contact with the sample. Agglomerates of NPs internalized in cells were visualized on the basis of the local increase in the contact stiffness with respect to the surrounding biological matrix. A second AFM-based technique for nanomechanical imaging, i.e., HarmoniX™, as well as magnetic force microscopy and light microscopy were used to confirm the CR-AFM results. Thus, CR-AFM was demonstrated as a promising technique for subsurface imaging of nanomaterials in biological samples.

VEDA: a web-based virtual environment for dynamic atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Melcher, John; Hu, Shuiqing; Raman, Arvind

2008-06-01

We describe here the theory and applications of virtual environment dynamic atomic force microscopy (VEDA), a suite of state-of-the-art simulation tools deployed on nanoHUB (www.nanohub.org) for the accurate simulation of tip motion in dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) over organic and inorganic samples. VEDA takes advantage of nanoHUB's cyberinfrastructure to run high-fidelity dAFM tip dynamics computations on local clusters and the teragrid. Consequently, these tools are freely accessible and the dAFM simulations are run using standard web-based browsers without requiring additional software. A wide range of issues in dAFM ranging from optimal probe choice, probe stability, and tip-sample interaction forces, power dissipation, to material property extraction and scanning dynamics over hetereogeneous samples can be addressed.

Invited Article: VEDA: A web-based virtual environment for dynamic atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melcher, John; Hu, Shuiqing; Raman, Arvind

2008-06-01

We describe here the theory and applications of virtual environment dynamic atomic force microscopy (VEDA), a suite of state-of-the-art simulation tools deployed on nanoHUB (www.nanohub.org) for the accurate simulation of tip motion in dynamic atomic force microscopy (dAFM) over organic and inorganic samples. VEDA takes advantage of nanoHUB's cyberinfrastructure to run high-fidelity dAFM tip dynamics computations on local clusters and the teragrid. Consequently, these tools are freely accessible and the dAFM simulations are run using standard web-based browsers without requiring additional software. A wide range of issues in dAFM ranging from optimal probe choice, probe stability, and tip-sample interaction forces, power dissipation, to material property extraction and scanning dynamics over hetereogeneous samples can be addressed.

Simple display system of mechanical properties of cells and their dispersion.

PubMed

Shimizu, Yuji; Kihara, Takanori; Haghparast, Seyed Mohammad Ali; Yuba, Shunsuke; Miyake, Jun

2012-01-01

The mechanical properties of cells are unique indicators of their states and functions. Though, it is difficult to recognize the degrees of mechanical properties, due to small size of the cell and broad distribution of the mechanical properties. Here, we developed a simple virtual reality system for presenting the mechanical properties of cells and their dispersion using a haptic device and a PC. This system simulates atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation experiments for floating cells in virtual environments. An operator can virtually position the AFM spherical probe over a round cell with the haptic handle on the PC monitor and feel the force interaction. The Young's modulus of mesenchymal stem cells and HEK293 cells in the floating state was measured by AFM. The distribution of the Young's modulus of these cells was broad, and the distribution complied with a log-normal pattern. To represent the mechanical properties together with the cell variance, we used log-normal distribution-dependent random number determined by the mode and variance values of the Young's modulus of these cells. The represented Young's modulus was determined for each touching event of the probe surface and the cell object, and the haptic device-generating force was calculated using a Hertz model corresponding to the indentation depth and the fixed Young's modulus value. Using this system, we can feel the mechanical properties and their dispersion in each cell type in real time. This system will help us not only recognize the degrees of mechanical properties of diverse cells but also share them with others.

Simple Display System of Mechanical Properties of Cells and Their Dispersion

PubMed Central

Shimizu, Yuji; Kihara, Takanori; Haghparast, Seyed Mohammad Ali; Yuba, Shunsuke; Miyake, Jun

2012-01-01

The mechanical properties of cells are unique indicators of their states and functions. Though, it is difficult to recognize the degrees of mechanical properties, due to small size of the cell and broad distribution of the mechanical properties. Here, we developed a simple virtual reality system for presenting the mechanical properties of cells and their dispersion using a haptic device and a PC. This system simulates atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation experiments for floating cells in virtual environments. An operator can virtually position the AFM spherical probe over a round cell with the haptic handle on the PC monitor and feel the force interaction. The Young's modulus of mesenchymal stem cells and HEK293 cells in the floating state was measured by AFM. The distribution of the Young's modulus of these cells was broad, and the distribution complied with a log-normal pattern. To represent the mechanical properties together with the cell variance, we used log-normal distribution-dependent random number determined by the mode and variance values of the Young's modulus of these cells. The represented Young's modulus was determined for each touching event of the probe surface and the cell object, and the haptic device-generating force was calculated using a Hertz model corresponding to the indentation depth and the fixed Young's modulus value. Using this system, we can feel the mechanical properties and their dispersion in each cell type in real time. This system will help us not only recognize the degrees of mechanical properties of diverse cells but also share them with others. PMID:22479595

A Unique Self-Sensing, Self-Actuating AFM Probe at Higher Eigenmodes

PubMed Central

Wu, Zhichao; Guo, Tong; Tao, Ran; Liu, Leihua; Chen, Jinping; Fu, Xing; Hu, Xiaotang

2015-01-01

With its unique structure, the Akiyama probe is a type of tuning fork atomic force microscope probe. The long, soft cantilever makes it possible to measure soft samples in tapping mode. In this article, some characteristics of the probe at its second eigenmode are revealed by use of finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments in a standard atmosphere. Although the signal-to-noise ratio in this environment is not good enough, the 2 nm resolution and 0.09 Hz/nm sensitivity prove that the Akiyama probe can be used at its second eigenmode under FM non-contact mode or low amplitude FM tapping mode, which means that it is easy to change the measuring method from normal tapping to small amplitude tapping or non-contact mode with the same probe and equipment. PMID:26580619

Sub-nanometer Resolution Imaging with Amplitude-modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid

PubMed Central

Farokh Payam, Amir; Piantanida, Luca; Cafolla, Clodomiro; Voïtchovsky, Kislon

2016-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a well-established technique for nanoscale imaging of samples in air and in liquid. Recent studies have shown that when operated in amplitude-modulation (tapping) mode, atomic or molecular-level resolution images can be achieved over a wide range of soft and hard samples in liquid. In these situations, small oscillation amplitudes (SAM-AFM) enhance the resolution by exploiting the solvated liquid at the surface of the sample. Although the technique has been successfully applied across fields as diverse as materials science, biology and biophysics and surface chemistry, obtaining high-resolution images in liquid can still remain challenging for novice users. This is partly due to the large number of variables to control and optimize such as the choice of cantilever, the sample preparation, and the correct manipulation of the imaging parameters. Here, we present a protocol for achieving high-resolution images of hard and soft samples in fluid using SAM-AFM on a commercial instrument. Our goal is to provide a step-by-step practical guide to achieving high-resolution images, including the cleaning and preparation of the apparatus and the sample, the choice of cantilever and optimization of the imaging parameters. For each step, we explain the scientific rationale behind our choices to facilitate the adaptation of the methodology to every user's specific system. PMID:28060262

Characterization of Gd loaded chitosan-TPP nanohydrogels by a multi-technique approach combining dynamic light scattering (DLS), asymetrical flow-field-flow-fractionation (AF4) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and design of positive contrast agents for molecular resonance imaging (MRI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigaux, G.; Gheran, C. V.; Callewaert, M.; Cadiou, C.; Voicu, S. N.; Dinischiotu, A.; Andry, M. C.; Vander Elst, L.; Laurent, S.; Muller, R. N.; Berquand, A.; Molinari, M.; Huclier-Markai, S.; Chuburu, F.

2017-02-01

Chitosan CS—tripolyphosphate TPP/hyaluronic acid HA nanohydrogels loaded with gadolinium chelates (GdDOTA ⊂ CS-TPP/HA NGs) synthesized by ionic gelation were designed for lymph node (LN) MRI. In order to be efficiently drained to LNs, nanogels (NGs) needed to exhibit a diameter ϕ < 100 nm. For that, formulation parameters were tuned, using (i) CS of two different molecular weights (51 and 37 kDa) and (ii) variable CS/TPP ratio (2 < CS/TPP < 8). Characterization of NG size distribution by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and asymetrical flow-field-flow-fractionation (AF4) showed discrepancies since DLS diameters were consistently above 200 nm while AF4 showed individual nano-objects with ϕ < 100 nm. Such a difference could be correlated to the presence of aggregates inherent to ionic gelation. This point was clarified by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid mode which highlighted the main presence of individual nano-objects in nanosuspensions. Thus, combination of DLS, AF4 and AFM provided a more precise characterization of GdDOTA ⊂ CS-TPP/HA nanohydrogels which, in turn, allowed to select formulations leading to NGs of suitable mean sizes showing good MRI efficiency and negligible toxicity.

Atomic force microscopy-based characterization and design of biointerfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsteens, David; Gaub, Hermann E.; Newton, Richard; Pfreundschuh, Moritz; Gerber, Christoph; Müller, Daniel J.

2017-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based methods have matured into a powerful nanoscopic platform, enabling the characterization of a wide range of biological and synthetic biointerfaces ranging from tissues, cells, membranes, proteins, nucleic acids and functional materials. Although the unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio of AFM enables the imaging of biological interfaces from the cellular to the molecular scale, AFM-based force spectroscopy allows their mechanical, chemical, conductive or electrostatic, and biological properties to be probed. The combination of AFM-based imaging and spectroscopy structurally maps these properties and allows their 3D manipulation with molecular precision. In this Review, we survey basic and advanced AFM-related approaches and evaluate their unique advantages and limitations in imaging, sensing, parameterizing and designing biointerfaces. It is anticipated that in the next decade these AFM-related techniques will have a profound influence on the way researchers view, characterize and construct biointerfaces, thereby helping to solve and address fundamental challenges that cannot be addressed with other techniques.

The mapping of yeast's G-protein coupled receptor with an atomic force microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takenaka, Musashi; Miyachi, Yusuke; Ishii, Jun; Ogino, Chiaki; Kondo, Akihiko

2015-03-01

An atomic force microscope (AFM) can measure the adhesion force between a sample and a cantilever while simultaneously applying a rupture force during the imaging of a sample. An AFM should be useful in targeting specific proteins on a cell surface. The present study proposes the use of an AFM to measure the adhesion force between targeting receptors and their ligands, and to map the targeting receptors. In this study, Ste2p, one of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), was chosen as the target receptor. The specific force between Ste2p on a yeast cell surface and a cantilever modified with its ligand, α-factor, was measured and found to be approximately 250 pN. In addition, through continuous measuring of the cell surface, a mapping of the receptors on the cell surface could be performed, which indicated the differences in the Ste2p expression levels. Therefore, the proposed AFM system is accurate for cell diagnosis.

Atomic Force Microscopy Techniques for Nanomechanical Characterization: A Polymeric Case Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reggente, Melania; Rossi, Marco; Angeloni, Livia; Tamburri, Emanuela; Lucci, Massimiliano; Davoli, Ivan; Terranova, Maria Letizia; Passeri, Daniele

2015-04-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile tool to perform mechanical characterization of surface samples at the nanoscale. In this work, we review two of such methods, namely contact resonance AFM (CR-AFM) and torsional harmonics AFM (TH-AFM). First, such techniques are illustrated and their applicability on materials with elastic moduli in different ranges are discussed, together with their main advantages and limitations. Then, a case study is presented in which we report the mechanical characterization using both CR-AFM and TH-AFM of polyaniline and polyaniniline doped with nanodiamond particles tablets prepared by a pressing process. We determined the indentation modulus values of their surfaces, which were found in fairly good agreement, thus demonstrating the accuracy of the techniques. Finally, the determined surface elastic moduli have been compared with the bulk ones measured through standard indentation testing.

Customized atomic force microscopy probe by focused-ion-beam-assisted tip transfer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Andrew; Butte, Manish J., E-mail: manish.butte@stanford.edu

2014-08-04

We present a technique for transferring separately fabricated tips onto tipless atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers, performed using focused ion beam-assisted nanomanipulation. This method addresses the need in scanning probe microscopy for certain tip geometries that cannot be achieved by conventional lithography. For example, in probing complex layered materials or tall biological cells using AFM, a tall tip with a high-aspect-ratio is required to avoid artifacts caused by collisions of the tip's sides with the material being probed. We show experimentally that tall (18 μm) cantilever tips fabricated by this approach reduce squeeze-film damping, which fits predictions from hydrodynamic theory, andmore » results in an increased quality factor (Q) of the fundamental flexural mode. We demonstrate that a customized tip's well-defined geometry, tall tip height, and aspect ratio enable improved measurement of elastic moduli by allowing access to low-laying portions of tall cells (T lymphocytes). This technique can be generally used to attach tips to any micromechanical device when conventional lithography of tips cannot be accomplished.« less

Controlling electrostatic charging of nanocrystalline diamond at nanoscale.

PubMed

Verveniotis, Elisseos; Kromka, Alexander; Rezek, Bohuslav

2013-06-11

Constant electrical current in the range of -1 to -200 pA is applied by an atomic force microscope (AFM) in contact mode regime to induce and study local electrostatic charging of oxygen-terminated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films. The NCD films are deposited on silicon in 70 nm thickness and with 60% relative sp(2) phase content. Charging current is monitored by conductive AFM. Electric potential contrast induced by the current is evaluated by Kelvin force microscopy (KFM). KFM shows well-defined, homogeneous, and reproducible microscopic patterns that are not influenced by inherent tip-surface junction fluctuations during the charging process. The charged patterns are persistent for at least 72 h due to charge trapping inside the NCD film. The current-induced charging also clearly reveals field-induced detrapping at current amplitudes >-50 pA and tip instability at >-150 pA, both of which limit the achievable potential contrast. In addition, we show that the field also determines the range of electronic states that can trap the charge. We present a model and discuss implications for control of the nanoscale charging process.

Atomic force microscopy of starch systems.

PubMed

Zhu, Fan

2017-09-22

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) generates information on topography, adhesion, and elasticity of sample surface by touching with a tip. Under suitable experimental settings, AFM can image biopolymers of few nanometers. Starch is a major food and industrial component. AFM has been used to probe the morphology, properties, modifications, and interactions of starches from diverse botanical origins at both micro- and nano-structural levels. The structural information obtained by AFM supports the blocklet structure of the granules, and provides qualitative and quantitative basis for some physicochemical properties of diverse starch systems. It becomes evident that AFM can complement other microscopic techniques to provide novel structural insights for starch systems.

Laser ablated hard coating for microtools

DOEpatents

McLean, W. II; Balooch, M.; Siekhaus, W.J.

1998-05-05

Wear-resistant coatings composed of laser ablated hard carbon films, are deposited by pulsed laser ablation using visible light, on instruments such as microscope tips and micro-surgical tools. Hard carbon, known as diamond-like carbon (DLC), films produced by pulsed laser ablation using visible light enhances the abrasion resistance, wear characteristics, and lifetimes of small tools or instruments, such as small, sharp silicon tips used in atomic probe microscopy without significantly affecting the sharpness or size of these devices. For example, a 10--20 nm layer of diamond-like carbon on a standard silicon atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, enables the useful operating life of the tip to be increased by at least twofold. Moreover, the low inherent friction coefficient of the DLC coating leads to higher resolution for AFM tips operating in the contact mode. 12 figs.

The study on the nanomachining property and cutting model of single-crystal sapphire by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Huang, Jen-Ching; Weng, Yung-Jin

2014-01-01

This study focused on the nanomachining property and cutting model of single-crystal sapphire during nanomachining. The coated diamond probe is used to as a tool, and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) is as an experimental platform for nanomachining. To understand the effect of normal force on single-crystal sapphire machining, this study tested nano-line machining and nano-rectangular pattern machining at different normal force. In nano-line machining test, the experimental results showed that the normal force increased, the groove depth from nano-line machining also increased. And the trend is logarithmic type. In nano-rectangular pattern machining test, it is found when the normal force increases, the groove depth also increased, but rather the accumulation of small chips. This paper combined the blew by air blower, the cleaning by ultrasonic cleaning machine and using contact mode probe to scan the surface topology after nanomaching, and proposed the "criterion of nanomachining cutting model," in order to determine the cutting model of single-crystal sapphire in the nanomachining is ductile regime cutting model or brittle regime cutting model. After analysis, the single-crystal sapphire substrate is processed in small normal force during nano-linear machining; its cutting modes are ductile regime cutting model. In the nano-rectangular pattern machining, due to the impact of machined zones overlap, the cutting mode is converted into a brittle regime cutting model. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Multi-frequency tapping-mode atomic force microscopy beyond three eigenmodes in ambient air

PubMed Central

An, Sangmin; Long, Christian J

2014-01-01

Summary We present an exploratory study of multimodal tapping-mode atomic force microscopy driving more than three cantilever eigenmodes. We present tetramodal (4-eigenmode) imaging experiments conducted on a thin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film and computational simulations of pentamodal (5-eigenmode) cantilever dynamics and spectroscopy, focusing on the case of large amplitude ratios between the fundamental eigenmode and the higher eigenmodes. We discuss the dynamic complexities of the tip response in time and frequency space, as well as the average amplitude and phase response. We also illustrate typical images and spectroscopy curves and provide a very brief description of the observed contrast. Overall, our findings are promising in that they help to open the door to increasing sophistication and greater versatility in multi-frequency AFM through the incorporation of a larger number of driven eigenmodes, and in highlighting specific future research opportunities. PMID:25383276

High-speed atomic force microscopy and peak force tapping control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Shuiqing; Mininni, Lars; Hu, Yan; Erina, Natalia; Kindt, Johannes; Su, Chanmin

2012-03-01

ITRS Roadmap requires defect size measurement below 10 nanometers and challenging classifications for both blank and patterned wafers and masks. Atomic force microscope (AFM) is capable of providing metrology measurement in 3D at sub-nanometer accuracy but has long suffered from drawbacks in throughput and limitation of slow topography imaging without chemical information. This presentation focus on two disruptive technology developments, namely high speed AFM and quantitative nanomechanical mapping, which enables high throughput measurement with capability of identifying components through concurrent physical property imaging. The high speed AFM technology has allowed the imaging speed increase by 10-100 times without loss of the data quality. Such improvement enables the speed of defect review on a wafer to increase from a few defects per hour to nearly 100 defects an hour, approaching the requirements of ITRS Roadmap. Another technology development, Peak Force Tapping, substantially simplified the close loop system response, leading to self-optimization of most challenging samples groups to generate expert quality data. More importantly, AFM also simultaneously provides a series of mechanical property maps with a nanometer spatial resolution during defect review. These nanomechanical maps (including elastic modulus, hardness, and surface adhesion) provide complementary information for elemental analysis, differentiate defect materials by their physical properties, and assist defect classification beyond topographic measurements. This paper will explain the key enabling technologies, namely high speed tip-scanning AFM using innovative flexure design and control algorithm. Another critical element is AFM control using Peak Force Tapping, in which the instantaneous tip-sample interaction force is measured and used to derive a full suite of physical properties at each imaging pixel. We will provide examples of defect review data on different wafers and media disks. The similar AFM-based defect review capacity was also applied to EUV masks.

AFM force measurements of the gp120-sCD4 and gp120 or CD4 antigen-antibody interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Yong, E-mail: dr_yongchen@hotmail.com; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612; Zeng, Gucheng

2011-04-08

Highlights: {yields} The unbinding force of sCD4-gp120 interaction was 25.45 {+-} 20.46 pN. {yields} The unbinding force of CD4 antigen-antibody interaction was 51.22 {+-} 34.64 pN. {yields} The unbinding force of gp120 antigen-antibody interaction was 89.87 {+-} 44.63 pN. {yields} The interaction forces between various HIV inhibitors and the target molecules are significantly different. {yields} Functionalizing on AFM tip or substrate of an interaction pair caused different results. -- Abstract: Soluble CD4 (sCD4), anti-CD4 antibody, and anti-gp120 antibody have long been regarded as entry inhibitors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy. However, the interactions between these HIV entry inhibitors andmore » corresponding target molecules are still poorly understood. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to investigate the interaction forces among them. We found that the unbinding forces of sCD4-gp120 interaction, CD4 antigen-antibody interaction, and gp120 antigen-antibody interaction were 25.45 {+-} 20.46, 51.22 {+-} 34.64, and 89.87 {+-} 44.63 pN, respectively, which may provide important mechanical information for understanding the effects of viral entry inhibitors on HIV infection. Moreover, we found that the functionalization of an interaction pair on AFM tip or substrate significantly influenced the results, implying that we must perform AFM force measurement and analyze the data with more caution.« less

The application of atomic force microscopy in mineral flotation.

PubMed

Xing, Yaowen; Xu, Mengdi; Gui, Xiahui; Cao, Yijun; Babel, Bent; Rudolph, Martin; Weber, Stefan; Kappl, Michael; Butt, Hans-Jürgen

2018-06-01

During the past years, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has matured to an indispensable tool to characterize nanomaterials in colloid and interface science. For imaging, a sharp probe mounted near to the end of a cantilever scans over the sample surface providing a high resolution three-dimensional topographic image. In addition, the AFM tip can be used as a force sensor to detect local properties like adhesion, stiffness, charge etc. After the invention of the colloidal probe technique it has also become a major method to measure surface forces. In this review, we highlight the advances in the application of AFM in the field of mineral flotation, such as mineral morphology imaging, water at mineral surface, reagent adsorption, inter-particle force, and bubble-particle interaction. In the coming years, the complementary characterization of chemical composition such as using infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy for AFM topography imaging and the synchronous measurement of the force and distance involving deformable bubble as a force sensor will further assist the fundamental understanding of flotation mechanism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct measurements of intermolecular forces by chemical force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vezenov, Dmitri Vitalievich

1999-12-01

Detailed description of intermolecular forces is key to understanding a wide range of phenomena from molecular recognition to materials failure. The unique features of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to make point contact force measurements with ultra high sensitivity and to generate spatial maps of surface topography and forces have been extended to include measurements between well-defined organic molecular groups. Chemical modification of AFM probes with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was used to make them sensitive to specific molecular interactions. This novel chemical force microscopy (CFM) technique was used to probe forces between different molecular groups in a range of environments (vacuum, organic liquids and aqueous solutions); measure surface energetics on a nanometer scale; determine pK values of the surface acid and base groups; measure forces to stretch and unbind a short synthetic DNA duplex and map the spatial distribution of specific functional groups and their ionization state. Studies of adhesion forces demonstrated the important contribution of hydrogen bonding to interactions between simple organic functionalities. The chemical identity of the tip and substrate surfaces as well as the medium had a dramatic effect on adhesion between model monolayers. A direct correlation between surface free energy and adhesion forces was established. The adhesion between epoxy polymer and model mixed SAMs varied with the amount of hydrogen bonding component in the monolayers. A consistent interpretation of CFM measurements in polar solvents was provided by contact mechanics models and intermolecular force components theory. Forces between tips and surfaces functionalized with SAMs terminating in acid or base groups depended on their ionization state. A novel method of force titration was introduced for highly local characterization of the pK's of surface functional groups. The pH-dependent changes in friction forces were exploited to map spatially the changes in ionization state on SAM surfaces. The phase contrast in tapping mode AFM between chemically distinct monolayer regions and corresponding adhesion forces were found to be directly correlated. Thus, both friction and intermittent contact CFM images could be interpreted in terms of the strength of intermolecular interactions. CFM was also used to probe biomolecular interactions. Separation forces between complementary oligonucleotide strands were significantly larger than the forces measured between noncomplementary strands and were consistent with the unbinding of a single DNA duplex. CFM data provided a direct measure of the forces required to elastically deform, structurally-transform and separate well-defined, synthetic duplexes into single strand oligonucleotides.

Probing Cytoskeletal Structures by Coupling Optical Superresolution and AFM Techniques for a Correlative Approach

PubMed Central

Chacko, Jenu Varghese; Zanacchi, Francesca Cella; Diaspro, Alberto

2013-01-01

In this article, we describe and show the application of some of the most advanced fluorescence superresolution techniques, STED AFM and STORM AFM microscopy towards imaging of cytoskeletal structures, such as microtubule filaments. Mechanical and structural properties can play a relevant role in the investigation of cytoskeletal structures of interest, such as microtubules, that provide support to the cell structure. In fact, the mechanical properties, such as the local stiffness and the elasticity, can be investigated by AFM force spectroscopy with tens of nanometers resolution. Force curves can be analyzed in order to obtain the local elasticity (and the Young's modulus calculation by fitting the force curves from every pixel of interest), and the combination with STED/STORM microscopy integrates the measurement with high specificity and yields superresolution structural information. This hybrid modality of superresolution-AFM working is a clear example of correlative multimodal microscopy. PMID:24027190

Atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy to probe single membrane proteins in lipid bilayers.

PubMed

Sapra, K Tanuj

2013-01-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) has opened vast avenues hitherto inaccessible to the biological scientist. The high temporal (millisecond) and spatial (nanometer) resolutions of the AFM are suited for studying many biological processes in their native conditions. The AFM cantilever stylus is aptly termed as a "lab on a tip" owing to its versatility as an imaging tool as well as a handle to manipulate single bonds and proteins. Recent examples assert that the AFM can be used to study the mechanical properties and monitor processes of single proteins and single cells, thus affording insight into important mechanistic details. This chapter specifically focuses on practical and analytical protocols of single-molecule AFM methodologies related to high-resolution imaging and single-molecule force spectroscopy of membrane proteins. Both these techniques are operator oriented, and require specialized working knowledge of the instrument, theoretical, and practical skills.

Recent advances in micromechanical characterization of polymer, biomaterial, and cell surfaces with atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chyasnavichyus, Marius; Young, Seth L.; Tsukruk, Vladimir V.

2015-08-01

Probing of micro- and nanoscale mechanical properties of soft materials with atomic force microscopy (AFM) gives essential information about the performance of the nanostructured polymer systems, natural nanocomposites, ultrathin coatings, and cell functioning. AFM provides efficient and is some cases the exclusive way to study these properties nondestructively in controlled environment. Precise force control in AFM methods allows its application to variety of soft materials and can be used to go beyond elastic properties and examine temperature and rate dependent materials response. In this review, we discuss experimental AFM methods currently used in the field of soft nanostructured composites and biomaterials. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of common AFM probing techniques, which allow for both qualitative and quantitative mappings of the elastic modulus of soft materials with nanosacle resolution. We also discuss several advanced techniques for more elaborate measurements of viscoelastic properties of soft materials and experiments on single cells.

Microscopy of Analogs for Martian Dust and Soil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, M. A.; Pike, W. T.; Weitz, C. M.

1999-01-01

The upcoming Mars 2001 lander will carry an atomic force microscope (AFM) as part of the Mars Environmental Compatibility Assessment (MECA) payload. By operating in a tapping mode, the AFM is capable of sub-nanometer resolution in three dimensions and can distinguish between substances of different compositions by employing phase-contrast imaging. Phase imaging is an extension of tapping-mode AFM that provides nanometer-scale information about surface composition not revealed in the topography. Phase imaging maps the phase of the cantilever oscillation during the tapping mode scan, hence detecting variations in composition, adhesion, friction, and viscoelasticity. Because phase imaging highlights edges and is not affected by large-scale height differences, it provides for clearer observation of fine features, such as grain edges, which can be obscured by rough topography. To prepare for the Mars 01 mission, we are testing the AFM on a lunar soil and terrestrial basaltic glasses to determine the AFMOs ability to define particle shapes and sizes and grain-surface textures. The test materials include the Apollo 17 soil 79221, which is a mixture of agglutinates, impact and volcanic beads, and mare and highland rock and mineral fragments. The majority of the lunar soil particles are less than 100 microns in size, comparable to the sizes estimated for Martian dust. The terrestrial samples are millimeter size basaltic glasses collected on Black Pointe at Mono Lake, just north of the Long Valley caldera in California. The basaltic glass formed by a phreatomagmatic eruption 13,000 years ago beneath a glacier that covered the Mono Lake region. Because basaltic glass formed by reworking of pyroclastic deposits may represent a likely source for Martian dunes, these basaltic glass samples represent plausible analogs to the types of particles that may be studied in sand dunes by the 01 lander and rover. We have used the AFM to examine several different soil particles at various resolutions. The instrument has demonstrated the ability to identify parallel ridges characteristic of twinning on a 150-micron plagioclase feldspar particle. Extremely small (10-100 nanometer) adhering particles are visible on the surface of the feldspar grain, and appear elongate with smooth surfaces. Phase contrast imaging of the nanometer particles shows several compositions to be present. When the AFM was applied to a 100-micron glass spherule, it was possible to define an extremely smooth surface.E Also visible on the surface of the glass spherule were chains of 100-nanometer- and-smaller impact melt droplets. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Lens capsule structure assessed with atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Sueiras, Vivian M.; Moy, Vincent T.

2015-01-01

Purpose To image the ultrastructure of the anterior lens capsule at the nanoscale level using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Methods Experiments were performed on anterior lens capsules maintained in their in situ location surrounding the lens from six human cadavers (donor age range: 44–88 years), four cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis age range: 4.83–8.92 years), and seven pigs (<6 months). Hydration of all samples was maintained using Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). Whole lenses were removed from the eye and placed anterior side up in agarose gel before gel hardening where only the posterior half of the lens was contained within the gel. After the gel hardened, the Petri dish was filled with DMEM until the point where the intact lens was fully submerged. AFM was used to image the anterior lens surface in contact mode. An integrated analysis program was used to calculate the interfibrillar spacing, fiber diameter, and surface roughness of the samples. Results The AFM images depict a highly ordered fibrous structure at the surface of the lens capsule in all three species. The interfibrillar spacing for the porcine, cynomolgus monkey, and human lens capsules was 0.68±0.25, 1.80±0.39, and 1.08±0.25 μm, respectively. In the primate, interfibrillar spacing significantly decreased linearly as a function of age. The fiber diameters ranged from 50 to 950 nm. Comparison of the root mean square (RMS) and average deviation demonstrate that the surface of the porcine lens capsule is the smoothest, and that the human and cynomolgus monkey capsules are significantly rougher. Conclusions AFM was successful in providing high-resolution images of the nanostructure of the lens capsule samples. Species-dependent differences were observed in the overall structure and surface roughness. PMID:25814829

Atomic Force Microscopy in Imaging of Viruses and Virus-Infected Cells

PubMed Central

Kuznetsov, Yurii G.; McPherson, Alexander

2011-01-01

Summary: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can visualize almost everything pertinent to structural virology and at resolutions that approach those for electron microscopy (EM). Membranes have been identified, RNA and DNA have been visualized, and large protein assemblies have been resolved into component substructures. Capsids of icosahedral viruses and the icosahedral capsids of enveloped viruses have been seen at high resolution, in some cases sufficiently high to deduce the arrangement of proteins in the capsomeres as well as the triangulation number (T). Viruses have been recorded budding from infected cells and suffering the consequences of a variety of stresses. Mutant viruses have been examined and phenotypes described. Unusual structural features have appeared, and the unexpectedly great amount of structural nonconformity within populations of particles has been documented. Samples may be imaged in air or in fluids (including culture medium or buffer), in situ on cell surfaces, or after histological procedures. AFM is nonintrusive and nondestructive, and it can be applied to soft biological samples, particularly when the tapping mode is employed. In principle, only a single cell or virion need be imaged to learn of its structure, though normally images of as many as is practical are collected. While lateral resolution, limited by the width of the cantilever tip, is a few nanometers, height resolution is exceptional, at approximately 0.5 nm. AFM produces three-dimensional, topological images that accurately depict the surface features of the virus or cell under study. The images resemble common light photographic images and require little interpretation. The structures of viruses observed by AFM are consistent with models derived by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. PMID:21646429

Radiation pressure excitation of Low Temperature Atomic Force & Magnetic Force Microscope (LT-AFM/MFM) for Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karci, Ozgur; Celik, Umit; Oral, Ahmet; NanoMagnetics Instruments Ltd. Team; Middle East Tech Univ Team

2015-03-01

We describe a novel method for excitation of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilevers by means of radiation pressure for imaging in an AFM for the first time. Piezo excitation is the most common method for cantilever excitation, but it may cause spurious resonance peaks. A fiber optic interferometer with 1310 nm laser was used both to measure the deflection of cantilever and apply a force to the cantilever in a LT-AFM/MFM from NanoMagnetics Instruments. The laser power was modulated at the cantilever`s resonance frequency by a digital Phase Lock Loop (PLL). The force exerted by the radiation pressure on a perfectly reflecting surface by a laser beam of power P is F = 2P/c. We typically modulate the laser beam by ~ 800 μW and obtain 10nm oscillation amplitude with Q ~ 8,000 at 2.5x10-4 mbar. The cantilever's stiffness can be accurately calibrated by using the radiation pressure. We have demonstrated performance of the radiation pressure excitation in AFM/MFM by imaging a hard disk sample between 4-300K and Abrikosov vortex lattice in BSCCO single crystal at 4K to for the first time.

3D Nanofabrication Using AFM-Based Ultrasonic Vibration Assisted Nanomachining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Jia

Nanolithography and nanofabrication processes have significant impact on the recent development of fundamental research areas such as physics, chemistry and biology, as well as the modern electronic devices that have reached nanoscale domain such as optoelectronic devices. Many advanced nanofabrication techniques have been developed and reported to satisfy different requirements in both research areas and applications such as electron-beam lithography. However, it is expensive to use and maintain the equipment. Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) based nanolithography processes provide an alternative approach to nanopatterning with significantly lower cost. Recently, three dimensional nanostructures have attracted a lot of attention, motivated by many applications in various fields including optics, plasmonics and nanoelectromechanical systems. AFM nanolithography processes are able to create not only two dimensional nanopatterns but also have the great potential to fabricate three dimensional nanostructures. The objectives of this research proposal are to investigate the capability of AFM-based three dimensional nanofabrication processes, to transfer the three dimensional nanostructures from resists to silicon surfaces and to use the three dimensional nanostructures on silicon in applications. Based on the understanding of literature, a novel AFM-based ultrasonic vibration assisted nanomachining system is utilized to develop three dimensional nanofabrication processes. In the system, high-frequency in plane circular xy-vibration was introduced to create a virtual tool, whose diameter is controlled by the amplitude of xy-vibration and is larger than that of a regular AFM tip. Therefore, the feature width of a single trench is tunable. Ultrasonic vibration of sample in z-direction was introduced to control the depth of single trenches, creating a high-rate 3D nanomachining process. Complicated 3D nanostructures on PMMA are fabricated under both the setpoint force and z-height control modes. Complex contours and both discrete and continuous height changes are able to be fabricated by the novel 3D nanofabrication processes. Results are imaged clearly after cleaning the debris covering on the 3D nanostructures after nanomachining process. The process is validated by fabricating various 3D nanostructures. The advantages and disadvantages are compared between these two control modes. Furthermore, the 3D nanostructures were further transferred from PMMA surfaces onto silicon surfaces using reactive ion etching (RIE) process. Recipes are developed based on the functionality of the etching gas in the transfer process. Tunable selectivity and controllable surface finishes are achieved by varying the flow rate of oxygen. The developed 3D nanofabrication process is used as a novel technique in two applications, master fabrication for soft lithography and SERS substrates fabrication. 3D nanostructures were reversely molded on PDMS and then duplicated on new PMMA substrates. 3D nanostructures are fabricated, which can be either directly used or transferred on silicon as SERS substrates after coating 80 nm gold layers. They greatly enhanced the intensity of Raman scattering with the enhancement factor of 3.11x103. These applications demonstrate the capability of the novel process of AFM-based 3D nanomachining.

Elastic modulus measurements at variable temperature: Validation of atomic force microscopy techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natali, Marco; Reggente, Melania; Passeri, Daniele; Rossi, Marco

2016-06-01

The development of polymer-based nanocomposites to be used in critical thermal environments requires the characterization of their mechanical properties, which are related to their chemical composition, size, morphology and operating temperature. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been proven to be a useful tool to develop techniques for the mechanical characterization of these materials, thanks to its nanometer lateral resolution and to the capability of exerting ultra-low loads, down to the piconewton range. In this work, we demonstrate two techniques, one quasi-static, i.e., AFM-based indentation (I-AFM), and one dynamic, i.e., contact resonance AFM (CR-AFM), for the mechanical characterization of compliant materials at variable temperature. A cross-validation of I-AFM and CR-AFM has been performed by comparing the results obtained on two reference materials, i.e., low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polycarbonate (PC), which demonstrated the accuracy of the techniques.

Biological Applications of FM-AFM in Liquid Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuma, Takeshi; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was noted for its potential to study biological materials shortly after its first development in 1986 due to its ability to image insulators in liquid environments. The subsequent application of AFM to biology has included lateral characterization via imaging, unraveling of molecules under a tensile load and application of a force either to measure mechanical properties under the tip or to instigate a biochemical response in living cells. To date, the application of frequency modulation AFM (FM-AFM) specifically to biological materials has been limited to relatively few research groups when compared to the extensive application of AFM to biological materials. This is probably due to the perceived complexity of the technique both by researchers in the life sciences and those manufacturing liquid AFMs for biological research. In this chapter, we aim to highlight the advantages of applying the technique to biological materials.

Localization and force analysis at the single virus particle level using atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Chih-Hao; Horng, Jim-Tong; Chang, Jeng-Shian

2012-01-06

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Localization of single virus particle. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Force measurements. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Force mapping. -- Abstract: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a vital instrument in nanobiotechnology. In this study, we developed a method that enables AFM to simultaneously measure specific unbinding force and map the viral glycoprotein at the single virus particle level. The average diameter of virus particles from AFM images and the specificity between the viral surface antigen and antibody probe were integrated to design a three-stage method that sets the measuring area to a single virus particle before obtaining the force measurements, where the influenza virus was usedmore » as the object of measurements. Based on the purposed method and performed analysis, several findings can be derived from the results. The mean unbinding force of a single virus particle can be quantified, and no significant difference exists in this value among virus particles. Furthermore, the repeatability of the proposed method is demonstrated. The force mapping images reveal that the distributions of surface viral antigens recognized by antibody probe were dispersed on the whole surface of individual virus particles under the proposed method and experimental criteria; meanwhile, the binding probabilities are similar among particles. This approach can be easily applied to most AFM systems without specific components or configurations. These results help understand the force-based analysis at the single virus particle level, and therefore, can reinforce the capability of AFM to investigate a specific type of viral surface protein and its distributions.« less

Inverting dynamic force microscopy: From signals to time-resolved interaction forces

PubMed Central

Stark, Martin; Stark, Robert W.; Heckl, Wolfgang M.; Guckenberger, Reinhard

2002-01-01

Transient forces between nanoscale objects on surfaces govern friction, viscous flow, and plastic deformation, occur during manipulation of matter, or mediate the local wetting behavior of thin films. To resolve transient forces on the (sub) microsecond time and nanometer length scale, dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers largely unexploited potential. Full spectral analysis of the AFM signal completes dynamic AFM. Inverting the signal formation process, we measure the time course of the force effective at the sensing tip. This approach yields rich insight into processes at the tip and dispenses with a priori assumptions about the interaction, as it relies solely on measured data. Force measurements on silicon under ambient conditions demonstrate the distinct signature of the interaction and reveal that peak forces exceeding 200 nN are applied to the sample in a typical imaging situation. These forces are 2 orders of magnitude higher than those in covalent bonds. PMID:12070341

Demonstration of correlative atomic force and transmission electron microscopy using actin cytoskeleton

PubMed Central

Yamada, Yutaro; Konno, Hiroki; Shimabukuro, Katsuya

2017-01-01

In this study, we present a new technique called correlative atomic force and transmission electron microscopy (correlative AFM/TEM) in which a targeted region of a sample can be observed under AFM and TEM. The ultimate goal of developing this new technique is to provide a technical platform to expand the fields of AFM application to complex biological systems such as cell extracts. Recent advances in the time resolution of AFM have enabled detailed observation of the dynamic nature of biomolecules. However, specifying molecular species, by AFM alone, remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate correlative AFM/TEM, using actin filaments as a test sample, and further show that immuno-electron microscopy (immuno-EM), to specify molecules, can be integrated into this technique. Therefore, it is now possible to specify molecules, captured under AFM, by subsequent observation using immuno-EM. In conclusion, correlative AFM/TEM can be a versatile method to investigate complex biological systems at the molecular level. PMID:28828286

FRAME (Force Review Automation Environment): MATLAB-based AFM data processor.

PubMed

Partola, Kostyantyn R; Lykotrafitis, George

2016-05-03

Data processing of force-displacement curves generated by atomic force microscopes (AFMs) for elastic moduli and unbinding event measurements is very time consuming and susceptible to user error or bias. There is an evident need for consistent, dependable, and easy-to-use AFM data processing software. We have developed an open-source software application, the force review automation environment (or FRAME), that provides users with an intuitive graphical user interface, automating data processing, and tools for expediting manual processing. We did not observe a significant difference between manually processed and automatically processed results from the same data sets. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterizing absolute piezoelectric microelectromechanical system displacement using an atomic force microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Evans, J., E-mail: radiant@ferrodevices.com; Chapman, S., E-mail: radiant@ferrodevices.com

Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM) is a popular tool for the study of ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials at the nanometer level. Progress in the development of piezoelectric MEMS fabrication is highlighting the need to characterize absolute displacement at the nanometer and Ångstrom scales, something Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) might do but PFM cannot. Absolute displacement is measured by executing a polarization measurement of the ferroelectric or piezoelectric capacitor in question while monitoring the absolute vertical position of the sample surface with a stationary AFM cantilever. Two issues dominate the execution and precision of such a measurement: (1) the small amplitude ofmore » the electrical signal from the AFM at the Ångstrom level and (2) calibration of the AFM. The authors have developed a calibration routine and test technique for mitigating the two issues, making it possible to use an atomic force microscope to measure both the movement of a capacitor surface as well as the motion of a micro-machine structure actuated by that capacitor. The theory, procedures, pitfalls, and results of using an AFM for absolute piezoelectric measurement are provided.« less

Atomic force microscopy of pea starch: origins of image contrast.

PubMed

Ridout, Michael J; Parker, Mary L; Hedley, Cliff L; Bogracheva, Tatiana Y; Morris, Victor J

2004-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to image the internal structure of pea starch granules. Starch granules were encased in a nonpenetrating matrix of rapid-set Araldite. Images were obtained of the internal structure of starch exposed by cutting the face of the block and of starch in sections collected on water. These images have been obtained without staining, or either chemical or enzymatic treatment of the granule. It has been demonstrated that contrast in the AFM images is due to localized absorption of water within specific regions of the exposed fragments of the starch granules. These regions swell, becoming "softer" and higher than surrounding regions. The images obtained confirm the "blocklet model" of starch granule architecture. By using topographic, error signal and force modulation imaging modes on samples of the wild-type pea starch and the high amylose r near-isogenic mutant, it has been possible to demonstrate differing structures within granules of different origin. These architectural changes provide a basis for explaining the changed appearance and functionality of the r mutant. The growth-ring structure of the granule is suggested to arise from localized "defects" in blocklet distribution within the granule. It is proposed that these defects are partially crystalline regions devoid of amylose.

Raman bands in Ag nanoparticles obtained in extract of Opuntia ficus-indica plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bocarando-Chacon, J.-G.; Cortez-Valadez, M.; Vargas-Vazquez, D.; Rodríguez Melgarejo, F.; Flores-Acosta, M.; Mani-Gonzalez, P. G.; Leon-Sarabia, E.; Navarro-Badilla, A.; Ramírez-Bon, R.

2014-05-01

Silver nanoparticles have been obtained in an extract of Opuntia ficus-indica plant. The size and distribution of nanoparticles were quantified by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The diameter was estimated to be about 15 nm. In addition, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) peaks of silver were observed in these samples. Three Raman bands have been experimentally detected at 83, 110 and 160 cm-1. The bands at 83 and 110 cm-1 are assigned to the silver-silver Raman modes (skeletal modes) and the Raman mode located at 160 cm-1 has been assigned to breathing modes. Vibrational assignments of Raman modes have been carried out based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) quantum mechanical calculation. Structural and vibrational properties for small Agn clusters with 2≤n≤9 were determined. Calculated Raman modes for small metal clusters have an approximation trend of Raman bands. These Raman bands were obtained experimentally for silver nanoparticles (AgNP).

True non-contact atomic force microscopy imaging of heterogeneous biological samples in liquids: topography and material contrast.

PubMed

Almonte, Lisa; Colchero, Jaime

2017-02-23

The present work analyses how the tip-sample interaction signals critically determine the operation of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) set-up immersed in liquid. On heterogeneous samples, the conservative tip-sample interaction may vary significantly from point to point - in particular from attractive to repulsive - rendering correct feedback very challenging. Lipid membranes prepared on a mica substrate are analyzed as reference samples which are locally heterogeneous (material contrast). The AFM set-up is operated dynamically at low oscillation amplitude and all available experimental data signals - the normal force, as well as the amplitude and frequency - are recorded simultaneously. From the analysis of how the dissipation (oscillation amplitude) and the conservative interaction (normal force and resonance frequency) vary with the tip-sample distance we conclude that dissipation is the only appropriate feedback source for stable and correct topographic imaging. The normal force and phase then carry information about the sample composition ("chemical contrast"). Dynamic AFM allows imaging in a non-contact regime where essentially no forces are applied, rendering dynamic AFM a truly non-invasive technique.

Mapping mechanical force propagation through biomolecular complexes

DOE PAGES

Schoeler, Constantin; Bernardi, Rafael C.; Malinowska, Klara H.; ...

2015-08-11

In this paper, we employ single-molecule force spectroscopy with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to reveal force propagation pathways through a mechanically ultrastable multidomain cellulosome protein complex. We demonstrate a new combination of network-based correlation analysis supported by AFM directional pulling experiments, which allowed us to visualize stiff paths through the protein complex along which force is transmitted. Finally, the results implicate specific force-propagation routes nonparallel to the pulling axis that are advantageous for achieving high dissociation forces.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collins, Liam; Belianinov, Alex; Proksch, Roger

We develop a full information capture approach for Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), referred to as generalized mode (G-Mode) MFM. G-Mode MFM acquires and stores the full data stream from the photodetector at sampling rates approaching the intrinsic photodiode limit. The data can be subsequently compressed, denoised, and analyzed, without information loss. Also, 3 G-Mode MFM is implemented and compared to traditional heterodyne based MFM on model systems including domain structures in ferromagnetic Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) and electronically and magnetically inhomogeneous high entropy alloy, CoFeMnNiSn. We investigate the use of information theory to mine the G-Mode MFM data and demonstratemore » its usefulness for extracting information which may be hidden in traditional MFM modes, including signatures of nonlinearities and mode coupling phenomena. Finally we demonstrate detection and separation of magnetic and electrostatic tip-sample interactions from a single G-Mode image, by analyzing the entire frequency response of the cantilever. G-Mode MFM is immediately implementable on any AFM platform and as such is expected to be a useful technique for probing spatiotemporal cantilever dynamics and mapping material properties as well as their mutual interactions.« less

Determination of the attractive force, adhesive force, adhesion energy and Hamaker constant of soot particles generated from a premixed methane/oxygen flame by AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ye; Song, Chonglin; Lv, Gang; Chen, Nan; Zhou, Hua; Jing, Xiaojun

2018-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the attractive force, adhesive force and adhesion energy between an AFM probe tip and nanometric soot particle generated by a premixed methane/oxygen flame. Different attractive force distributions were found when increasing the height above burner (HAB), with forces ranging from 1.1-3.5 nN. As the HAB was increased, the average attractive force initially increased, briefly decreased, and then underwent a gradual increase, with a maximum of 2.54 nN observed at HAB = 25 mm. The mean adhesive force was 6.5-7.5 times greater than the mean attractive force at the same HAB, and values were in the range of 13.5-24.5 nN. The adhesion energy was in the range of 2.0-5.6 × 10-17 J. The variations observed in the average adhesion energy with increasing HAB were different from those of the average adhesion force, implying that the stretched length of soot particles is an important factor affecting the average adhesion energy. The Hamaker constants of the soot particles generated at different HABs were determined from AFM force-separation curves. The average Hamaker constant exhibited a clear correlation with the graphitization degree of soot particles as obtained from Raman spectroscopy.

DC thermal microscopy: study of the thermal exchange between a probe and a sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomès, Séverine; Trannoy, Nathalie; Grossel, Philippe

1999-09-01

The Scanning Thermal Microscopic (SThM) probe, a thin Pt resistance wire, is used in the constant force mode of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Thermal signal-distance curves for differing degrees of relative humidity and different surrounding gases demonstrate how heat is transferred from the heated probe to the sample. It is known that water affects atomic force microscopy and thermal measurements; we report here on the variation of the water interaction on the thermal coupling versus the probe temperature. Measurements were taken for several solid materials and show that the predominant heat transfer mechanisms taking part in thermal coupling are dependent on the thermal conductivity of the sample. The results have important implications for any quantitative interpretation of thermal images made in air.

Electric-field-driven phase transition in vanadium dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, B.; Zimmers, A.; Aubin, H.; Ghosh, R.; Liu, Y.; Lopez, R.

2011-12-01

We report on local probe measurements of current-voltage and electrostatic force-voltage characteristics of electric-field-induced insulator to metal transition in VO2 thin film. In conducting AFM mode, switching from the insulating to metallic state occurs for electric-field threshold E˜6.5×107Vm-1 at 300K. Upon lifting the tip above the sample surface, we find that the transition can also be observed through a change in electrostatic force and in tunneling current. In this noncontact regime, the transition is characterized by random telegraphic noise. These results show that electric field alone is sufficient to induce the transition; however, the electronic current provides a positive feedback effect that amplifies the phenomena.

High-speed atomic force microscopy reveals structural dynamics of amyloid β1–42 aggregates

PubMed Central

Watanabe-Nakayama, Takahiro; Ono, Kenjiro; Itami, Masahiro; Takahashi, Ryoichi; Teplow, David B.; Yamada, Masahito

2016-01-01

Aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils is implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. This process involves protein assembly into oligomeric intermediates and fibrils with highly polymorphic molecular structures. These structural differences may be responsible for different disease presentations. For this reason, elucidation of the structural features and assembly kinetics of amyloidogenic proteins has been an area of intense study. We report here the results of high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) studies of fibril formation and elongation by the 42-residue form of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ1–42), a key pathogenetic agent of Alzheimer's disease. Our data demonstrate two different growth modes of Aβ1–42, one producing straight fibrils and the other producing spiral fibrils. Each mode depends on initial fibril nucleus structure, but switching from one growth mode to another was occasionally observed, suggesting that fibril end structure fluctuated between the two growth modes. This switching phenomenon was affected by buffer salt composition. Our findings indicate that polymorphism in fibril structure can occur after fibril nucleation and is affected by relatively modest changes in environmental conditions. PMID:27162352

Evaluation and optimization of quartz resonant-frequency retuned fork force sensors with high Q factors, and the associated electric circuits, for non-contact atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Ooe, Hiroaki; Fujii, Mikihiro; Tomitori, Masahiko; Arai, Toyoko

2016-02-01

High-Q factor retuned fork (RTF) force sensors made from quartz tuning forks, and the electric circuits for the sensors, were evaluated and optimized to improve the performance of non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) performed under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. To exploit the high Q factor of the RTF sensor, the oscillation of the RTF sensor was excited at its resonant frequency, using a stray capacitance compensation circuit to cancel the excitation signal leaked through the stray capacitor of the sensor. To improve the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio in the detected signal, a small capacitor was inserted before the input of an operational (OP) amplifier placed in an UHV chamber, which reduced the output noise from the amplifier. A low-noise, wideband OP amplifier produced a superior S/N ratio, compared with a precision OP amplifier. The thermal vibrational density spectra of the RTF sensors were evaluated using the circuit. The RTF sensor with an effective spring constant value as low as 1000 N/m provided a lower minimum detection limit for force differentiation. A nc-AFM image of a Si(111)-7 × 7 surface was produced with atomic resolution using the RTF sensor in a constant frequency shift mode; tunneling current and energy dissipation images with atomic resolution were also simultaneously produced. The high-Q factor RTF sensor showed potential for the high sensitivity of energy dissipation as small as 1 meV/cycle and the high-resolution analysis of non-conservative force interactions.

Potentiostatic controlled nucleation and growth modes of electrodeposited cobalt thin films on n-Si(1 1 1)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mechehoud, Fayçal; Khelil, Abdelbacet; Eddine Hakiki, Nour; Bubendorff, Jean-Luc

2016-08-01

The nucleation and growth of Co electrodeposits on n-Si(1 1 1) substrate have been investigated as a function of the applied potential in a large potential range using electrochemical techniques (voltammetry and chrono-amperometry) and surface imaging by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface preparation of the sample is crucial and we achieve a controlled n-Si(1 1 1) surface with mono-atomic steps and flat terraces. Using Scharifker-Hills models for fitting the current-time transients, we show that a transition from an instantaneous nucleation process to a progressive one occurs when the overpotential increases. A good agreement between the nucleation and growth parameters extracted from the models and the AFM data's is observed. The growth is of the Volmer-Weber type with a roughness and a spatial extension in the substrate plane of the deposited islands that increase with thickness.

Crystal Growth Inhibitors for the Prevention of L-Cystine Kidney Stones Through Molecular Design

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rimer, Jeffrey D.; An, Zhihua; Zhu, Zina

2010-11-12

Crystallization of L-cystine is a critical step in the pathogenesis of cystine kidney stones. Treatments for this disease are somewhat effective but often lead to adverse side effects. Real-time in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals that L-cystine dimethylester (L-CDME) and L-cystine methylester (L-CME) dramatically reduce the growth velocity of the six symmetry-equivalent {l_brace}100{r_brace} steps because of specific binding at the crystal surface, which frustrates the attachment of L-cystine molecules. L-CDME and L-CME produce L-cystine crystals with different habits that reveal distinct binding modes at the crystal surfaces. The AFM observations are mirrored by reduced crystal yield and crystal sizemore » in the presence of L-CDME and L-CME, collectively suggesting a new pathway to the prevention of L-cystine stones by rational design of crystal growth inhibitors.« less

Probing interlayer interactions in WS2 -graphene van der Waals heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Ting Fung; Yuan, Long; Huang, Libai; Chen, Yong P.

Two-dimensional crystals based van der Waals coupled heterostructures are of interest owing to their potential applications for flexible and transparent electronics and optoelectronics. The interaction between the 2D layered crystals at the interfaces of these heterostructures is crucial in determining the overall performance and is strongly affected by contamination and interfacial strain. We have fabricated heterostructures consisting of atomically thin exfoliated WS2 and chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) graphene, and studied the interaction and coupling between the WS2 and graphene using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption measurement (TAM). Information from Raman-active phonon modes allows us to estimate charge doping in graphene and interfacial strain on the crystals. Spatial imaging probed by TAM can be correlated to the heterostructure surface morphology measured by AFM and Raman maps of graphene and WS2, showing how the interlayer coupling alters exciton decay dynamics quantitatively.

Time-Resolved Study of Nanomorphology and Nanomechanic Change of Early-Stage Mineralized Electrospun Poly(lactic acid) Fiber by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Wang, Mengmeng; Cai, Yin; Zhao, Bo; Zhu, Peizhi

2017-01-01

In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to reveal the early-stage change of nanomorphology and nanomechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers in a time-resolved manner during the mineralization process. Electrospun PLA nanofibers were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different periods of time (0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 21 days) at 10 °C, much lower than the conventional 37 °C, to simulate the slow biomineralization process. Time-resolved Raman spectroscopy analysis can confirm that apatites were deposited on PLA nanofibers after 21 days of mineralization. However, there is no significant signal change among several Raman spectra before 21 days. SEM images can reveal the mineral deposit on PLA nanofibers during the process of mineralization. In this work, for the first time, time-resolved AFM was used to monitor early-stage nanomorphology and nanomechanical changes of PLA nanofibers. The Surface Roughness and Young’s Modulus of the PLA nanofiber quantitatively increased with the time of mineralization. The electrospun PLA nanofibers with delicate porous structure could mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and serve as a model to study the early-stage mineralization. Tested by the mode of PLA nanofibers, we demonstrated that AFM technique could be developed as a potential diagnostic tool to monitor the early onset of pathologic mineralization of soft tissues. PMID:28817096

Communication: atomic force detection of single-molecule nonlinear optical vibrational spectroscopy.

PubMed

Saurabh, Prasoon; Mukamel, Shaul

2014-04-28

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows for a highly sensitive detection of spectroscopic signals. This has been first demonstrated for NMR of a single molecule and recently extended to stimulated Raman in the optical regime. We theoretically investigate the use of optical forces to detect time and frequency domain nonlinear optical signals. We show that, with proper phase matching, the AFM-detected signals closely resemble coherent heterodyne-detected signals. Applications are made to AFM-detected and heterodyne-detected vibrational resonances in Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (χ((3))) and sum or difference frequency generation (χ((2))).

[Atomic force microscopy: a tool to analyze the viral cycle].

PubMed

Bernaud, Julien; Castelnovo, Martin; Muriaux, Delphine; Faivre-Moskalenko, Cendrine

2015-05-01

Each step of the HIV-1 life cycle frequently involves a change in the morphology and/or mechanical properties of the viral particle or core. The atomic force microscope (AFM) constitutes a powerful tool for characterizing these physical changes at the scale of a single virus. Indeed, AFM enables the visualization of viral capsids in a controlled physiological environment and to probe their mechanical properties by nano-indentation. Finally, AFM force spectroscopy allows to characterize the affinities between viral envelope proteins and cell receptors at the single molecule level. © 2015 médecine/sciences – Inserm.

Application of atomic force microscopy to microbial surfaces: from reconstituted cell surface layers to living cells.

PubMed

Dufrêne, Y F

2001-02-01

The application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe the ultrastructure and physical properties of microbial cell surfaces is reviewed. The unique capabilities of AFM can be summarized as follows: imaging surface topography with (sub)nanometer lateral resolution; examining biological specimens under physiological conditions; measuring local properties and interaction forces. AFM is being used increasingly for: (i) visualizing the surface ultrastructure of microbial cell surface layers, including bacterial S-layers, purple membranes, porin OmpF crystals and fungal rodlet layers; (ii) monitoring conformational changes of individual membrane proteins; (iii) examining the morphology of bacterial biofilms, (iv) revealing the nanoscale structure of living microbial cells, including fungi, yeasts and bacteria, (v) mapping interaction forces at microbial surfaces, such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces, solvation forces, and steric/bridging forces; and (vi) probing the local mechanical properties of cell surface layers and of single cells.

Analysis of DNA interactions using single-molecule force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ritzefeld, Markus; Walhorn, Volker; Anselmetti, Dario; Sewald, Norbert

2013-06-01

Protein-DNA interactions are involved in many biochemical pathways and determine the fate of the corresponding cell. Qualitative and quantitative investigations on these recognition and binding processes are of key importance for an improved understanding of biochemical processes and also for systems biology. This review article focusses on atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single-molecule force spectroscopy and its application to the quantification of forces and binding mechanisms that lead to the formation of protein-DNA complexes. AFM and dynamic force spectroscopy are exciting tools that allow for quantitative analysis of biomolecular interactions. Besides an overview on the method and the most important immobilization approaches, the physical basics of the data evaluation is described. Recent applications of AFM-based force spectroscopy to investigate DNA intercalation, complexes involving DNA aptamers and peptide- and protein-DNA interactions are given.

Effect of molecular asymmetry on the charge transport physics of high mobility n-type molecular semiconductors investigated by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.

PubMed

Hu, Yuanyuan; Berdunov, Nikolai; Di, Chong-an; Nandhakumar, Iris; Zhang, Fengjiao; Gao, Xike; Zhu, Daoben; Sirringhaus, Henning

2014-07-22

We have investigated the influence of the symmetry of the side chain substituents in high-mobility, solution processable n-type molecular semiconductors on the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). We compare two molecules with the same conjugated core, but either symmetric or asymmetric side chain substituents, and investigate the transport properties and thin film growth mode using scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). We find that asymmetric side chains can induce a favorable two-dimensional growth mode with a bilayer structure, which enables ultrathin films with a single bilayer to exhibit excellent transport properties, while the symmetric molecules adopt an unfavorable three-dimensional growth mode in which transport in the first monolayer at the interface is severely hindered by high-resistance grain boundaries.

Dynamic-force spectroscopy measurement with precise force control using atomic-force microscopy probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, Osamu; Miyakoshi, Takaaki; Taninaka, Atsushi; Tanaka, Katsunori; Cho, Daichi; Fujita, Machiko; Yasuda, Satoshi; Jarvis, Suzanne P.; Shigekawa, Hidemi

2006-10-01

The accuracy of dynamic-force spectroscopy (DFS), a promising technique of analyzing the energy landscape of noncovalent molecular bonds, was reconsidered in order to justify the use of an atomic-force microscopy (AFM) cantilever as a DFS force probe. The advantages and disadvantages caused, for example, by the force-probe hardness were clarified, revealing the pivotal role of the molecular linkage between the force probe and the molecular bonds. It was shown that the feedback control of the loading rate of tensile force enables us a precise DFS measurement using an AFM cantilever as the force probe.

High-speed atomic force microscopy imaging of live mammalian cells

PubMed Central

Shibata, Mikihiro; Watanabe, Hiroki; Uchihashi, Takayuki; Ando, Toshio; Yasuda, Ryohei

2017-01-01

Direct imaging of morphological dynamics of live mammalian cells with nanometer resolution under physiological conditions is highly expected, but yet challenging. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is a unique technique for capturing biomolecules at work under near physiological conditions. However, application of HS-AFM for imaging of live mammalian cells was hard to be accomplished because of collision between a huge mammalian cell and a cantilever during AFM scanning. Here, we review our recent improvements of HS-AFM for imaging of activities of live mammalian cells without significant damage to the cell. The improvement of an extremely long (~3 μm) AFM tip attached to a cantilever enables us to reduce severe damage to soft mammalian cells. In addition, a combination of HS-AFM with simple fluorescence microscopy allows us to quickly locate the cell in the AFM scanning area. After these improvements, we demonstrate that developed HS-AFM for live mammalian cells is possible to image morphogenesis of filopodia, membrane ruffles, pits open-close formations, and endocytosis in COS-7, HeLa cells as well as hippocampal neurons. PMID:28900590

A versatile atomic force microscope integrated with a scanning electron microscope.

PubMed

Kreith, J; Strunz, T; Fantner, E J; Fantner, G E; Cordill, M J

2017-05-01

A versatile atomic force microscope (AFM), which can be installed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM), is introduced. The flexible design of the instrument enables correlated analysis for different experimental configurations, such as AFM imaging directly after nanoindentation in vacuum. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the specially designed AFM installed inside a SEM, slip steps emanating around nanoindents in single crystalline brass were examined. This example showcases how the combination of AFM and SEM imaging can be utilized for quantitative dislocation analysis through the measurement of the slip step heights without the hindrance of oxide formation. Finally, an in situ nanoindentation technique is introduced, illustrating the use of AFM imaging during indentation experiments to examine plastic deformation occurring under the indenter tip. The mechanical indentation data are correlated to the SEM and AFM images to estimate the number of dislocations emitted to the surface.

Influence of smectite suspension structure on sheet orientation in dry sediments: XRD and AFM applications.

PubMed

Zbik, Marek S; Frost, Ray L

2010-06-15

The structure-building phenomena within clay aggregates are governed by forces acting between clay particles. Measurements of such forces are important to understand in order to manipulate the aggregate structure for applications such as dewatering of mineral processing tailings. A parallel particle orientation is required when conducting XRD investigation on the oriented samples and conduct force measurements acting between basal planes of clay mineral platelets using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To investigate how smectite clay platelets were oriented on silicon wafer substrate when dried from suspension range of methods like SEM, XRD and AFM were employed. From these investigations, we conclude that high clay concentrations and larger particle diameters (up to 5 microm) in suspension result in random orientation of platelets in the substrate. The best possible laminar orientation in the clay dry film, represented in the XRD 001/020 intensity ratio of 47 was obtained by drying thin layers from 0.02 wt.% clay suspensions of the natural pH. Conducted AFM investigations show that smectite studied in water based electrolytes show very long-range repulsive forces lower in strength than electrostatic forces from double-layer repulsion. It was suggested that these forces may have structural nature. Smectite surface layers rehydrate in water environment forms surface gel with spongy and cellular texture which cushion approaching AFM probe. This structural effect can be measured in distances larger than 1000 nm from substrate surface and when probe penetrate this gel layer, structural linkages are forming between substrate and clay covered probe. These linkages prevent subsequently smooth detachments of AFM probe on way back when retrieval. This effect of tearing new formed structure apart involves larger adhesion-like forces measured in retrieval. It is also suggested that these effect may be enhanced by the nano-clay particles interaction. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Atomic force microscopy of RNA: State of the art and recent advancements.

PubMed

Schön, Peter

2018-01-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) has become a powerful tool for the visualization, probing and manipulation of RNA at the single molecule level. AFM measurements can be carried out in buffer solution in a physiological medium, which is crucial to study the structure and function of biomolecules, also allowing studying them at work. Imaging the specimen in its native state is a great advantage compared to other high resolution methods such as electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. There is no need to stain, freeze or crystallize biological samples. Moreover, compared to NMR spectroscopy for instance, for AFM studies the size of the biomolecules is not limiting. Consequently the AFM allows one also to investigate larger RNA molecules. In particular, structural studies of nucleic acids and assemblies thereof, have been carried out by AFM routinely including ssRNA, dsRNA and nucleoprotein complexes thereof, as well as RNA aggregates and 2D RNA assemblies. These are becoming increasingly important as novel unique building blocks in the emerging field of RNA nanotechnology. In particular by AFM unique information can be obtained on these RNA based assemblies. Moreover, the AFM is of fundamental relevance to study biological relevant RNA interactions and dynamics. In this short review a brief overview will be given on structural studies that have been done related to AFM topographic imaging of RNA, RNA assemblies and aggregates. Finally, an overview on AFM beyond imaging will be provided. This includes force spectroscopy of RNA under physiological conditions in aqueous buffer to probe RNA interaction with proteins and ligands as well as other AFM tip based RNA probing. Important applications include the detection and quantification of RNA in biological samples. A selection of recent highlights and breakthroughs will be provided related to structural and functional studies by AFM. The main intention of this short review to provide the reader with a flavor of what AFM is able to contribute to RNA research and engineering. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AFM and SEM study of the effects of etching on IPS-Empress 2 TM dental ceramic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, X.-P.; Silikas, N.; Allaf, M.; Wilson, N. H. F.; Watts, D. C.

2001-10-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of increasing etching time on the surface of the new dental material, IPS-Empress 2 TM glass ceramic. Twenty one IPS-Empress 2 TM glass ceramic samples were made from IPS-Empress 2 TM ingots through lost-wax, hot-pressed ceramic fabrication technology. All samples were highly polished and cleaned ultrasonically for 5 min in acetone before and after etching with 9.6% hydrofluoric acid gel. The etching times were 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 s respectively. Microstructure was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to evaluate the surface roughness and topography. Observations with SEM showed that etching with hydrofluoric acid resulted in preferential dissolution of glass matrix, and that partially supported crystals within the glass matrix were lost with increasing etching time. AFM measurements indicated that etching increased the surface roughness of the glass-ceramic. A simple least-squares linear regression was used to establish a relationship between surface roughness parameters ( Ra, RMS), and etching time, for which r2>0.94. This study demonstrates the benefits of combining two microscopic methods for a better understanding of the surface. SEM showed the mode of action of hydrofluoric acid on the ceramic and AFM provided valuable data regarding the extent of surface degradation relative to etching time.

Atomic force microscopy as a tool to study Xenopus laevis embryo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pukhlyakova, E. A.; Efremov, Yu M.; Bagrov, D. V.; Luchinskaya, N. N.; Kiryukhin, D. O.; Belousov, L. V.; Shaitan, K. V.

2012-02-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a powerful tool for imaging biological structures (from single molecules to living cells) and carrying out measurements of their mechanical properties. AFM provides three-dimensional high-resolution images of the studied biological objects in physiological environment. However there are only few AFM investigations of fresh tissue explants and virtually no such research on a whole organism, since most researchers work with cell cultures. In the current work AFM was used to observe the surface of living and fixed embryos and to measure mechanical properties of naive embryos and embryos with overexpression of guanine nucleotide-binding protein G-alpha-13.

Refractive index profiles of Ge-doped optical fibers with nanometer spatial resolution using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Pace, P; Huntington, Shane; Lyytikäinen, K; Roberts, A; Love, J

2004-04-05

We show a quantitative connection between Refractive Index Profiles (RIP) and measurements made by an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Germanium doped fibers were chemically etched in hydrofluoric acid solution (HF) and the wet etching characteristics of germanium were studied using an AFM. The AFM profiles were compared to both a concentration profile of the preform determined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and a RIP of the fiber measured using a commercial profiling instrument, and were found to be in excellent agreement. It is now possible to calculate the RIP of a germanium doped fiber directly from an AFM profile.

High-resolution imaging of silicene on an Ag(111) surface by atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onoda, Jo; Yabuoshi, Keisuke; Miyazaki, Hiroki; Sugimoto, Yoshiaki

2017-12-01

Silicene, a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb arrangement of Si atoms, is expected to have better electronic properties than graphene and has been mostly synthesized on Ag surfaces. Although scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used for visualizing its atomic structure in real space, the interpretation of STM contrast is not straightforward and only the topmost Si atoms were observed on the (4 ×4 ) silicene/Ag(111) surface. Here, we demonstrate that high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) can resolve all constituent Si atoms in the buckled honeycomb arrangement of the (4 ×4 ) silicene. Site-specific force spectroscopy attributes the origin of the high-resolution AFM images to chemical bonds between the AFM probe apex and the individual Si atoms on the (4 ×4 ) silicene. A detailed analysis of the geometric parameters suggests that the pulling up of lower-buckled Si atoms by the AFM tip could be a key for high-resolution AFM, implying a weakening of the Si-Ag interactions at the interface. We expect that high-resolution AFM will also unveil atomic structures of edges and defects of silicene, or other emerging 2D materials.

Carbon nanotube oscillator surface profiling device and method of use

DOEpatents

Popescu, Adrian [Tampa, FL; Woods, Lilia M [Tampa, FL; Bondarev, Igor V [Fuquay Varina, NC

2011-11-15

The proposed device is based on a carbon nanotube oscillator consisting of a finite length outer stationary nanotube and a finite length inner oscillating nanotube. Its main function is to measure changes in the characteristics of the motion of the carbon nanotube oscillating near a sample surface, and profile the roughness of this surface. The device operates in a non-contact mode, thus it can be virtually non-wear and non-fatigued system. It is an alternative to the existing atomic force microscope (AFM) tips used to scan surfaces to determine their roughness.

Taking Nanomedicine Teaching into Practice with Atomic Force Microscopy and Force Spectroscopy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carvalho, Filomena A.; Freitas, Teresa; Santos, Nuno C.

2015-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a useful and powerful tool to study molecular interactions applied to nanomedicine. The aim of the present study was to implement a hands-on atomic AFM course for graduated biosciences and medical students. The course comprises two distinct practical sessions, where students get in touch with the use of an atomic…

Dynamics-Enabled Nanoelectromechanical Systems (NEMS) Oscillators

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

it becomes strongly nonlinear, and thus constitutes an archetypal candidate for nonlinear engineering • its fundamental resonant frequency...width of spectral peaks of atomic force microscopy (AFM) resonators as they are brought close to a surface. 39 Approved for public release...alternating current AD Allan Deviation AFM atomic force microscopy AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory AlN aluminum nitride APN Anomalous Phase

[Atomic force microscopy fishing of gp120 on immobilized aptamer and its mass spectrometry identification].

PubMed

Bukharina, N S; Ivanov, Yu D; Pleshakova, T O; Frantsuzov, P A; Andreeva, E Yu; Kaysheva, A L; Izotov, A A; Pavlova, T I; Ziborov, V S; Radko, S P; Archakov, A I

2015-01-01

A method of atomic force microscopy-based fishing (AFM fishing) has been developed for protein detection in the analyte solution using a chip with an immobilized aptamer. This method is based on the biospecific fishing of a target protein from a bulk solution onto the small AFM chip area with the immobilized aptamer to this protein used as the molecular probe. Such aptamer-based approach allows to increase an AFM image contrast compared to the antibody-based approach. Mass spectrometry analysis used after the biospecific fishing to identify the target protein on the AFM chip has proved complex formation. Use of the AFM chip with the immobilized aptamer avoids interference of the antibody and target protein peaks in a mass spectrum.

Force-controlled patch clamp of beating cardiac cells.

PubMed

Ossola, Dario; Amarouch, Mohamed-Yassine; Behr, Pascal; Vörös, János; Abriel, Hugues; Zambelli, Tomaso

2015-03-11

From its invention in the 1970s, the patch clamp technique is the gold standard in electrophysiology research and drug screening because it is the only tool enabling accurate investigation of voltage-gated ion channels, which are responsible for action potentials. Because of its key role in drug screening, innovation efforts are being made to reduce its complexity toward more automated systems. While some of these new approaches are being adopted in pharmaceutical companies, conventional patch-clamp remains unmatched in fundamental research due to its versatility. Here, we merged the patch clamp and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques, thus equipping the patch-clamp with the sensitive AFM force control. This was possible using the FluidFM, a force-controlled nanopipette based on microchanneled AFM cantilevers. First, the compatibility of the system with patch-clamp electronics and its ability to record the activity of voltage-gated ion channels in whole-cell configuration was demonstrated with sodium (NaV1.5) channels. Second, we showed the feasibility of simultaneous recording of membrane current and force development during contraction of isolated cardiomyocytes. Force feedback allowed for a gentle and stable contact between AFM tip and cell membrane enabling serial patch clamping and injection without apparent cell damage.

Direct Force Measurements of Receptor-Ligand Interactions on Living Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eibl, Robert H.

The characterization of cell adhesion between two living cells at the level of single receptor-ligand bonds is an experimental challenge. This chapter describes how the extremely sensitive method of atomic force microscopy (AFM) based force spectroscopy can be applied to living cells in order to probe for cell-to-cell or cell-to-substrate interactions mediated by single pairs of adhesion receptors. In addition, it is outlined how single-molecule AFM force spectroscopy can be used to detect physiologic changes of an adhesion receptor in a living cell. This force spectroscopy allows us to detect in living cells rapidly changing, chemokine SDF-1 triggered activation states of single VLA-4 receptors. This recently developed AFM application will allow for the detailed investigation of the integrin-chemokine crosstalk of integrin activation mechanisms and on how other adhesion receptors are modulated in health and disease. As adhesion molecules, living cells and even bacteria can be studied by single-molecule AFM force spectroscopy, this method is set to become a powerful tool that can not only be used in biophysics, but in cell biology as well as in immunology and cancer research.

Measuring protein isoelectric points by AFM-based force spectroscopy using trace amounts of sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Shifeng; Zhu, Xiaoying; Jańczewski, Dominik; Lee, Serina Siew Chen; He, Tao; Teo, Serena Lay Ming; Vancso, G. Julius

2016-09-01

Protein charge at various pH and isoelectric point (pI) values is important in understanding protein function. However, often only trace amounts of unknown proteins are available and pI measurements cannot be obtained using conventional methods. Here, we show a method based on the atomic force microscope (AFM) to determine pI using minute quantities of proteins. The protein of interest is immobilized on AFM colloidal probes and the adhesion force of the protein is measured against a positively and a negatively charged substrate made by layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes. From the AFM force-distance curves, pI values with an estimated accuracy of ±0.25 were obtained for bovine serum albumin, myoglobin, fibrinogen and ribonuclease A over a range of 4.7-9.8. Using this method, we show that the pI of the ‘footprint’ of the temporary adhesive proteins secreted by the barnacle cyprid larvae of Amphibalanus amphitrite is in the range 9.6-9.7.

University of Maryland MRSEC - Facilities: SEM/STM/AFM

Science.gov Websites

MRSEC Templates Opportunities Search Home » Facilities » SEM/STM/AFM Shared Experimental Facilities conducting and non conducting samples. The sample stage permits electronic device imaging under operational Specifications: Image Modes - STM, STS, MFM, EFM, SKPM, contact- and non-contact AFM Three Sample Contacts 0.1 nm

Subsurface imaging of carbon nanotube networks in polymers with DC-biased multifrequency dynamic atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Thompson, Hank T; Barroso-Bujans, Fabienne; Herrero, Julio Gomez; Reifenberger, Ron; Raman, Arvind

2013-04-05

The characterization of dispersion and connectivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks inside polymers is of great interest in polymer nanocomposites in new material systems, organic photovoltaics, and in electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors. We focus on a technique using amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy (AM-AFM) in the attractive regime of operation, using both single and dual mode excitation, which upon the application of a DC tip bias voltage allows, via the phase channel, the in situ, nanoscale, subsurface imaging of CNT networks dispersed in a polymer matrix at depths of 10-100 nm. We present an in-depth study of the origins of phase contrast in this technique and demonstrate that an electrical energy dissipation mechanism in the Coulomb attractive regime is key to the formation of the phase contrast which maps the spatial variations in the local capacitance and resistance due to the CNT network. We also note that dual frequency excitation can, under some conditions, improve the contrast for such samples. These methods open up the possibility for DC-biased amplitude modulation AFM to be used for mapping the variations in local capacitance and resistance in nanocomposites with conducting networks.

Direct Single-Molecule Observation of Mode and Geometry of RecA-Mediated Homology Search.

PubMed

Lee, Andrew J; Endo, Masayuki; Hobbs, Jamie K; Wälti, Christoph

2018-01-23

Genomic integrity, when compromised by accrued DNA lesions, is maintained through efficient repair via homologous recombination. For this process the ubiquitous recombinase A (RecA), and its homologues such as the human Rad51, are of central importance, able to align and exchange homologous sequences within single-stranded and double-stranded DNA in order to swap out defective regions. Here, we directly observe the widely debated mechanism of RecA homology searching at a single-molecule level using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) in combination with tailored DNA origami frames to present the reaction targets in a way suitable for AFM-imaging. We show that RecA nucleoprotein filaments move along DNA substrates via short-distance facilitated diffusions, or slides, interspersed with longer-distance random moves, or hops. Importantly, from the specific interaction geometry, we find that the double-stranded substrate DNA resides in the secondary DNA binding-site within the RecA nucleoprotein filament helical groove during the homology search. This work demonstrates that tailored DNA origami, in conjunction with HS-AFM, can be employed to reveal directly conformational and geometrical information on dynamic protein-DNA interactions which was previously inaccessible at an individual single-molecule level.

Material property analytical relations for the case of an AFM probe tapping a viscoelastic surface containing multiple characteristic times

PubMed Central

López-Guerra, Enrique A

2017-01-01

We explore the contact problem of a flat-end indenter penetrating intermittently a generalized viscoelastic surface, containing multiple characteristic times. This problem is especially relevant for nanoprobing of viscoelastic surfaces with the highly popular tapping-mode AFM imaging technique. By focusing on the material perspective and employing a rigorous rheological approach, we deliver analytical closed-form solutions that provide physical insight into the viscoelastic sources of repulsive forces, tip–sample dissipation and virial of the interaction. We also offer a systematic comparison to the well-established standard harmonic excitation, which is the case relevant for dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and for AFM techniques where tip–sample sinusoidal interaction is permanent. This comparison highlights the substantial complexity added by the intermittent-contact nature of the interaction, which precludes the derivation of straightforward equations as is the case for the well-known harmonic excitations. The derivations offered have been thoroughly validated through numerical simulations. Despite the complexities inherent to the intermittent-contact nature of the technique, the analytical findings highlight the potential feasibility of extracting meaningful viscoelastic properties with this imaging method. PMID:29114450

Angle-Dependent Atomic Force Microscopy Single-Chain Pulling of Adsorbed Macromolecules from Planar Surfaces Unveils the Signature of an Adsorption-Desorption Transition.

PubMed

Grebíková, Lucie; Whittington, Stuart G; Vancso, Julius G

2018-05-23

The adsorption-desorption behavior of polymer chains is at the heart of macromolecular surface science and technology. With the current developments in atomic force microscopy (AFM), it has now become possible to address the desorption problem from the perspective of a single macromolecule. Here, we report on desorption of single polymer chains on planar surfaces by AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) as a function of the pulling angle with respect to the surface-normal direction. SMFS experiments were performed in water with various substrates using different polymers covalently attached to the AFM probe tip. End-grafting at the AFM tip was achieved by surface-initiated polymerization using initiator functionalized tips. We found that the desorption force increases with a decreasing pulling angle, i.e., an enhanced adhesion of the polymer chain was observed. The magnitude of the desorption force shows a weak angular dependence at pulling angles close to the surface normal. A significant increase of the force is observed at shallower pulling from a certain pulling angle. This behavior carries the signature of an adsorption-desorption transition. The angular dependence of the normalized desorption force exhibits a universal behavior. We compared and interpreted our results using theoretical predictions for single-chain adsorption-desorption transitions.

Angle-Dependent Atomic Force Microscopy Single-Chain Pulling of Adsorbed Macromolecules from Planar Surfaces Unveils the Signature of an Adsorption–Desorption Transition

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

The adsorption–desorption behavior of polymer chains is at the heart of macromolecular surface science and technology. With the current developments in atomic force microscopy (AFM), it has now become possible to address the desorption problem from the perspective of a single macromolecule. Here, we report on desorption of single polymer chains on planar surfaces by AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) as a function of the pulling angle with respect to the surface-normal direction. SMFS experiments were performed in water with various substrates using different polymers covalently attached to the AFM probe tip. End-grafting at the AFM tip was achieved by surface-initiated polymerization using initiator functionalized tips. We found that the desorption force increases with a decreasing pulling angle, i.e., an enhanced adhesion of the polymer chain was observed. The magnitude of the desorption force shows a weak angular dependence at pulling angles close to the surface normal. A significant increase of the force is observed at shallower pulling from a certain pulling angle. This behavior carries the signature of an adsorption–desorption transition. The angular dependence of the normalized desorption force exhibits a universal behavior. We compared and interpreted our results using theoretical predictions for single-chain adsorption–desorption transitions. PMID:29712430

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moutinho, Helio R.; Jiang, Cun -Sheng; To, Bobby

To better understand and quantify soiling rates on solar panels, we are investigating the adhesion mechanisms between dust particles and solar glass. In this work, we report on two of the fundamental adhesion mechanisms: van der Waals and capillary adhesion forces. The adhesion was determined using force versus distance (F-z) measurements performed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). To emulate dust interacting with the front surface of a solar panel, we measured how oxidized AFM tips, SiO 2 glass spheres, and real dust particles adhered to actual solar glass. The van der Waals forces were evaluated by measurements performed withmore » zero relative humidity in a glove box, and the capillary forces were measured in a stable environment created inside the AFM enclosure with relative humidity values ranging from 18% to 80%. To simulate topographic features of the solar panels caused by factors such as cleaning and abrasion, we induced different degrees of surface roughness in the solar glass. As a result, we were able to 1) identify and quantify both the van der Waals and capillary forces, 2) establish the effects of surface roughness, relative humidity, and particle size on the adhesion mechanisms, and 3) compare adhesion forces between well-controlled particles (AFM tips and glass spheres) and real dust particles.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Solares, Santiago D.

This study introduces a quasi-3-dimensional (Q3D) viscoelastic model and software tool for use in atomic force microscopy (AFM) simulations. The model is based on a 2-dimensional array of standard linear solid (SLS) model elements. The well-known 1-dimensional SLS model is a textbook example in viscoelastic theory but is relatively new in AFM simulation. It is the simplest model that offers a qualitatively correct description of the most fundamental viscoelastic behaviors, namely stress relaxation and creep. However, this simple model does not reflect the correct curvature in the repulsive portion of the force curve, so its application in the quantitative interpretationmore » of AFM experiments is relatively limited. In the proposed Q3D model the use of an array of SLS elements leads to force curves that have the typical upward curvature in the repulsive region, while still offering a very low computational cost. Furthermore, the use of a multidimensional model allows for the study of AFM tips having non-ideal geometries, which can be extremely useful in practice. Examples of typical force curves are provided for single- and multifrequency tappingmode imaging, for both of which the force curves exhibit the expected features. Lastly, a software tool to simulate amplitude and phase spectroscopy curves is provided, which can be easily modified to implement other controls schemes in order to aid in the interpretation of AFM experiments.« less

Visual force sensing with flexible nanowire buckling springs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrokhotov, Vladimir V.; Yazdanpanah, Mehdi M.; Pabba, Santosh; Safir, Abdelilah; Cohn, Robert W.

2008-01-01

A calibrated method of force sensing is demonstrated in which the buckled shape of a long flexible metallic nanowire, referred to as a 'nanoneedle', is interpreted to determine the applied force. An individual needle of 157 nm diameter by 15.6 µm length is grown on an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever with a desired orientation (by the method of Yazdanpanah et al 2005 J. Appl. Phys. 98 073510). Using a nanomanipulator the needle is buckled in the chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the buckled shapes are recorded in SEM images. Force is determined as a function of deflection for an assumed elastic modulus by fitting the shapes using the generalized elastica model (De Bona and Zelenika 1997 Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. C 211 509-17). In this calibration the elastic modulus (68.3 GPa) was determined using an auxiliary AFM measurement, with the needle in the same orientation as in the SEM. Following this calibration the needle was used as a sensor in a different orientation than the AFM coordinates to deflect a suspended PLLA polymer fiber from which the elastic modulus (2.96 GPa) was determined. The practical value of the sensing method does depend on the reliability and ruggedness of the needle. In this study the same needle remained rigidly secured to the AFM cantilever throughout the entire SEM/AFM calibration procedure and the characterization of the nanofiber.

SU-F-SPS-08: Measuring the Interaction Of DDR Cell Receptors and Extracellular Matrix Collagen in Prostate Cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong, J; Sarkar, A; Hoffmann, P

Purpose: Discoidin domain receptors (DDR) have recently been recognized as important players in cancer progression. DDRs are cell receptors that interact with collagen, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein. However the detailed mechanism of their interaction is unclear. Here we attempted to examine their interaction in terms of structural (surface topography), mechanical (rupture force), and kinetic (binding probability) information on the single molecular scale with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Methods: The Quantitative Nano-mechanical property Mapping (QNM) mode of AFM allowed to assess the cells in liquid growth media at their optimal physiological while being viable. Human benign prostatemore » hyperplasia (BPH-1) cell line was genetically regulated to suppress DDR expression (DDR- cells) and was compared with naturally DDR expressing cells (DDR+). Results: Binding force measurements (n = 1000) were obtained before and after the two groups were treated with fibronectin (FN), an integrin-inhibiting antibody to block the binding of integrin. The quantification indicates that cells containing DDR bind with collagen at a most probable force of 80.3–83.0 ±7.6 pN. The probability of them binding is 0.167 when other interactions (mainly due to integrin-collagen binding) are minimized. Conclusion: Together with further force measurements at different pulling speeds will determine dissociation rate, binding distance and activation barrier. These parameters in benign cells provides some groundwork in understanding DDR’s behavior in various cell microenvironments such as in malignant tumor cells. Funding supported by Richard Barber Interdisciplinary Research Program of Wayne State University.« less

Probing the probe: AFM tip-profiling via nanotemplates to determine Hamaker constants from phase-distance curves.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Raul D; Lacaze, Emmanuelle; Jupille, Jacques

2012-10-01

A method to determine the van der Waals forces from phase-distance curves recorded by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping mode is presented. The relationship between the phase shift and the tip-sample distance is expressed as a function of the product of the Hamaker constant by tip radius. Silica-covered silicon tips are used to probe silica-covered silicon substrate in dry conditions to avoid capillary effects. Tips being assumed spherical, radii are determined in situ by averaging profiles recorded in different directions on hematite nanocrystals acting as nanotemplates, thus accounting for tip anisotropy. Through a series of reproducible measurements performed with tips of various radii (including the in-situ characterization of a damaged tip), a value of (6.3±0.4)×10(-20) J is found for the Hamaker constant of interacting silica surfaces in air, in good agreement with tabulated data. The results demonstrate that the onset of the tip-surface interaction is dominated by the van der Waals forces and that the total force can be modeled in the framework of the harmonic approximation. Based on the tip radius and the Hamaker constant associated to the tip-substrate system, the model is quite flexible. Once the Hamaker constant is known, a direct estimate of the tip size can be achieved whereas when the tip size is known, a quantitative evaluation of the van der Waals force becomes possible on different substrates with a spatial resolution at the nanoscale. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microfluidics, Chromatography, and Atomic-Force Microscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Mark

2008-01-01

A Raman-and-atomic-force microscope (RAFM) has been shown to be capable of performing several liquid-transfer and sensory functions essential for the operation of a microfluidic laboratory on a chip that would be used to perform rapid, sensitive chromatographic and spectro-chemical analyses of unprecedentedly small quantities of liquids. The most novel aspect of this development lies in the exploitation of capillary and shear effects at the atomic-force-microscope (AFM) tip to produce shear-driven flow of liquids along open microchannels of a microfluidic device. The RAFM can also be used to perform such functions as imaging liquids in microchannels; removing liquid samples from channels for very sensitive, tip-localized spectrochemical analyses; measuring a quantity of liquid adhering to the tip; and dip-pen deposition from a chromatographic device. A commercial Raman-spectroscopy system and a commercial AFM were integrated to make the RAFM so as to be able to perform simultaneous topographical AFM imaging and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) at the AFM tip. The Raman-spectroscopy system includes a Raman microprobe attached to an optical microscope, the translation stage of which is modified to accommodate the AFM head. The Raman laser excitation beam, which is aimed at the AFM tip, has a wavelength of 785 nm and a diameter of about 5 m, and its power is adjustable up to 10 mW. The AFM is coated with gold to enable tip-localized SERS.

Investigating biomolecular recognition at the cell surface using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Congzhou; Yadavalli, Vamsi K

2014-05-01

Probing the interaction forces that drive biomolecular recognition on cell surfaces is essential for understanding diverse biological processes. Force spectroscopy has been a widely used dynamic analytical technique, allowing measurement of such interactions at the molecular and cellular level. The capabilities of working under near physiological environments, combined with excellent force and lateral resolution make atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based force spectroscopy a powerful approach to measure biomolecular interaction forces not only on non-biological substrates, but also on soft, dynamic cell surfaces. Over the last few years, AFM-based force spectroscopy has provided biophysical insight into how biomolecules on cell surfaces interact with each other and induce relevant biological processes. In this review, we focus on describing the technique of force spectroscopy using the AFM, specifically in the context of probing cell surfaces. We summarize recent progress in understanding the recognition and interactions between macromolecules that may be found at cell surfaces from a force spectroscopy perspective. We further discuss the challenges and future prospects of the application of this versatile technique. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Note: Seesaw actuation of atomic force microscope probes for improved imaging bandwidth and displacement range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Torun, H.; Torello, D.; Degertekin, F. L.

2011-08-15

The authors describe a method of actuation for atomic force microscope (AFM) probes to improve imaging speed and displacement range simultaneously. Unlike conventional piezoelectric tube actuation, the proposed method involves a lever and fulcrum ''seesaw'' like actuation mechanism that uses a small, fast piezoelectric transducer. The lever arm of the seesaw mechanism increases the apparent displacement range by an adjustable gain factor, overcoming the standard tradeoff between imaging speed and displacement range. Experimental characterization of a cantilever holder implementing the method is provided together with comparative line scans obtained with contact mode imaging. An imaging bandwidth of 30 kHz inmore » air with the current setup was demonstrated.« less

Attractive forces between hydrophobic solid surfaces measured by AFM on the first approach in salt solutions and in the presence of dissolved gases.

PubMed

Azadi, Mehdi; Nguyen, Anh V; Yakubov, Gleb E

2015-02-17

Interfacial gas enrichment of dissolved gases (IGE) has been shown to cover hydrophobic solid surfaces in water. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) data has recently been supported by molecular dynamics simulation. It was demonstrated that IGE is responsible for the unexpected stability and large contact angle of gaseous nanobubbles at the hydrophobic solid-water interface. Here we provide further evidence of the significant effect of IGE on an attractive force between hydrophobic solid surfaces in water. The force in the presence of dissolved gas, i.e., in aerated and nonaerated NaCl solutions (up to 4 M), was measured by the AFM colloidal probe technique. The effect of nanobubble bridging on the attractive force was minimized or eliminated by measuring forces on the first approach of the AFM probe toward the flat hydrophobic surface and by using high salt concentrations to reduce gas solubility. Our results confirm the presence of three types of forces, two of which are long-range attractive forces of capillary bridging origin as caused by either surface nanobubbles or gap-induced cavitation. The third type is a short-range attractive force observed in the absence of interfacial nanobubbles that is attributed to the IGE in the form of a dense gas layer (DGL) at hydrophobic surfaces. Such a force was found to increase with increasing gas saturation and to decrease with decreasing gas solubility.

Mechanical Sensing with Flexible Metallic Nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobrokhotov, Vladimir; Yazdanpanah, Mehdi; Pabba, Santosh; Safir, Abdelilah; Cohn, Robert

2008-03-01

A calibrated method of force sensing is demonstrated in which the buckled shape of a long flexible metallic nanowire is interpreted to determine the applied force. Using a nanomanipulator the nanowire is buckled in the chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the buckled shapes are recorded in SEM images. Force is determined as a function of deflection for an assumed elastic modulus by fitting the shapes using the generalized elastica model. In this calibration the elastic modulus was determined using an auxiliary AFM measurement, with the needle in the same orientation as in the SEM. Following this calibration the needle was used as a sensor in a different orientation than the AFM coordinates to deflect a suspended PLLA polymer fiber from which the elastic modulus (2.96 GPa) was determined. In this study the same needle remained rigidly secured to the AFM cantilever throughout the entire SEM/AFM calibration procedure and the characterization of the nanofiber.

Atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy on the assessment of protein folding and functionality.

PubMed

Carvalho, Filomena A; Martins, Ivo C; Santos, Nuno C

2013-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) applied to biological systems can, besides generating high-quality and well-resolved images, be employed to study protein folding via AFM-based force spectroscopy. This approach allowed remarkable advances in the measurement of inter- and intramolecular interaction forces with piconewton resolution. The detection of specific interaction forces between molecules based on the AFM sensitivity and the manipulation of individual molecules greatly advanced the understanding of intra-protein and protein-ligand interactions. Apart from the academic interest in the resolution of basic scientific questions, this technique has also key importance on the clarification of several biological questions of immediate biomedical relevance. Force spectroscopy is an especially appropriate technique for "mechanical proteins" that can provide crucial information on single protein molecules and/or domains. Importantly, it also has the potential of combining in a single experiment spatial and kinetic measurements. Here, the main principles of this methodology are described, after which the ability to measure interactions at the single-molecule level is discussed, in the context of relevant protein-folding examples. We intend to demonstrate the potential of AFM-based force spectroscopy in the study of protein folding, especially since this technique is able to circumvent some of the difficulties typically encountered in classical thermal/chemical denaturation studies. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mapping nanometric electronic property changes induced by an aryl diazonium sub-monolayer on HOPG.

PubMed

González, M C R; Carro, P; Vázquez, L; Creus, A H

2016-10-26

The morphology as well as the electric and electronic properties of aryl diazonium, in particular 4-nitrobenzene-diazonium (NBD), films on HOPG surfaces have been studied at the nanoscale level. By controlling the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl concentration during the NBD film growth, we have been able to control the thickness of the layer. The implications of NBD submonolayer adsorption on the electrical properties of this system have been analysed through Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, Atomic Force (AFM), Electric Force (EFM) and Kelvin Probe Force (KPFM) microscopies. DFT simulations showed that the NBD molecule adsorbs almost perpendicularly to the HOPG surface, which was confirmed experimentally through AFM imaging in the dynamic mode. In addition, DFT calculations showed that the adsorbed NBD has an appreciable dipole moment directed towards the HOPG surface and along the vertical direction of the HOPG surface. The existence of this dipole is the origin of the EFM contrast observed between the NBD-free and NBD-covered regions when a bias of -2 V was applied to the tip. Besides, the KPFM measurements show that the NBD adsorption leads to higher work function values, which is in agreement with the DFT calculations. Noticeably, our studies show that the KPFM signal is sensitive to the partial NBD coverage of the HOPG surface below the monolayer level.

Characterization of fiber-forming peptides and proteins by means of atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Creasey, Rhiannon G; Gibson, Christopher T; Voelcker, Nicolas H

2012-05-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in biological sciences due to its ability to perform imaging experiments at high resolution in a physiological environment, without special sample preparation such as fixation or staining. AFM is unique, in that it allows single molecule information of mechanical properties and molecular recognition to be gathered. This review sets out to identify methodological applications of AFM for characterization of fiber-forming proteins and peptides. The basics of AFM operation are detailed, with in-depth information for any life scientist to get a grasp on AFM capabilities. It also briefly describes antibody recognition imaging and mapping of nanomechanical properties on biological samples. Subsequently, examples of AFM application to fiber-forming natural proteins, and fiber-forming synthetic peptides are given. Here, AFM is used primarily for structural characterization of fibers in combination with other techniques, such as circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. More recent developments in antibody recognition imaging to identify constituents of protein fibers formed in human disease are explored. This review, as a whole, seeks to encourage the life scientists dealing with protein aggregation phenomena to consider AFM as a part of their research toolkit, by highlighting the manifold capabilities of this technique.

Assembly of live micro-organisms on microstructured PDMS stamps by convective/capillary deposition for AFM bio-experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dague, E.; Jauvert, E.; Laplatine, L.; Viallet, B.; Thibault, C.; Ressier, L.

2011-09-01

Immobilization of live micro-organisms on solid substrates is an important prerequisite for atomic force microscopy (AFM) bio-experiments. The method employed must immobilize the cells firmly enough to enable them to withstand the lateral friction forces exerted by the tip during scanning but without denaturing the cell interface. In this work, a generic method for the assembly of living cells on specific areas of substrates is proposed. It consists in assembling the living cells within the patterns of microstructured, functionalized poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps using convective/capillary deposition. This versatile approach is validated by applying it to two systems of foremost importance in biotechnology and medicine: Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts and Aspergillus fumigatus fungal spores. We show that this method allows multiplexing AFM nanomechanical measurements by force spectroscopy on S. cerevisiae yeasts and high-resolution AFM imaging of germinated Aspergillus conidia in buffer medium. These two examples clearly demonstrate the immense potential of micro-organism assembly on functionalized, microstructured PDMS stamps by convective/capillary deposition for performing rigorous AFM bio-experiments on living cells.

Detection of atomic force microscopy cantilever displacement with a transmitted electron beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wagner, R.; Woehl, T. J.; Keller, R. R.

2016-07-25

The response time of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever can be decreased by reducing cantilever size; however, the fastest AFM cantilevers are currently nearing the smallest size that can be detected with the conventional optical lever approach. Here, we demonstrate an electron beam detection scheme for measuring AFM cantilever oscillations. The oscillating AFM tip is positioned perpendicular to and in the path of a stationary focused nanometer sized electron beam. As the tip oscillates, the thickness of the material under the electron beam changes, causing a fluctuation in the number of scattered transmitted electrons that are detected. We demonstratemore » detection of sub-nanometer vibration amplitudes with an electron beam, providing a pathway for dynamic AFM with cantilevers that are orders of magnitude smaller and faster than the current state of the art.« less

A fully-automated neural network analysis of AFM force-distance curves for cancer tissue diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minelli, Eleonora; Ciasca, Gabriele; Sassun, Tanya Enny; Antonelli, Manila; Palmieri, Valentina; Papi, Massimiliano; Maulucci, Giuseppe; Santoro, Antonio; Giangaspero, Felice; Delfini, Roberto; Campi, Gaetano; De Spirito, Marco

2017-10-01

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has the unique capability of probing the nanoscale mechanical properties of biological systems that affect and are affected by the occurrence of many pathologies, including cancer. This capability has triggered growing interest in the translational process of AFM from physics laboratories to clinical practice. A factor still hindering the current use of AFM in diagnostics is related to the complexity of AFM data analysis, which is time-consuming and needs highly specialized personnel with a strong physical and mathematical background. In this work, we demonstrate an operator-independent neural-network approach for the analysis of surgically removed brain cancer tissues. This approach allowed us to distinguish—in a fully automated fashion—cancer from healthy tissues with high accuracy, also highlighting the presence and the location of infiltrating tumor cells.

The organization of LH2 complexes in membranes from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

PubMed

Olsen, John D; Tucker, Jaimey D; Timney, John A; Qian, Pu; Vassilev, Cvetelin; Hunter, C Neil

2008-11-07

The mapping of the photosynthetic membrane of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a unique organization of arrays of dimeric reaction center-light harvesting I-PufX (RC-LH1-PufX) core complexes surrounded and interconnected by light-harvesting LH2 complexes (Bahatyrova, S., Frese, R. N., Siebert, C. A., Olsen, J. D., van der Werf, K. O., van Grondelle, R., Niederman, R. A., Bullough, P. A., Otto, C., and Hunter, C. N. (2004) Nature 430, 1058-1062). However, membrane regions consisting solely of LH2 complexes were under-represented in these images because these small, highly curved areas of membrane rendered them difficult to image even using gentle tapping mode AFM and impossible with contact mode AFM. We report AFM imaging of membranes prepared from a mutant of R. sphaeroides, DPF2G, that synthesizes only the LH2 complexes, which assembles spherical intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles of approximately 53 nm diameter in vivo. By opening these vesicles and adsorbing them onto mica to form small, < or =120 nm, largely flat sheets we have been able to visualize the organization of these LH2-only membranes for the first time. The transition from highly curved vesicle to the planar sheet is accompanied by a change in the packing of the LH2 complexes such that approximately half of the complexes are raised off the mica surface by approximately 1 nm relative to the rest. This vertical displacement produces a very regular corrugated appearance of the planar membrane sheets. Analysis of the topographs was used to measure the distances and angles between the complexes. These data are used to model the organization of LH2 complexes in the original, curved membrane. The implications of this architecture for the light harvesting function and diffusion of quinones in native membranes of R. sphaeroides are discussed.

The distribution of organic material and its contribution to the micro-topography of particles from wettable and water repellent soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryant, Rob; Cheng, Shuying; Doerr, Stefan H.; Wright, Chris J.; Bayer, Julia V.; Williams, Rhodri P.

2010-05-01

Organic coatings on mineral particles will mask the physic-chemical properties of the underlying mineral surface. Surface images and force measurements obtained using atomic force microscopy (AFM) provide information about the nature of and variability in surfaces properties at the micro- to nano-scale. As AFM technology and data processing advance it is anticipated that a significant amount of information will be obtained simultaneously from individual contacts made at high frequency in non-contact or tapping mode operation. For present purposes the surfaces of model materials (smooth glass surfaces and acid-washed sand (AWS)) provide an indication of the dependency of the so-called AFM phase image on the topographic image (which is obtained synoptically). Pixel wise correlation of these images reveals how the modulation of an AFM probe is affected when topographic features are encountered. Adsorption of soil-derived humic acid (HA) or lecithin (LE), used here as an example for natural organic material, on these surfaces provides a soft and compliant, albeit partial, covering on the mineral which modifies the topography and the response of an AFM tip as it partially indents the soft regions (which contributes depth to the phase image). This produces a broadening on the data domain in the topographic/phase scatter diagram. Two dimensional classifications of these data, together with those obtained from sand particles drawn from water repellent and wettable soils, suggest that these large adsorbate molecules appear to have little preference to attach to particular topographic features or elevations. It appears that they may effectively remain on the surface at the point of initial contact. If organic adsorbates present a hydrophobic outer surface, then it seems possible that elevated features will not be immune from this and provide scope for a local, albeit, small contribution to the expression of super-hydrophobicity. It is therefore speculated here that the water repellency of a soil is the result of not only of particle surface chemistry and soil pore space geometry, but also of the micro-topography generated by organic material adsorbed on particle surfaces.

Force-controlled manipulation of single cells: from AFM to FluidFM.

PubMed

Guillaume-Gentil, Orane; Potthoff, Eva; Ossola, Dario; Franz, Clemens M; Zambelli, Tomaso; Vorholt, Julia A

2014-07-01

The ability to perturb individual cells and to obtain information at the single-cell level is of central importance for addressing numerous biological questions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers great potential for this prospering field. Traditionally used as an imaging tool, more recent developments have extended the variety of cell-manipulation protocols. Fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM) combines AFM with microfluidics via microchanneled cantilevers with nano-sized apertures. The crucial element of the technology is the connection of the hollow cantilevers to a pressure controller, allowing their operation in liquid as force-controlled nanopipettes under optical control. Proof-of-concept studies demonstrated a broad spectrum of single-cell applications including isolation, deposition, adhesion and injection in a range of biological systems. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gigantol from Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. binds and inhibits aldose reductase gene to exert its anti-cataract activity: An in vitro mechanistic study.

PubMed

Wu, Jie; Li, Xue; Wan, Wencheng; Yang, Qiaohong; Ma, Weifeng; Chen, Dan; Hu, Jiangmiao; Chen, C-Y Oliver; Wei, Xiaoyong

2017-02-23

Dendrobium. chrysotoxum Lindl is a commonly used species of medicinal Dendrobium which belongs to the family of Orchidaceae, locally known as "Shihu" or "Huangcao". D. chrysotoxum Lindl is widely known for medicinal values in traditional Chinese medicine as it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic induction, antitumor and antioxidant properties. To characterize the interaction between gigantol extracted from D. chrysotoxum Lindl and the AR gene, and determine gigantol's efficacy against cataractogenesis. Human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) were induced by glucose as the model group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess AR gene expression. Then, the mode of interaction of gigantol with the AR gene was evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The binding constant was determined by UV-visible. Gigantol depressed AR gene expression in HLECs. UV-visible spectra preliminarily indicated that interaction between the AR gene and gigantol may follow the groove mode, with a binding constant of 1.85×10 3 L/mol. Atomic force microscope (AFM) data indicated that gigantol possibly bound to insert AR gene base pairs of the double helix. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies further supported these observations. Gigantol extracted from D. chrysotoxum Lindl not only has inhibitory effects on aldose reductase, but also inhibits AR gene expression. These findings provide a more comprehensive theoretical basis for the use of Dendrobium for the treatment of diabetic cataract. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interfacial interactions between calcined hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and substrates.

PubMed

Okada, Masahiro; Furukawa, Keiko; Serizawa, Takeshi; Yanagisawa, Yoshihiko; Tanaka, Hidekazu; Kawai, Tomoji; Furuzono, Tsutomu

2009-06-02

Interfacial interactions between calcined hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystals and surface-modified substrates were investigated by measuring adsorption behavior and adhesion strength with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and a contact-mode atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The goal was to develop better control of HAp-nanocrystal coatings on biomedical materials. HAp nanocrystals with rodlike or spherical morphology were prepared by a wet chemical process followed by calcination at 800 degrees C with an antisintering agent to prevent the formation of sintered polycrystals. The substrate surface was modified by chemical reaction with a low-molecular-weight compound, or graft polymerization with a functional monomer. QCM measurement showed that the rodlike HAp nanocrystals adsorbed preferentially onto anionic COOH-modified substrates compared to cationic NH2- or hydrophobic CH3-modified substrates. On the other hand, the spherical nanocrystals adsorbed onto NH2- and COOH-modified substrates, which indicates that the surface properties of the HAp nanocrystals determined their adsorption behavior. The adhesion strength, which was estimated from the force required to move the nanocrystal in contact-mode AFM, on a COOH-grafted substrate prepared by graft polymerization was almost 9 times larger than that on a COOH-modified substrate prepared by chemical reaction with a low-molecular-weight compound, indicating that the long-chain polymer grafted on the substrate mitigated the surface roughness mismatch between the nanocrystal and the substrate. The adhesion strength of the nanocrystal bonded covalently by the coupling reaction to a Si(OCH3)-grafted substrate prepared by graft polymerization was approximately 1.5 times larger than that when adsorbed on the COOH-grafted substrate.

Probing lipid membrane electrostatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yi

The electrostatic properties of lipid bilayer membranes play a significant role in many biological processes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is highly sensitive to membrane surface potential in electrolyte solutions. With fully characterized probe tips, AFM can perform quantitative electrostatic analysis of lipid membranes. Electrostatic interactions between Silicon nitride probes and supported zwitterionic dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer with a variable fraction of anionic dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) were measured by AFM. Classical Gouy-Chapman theory was used to model the membrane electrostatics. The nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation was numerically solved with finite element method to provide the potential distribution around the AFM tips. Theoretical tip-sample electrostatic interactions were calculated with the surface integral of both Maxwell and osmotic stress tensors on tip surface. The measured forces were interpreted with theoretical forces and the resulting surface charge densities of the membrane surfaces were in quantitative agreement with the Gouy-Chapman-Stern model of membrane charge regulation. It was demonstrated that the AFM can quantitatively detect membrane surface potential at a separation of several screening lengths, and that the AFM probe only perturbs the membrane surface potential by <2%. One important application of this technique is to estimate the dipole density of lipid membrane. Electrostatic analysis of DOPC lipid bilayers with the AFM reveals a repulsive force between the negatively charged probe tips and the zwitterionic lipid bilayers. This unexpected interaction has been analyzed quantitatively to reveal that the repulsion is due to a weak external field created by the internai membrane dipole moment. The analysis yields a dipole moment of 1.5 Debye per lipid with a dipole potential of +275 mV for supported DOPC membranes. This new ability to quantitatively measure the membrane dipole density in a noninvasive manner will be useful in identifying the biological effects of the dipole potential. Finally, heterogeneous model membranes were studied with fluid electric force microscopy (FEFM). Electrostatic mapping was demonstrated with 50 nm resolution. The capabilities of quantitative electrostatic measurement and lateral charge density mapping make AFM a unique and powerful probe of membrane electrostatics.

Contour metrology using critical dimension atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orji, Ndubuisi G.; Dixson, Ronald G.; Vladár, András E.; Ming, Bin; Postek, Michael T.

2012-03-01

The critical dimension atomic force microscope (CD-AFM), which is used as a reference instrument in lithography metrology, has been proposed as a complementary instrument for contour measurement and verification. Although data from CD-AFM is inherently three dimensional, the planar two-dimensional data required for contour metrology is not easily extracted from the top-down CD-AFM data. This is largely due to the limitations of the CD-AFM method for controlling the tip position and scanning. We describe scanning techniques and profile extraction methods to obtain contours from CD-AFM data. We also describe how we validated our technique, and explain some of its limitations. Potential sources of error for this approach are described, and a rigorous uncertainty model is presented. Our objective is to show which data acquisition and analysis methods could yield optimum contour information while preserving some of the strengths of CD-AFM metrology. We present comparison of contours extracted using our technique to those obtained from the scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the helium ion microscope (HIM).

Atomic Force Microscopy in Characterizing Cell Mechanics for Biomedical Applications: A Review.

PubMed

Li, Mi; Dang, Dan; Liu, Lianqing; Xi, Ning; Wang, Yuechao

2017-09-01

Cell mechanics is a novel label-free biomarker for indicating cell states and pathological changes. The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a powerful tool for quantifying the mechanical properties of single living cells in aqueous conditions. The wide use of AFM in characterizing cell mechanics in the past two decades has yielded remarkable novel insights in understanding the development and progression of certain diseases, such as cancer, showing the huge potential of cell mechanics for practical applications in the field of biomedicine. In this paper, we reviewed the utilization of AFM to characterize cell mechanics. First, the principle and method of AFM single-cell mechanical analysis was presented, along with the mechanical responses of cells to representative external stimuli measured by AFM. Next, the unique changes of cell mechanics in two types of physiological processes (stem cell differentiation, cancer metastasis) revealed by AFM were summarized. After that, the molecular mechanisms guiding cell mechanics were analyzed. Finally the challenges and future directions were discussed.

Atomic Force Microscopy Based Cell Shape Index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adia-Nimuwa, Usienemfon; Mujdat Tiryaki, Volkan; Hartz, Steven; Xie, Kan; Ayres, Virginia

2013-03-01

Stellation is a measure of cell physiology and pathology for several cell groups including neural, liver and pancreatic cells. In the present work, we compare the results of a conventional two-dimensional shape index study of both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescent microscopy images with the results obtained using a new three-dimensional AFM-based shape index similar to sphericity index. The stellation of astrocytes is investigated on nanofibrillar scaffolds composed of electrospun polyamide nanofibers that has demonstrated promise for central nervous system (CNS) repair. Recent work by our group has given us the ability to clearly segment the cells from nanofibrillar scaffolds in AFM images. The clear-featured AFM images indicated that the astrocyte processes were longer than previously identified at 24h. It was furthermore shown that cell spreading could vary significantly as a function of environmental parameters, and that AFM images could record these variations. The new three-dimensional AFM-based shape index incorporates the new information: longer stellate processes and cell spreading. The support of NSF PHY-095776 is acknowledged.

Vibrational shape tracking of atomic force microscopy cantilevers for improved sensitivity and accuracy of nanomechanical measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wagner, Ryan; Killgore, Jason P.; Tung, Ryan C.; Raman, Arvind; Hurley, Donna C.

2015-01-01

Contact resonance atomic force microscopy (CR-AFM) methods currently utilize the eigenvalues, or resonant frequencies, of an AFM cantilever in contact with a surface to quantify local mechanical properties. However, the cantilever eigenmodes, or vibrational shapes, also depend strongly on tip-sample contact stiffness. In this paper, we evaluate the potential of eigenmode measurements for improved accuracy and sensitivity of CR-AFM. We apply a recently developed, in situ laser scanning method to experimentally measure changes in cantilever eigenmodes as a function of tip-sample stiffness. Regions of maximum sensitivity for eigenvalues and eigenmodes are compared and found to occur at different values of contact stiffness. The results allow the development of practical guidelines for CR-AFM experiments, such as optimum laser spot positioning for different experimental conditions. These experiments provide insight into the complex system dynamics that can affect CR-AFM and lay a foundation for enhanced nanomechanical measurements with CR-AFM.

Study of thermal and acoustic noise interferences in low stiffness atomic force microscope cantilevers and characterization of their dynamic properties.

PubMed

Boudaoud, Mokrane; Haddab, Yassine; Le Gorrec, Yann; Lutz, Philippe

2012-01-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful tool for the measurement of forces at the micro/nano scale when calibrated cantilevers are used. Besides many existing calibration techniques, the thermal calibration is one of the simplest and fastest methods for the dynamic characterization of an AFM cantilever. This method is efficient provided that the Brownian motion (thermal noise) is the most important source of excitation during the calibration process. Otherwise, the value of spring constant is underestimated. This paper investigates noise interference ranges in low stiffness AFM cantilevers taking into account thermal fluctuations and acoustic pressures as two main sources of noise. As a result, a preliminary knowledge about the conditions in which thermal fluctuations and acoustic pressures have closely the same effect on the AFM cantilever (noise interference) is provided with both theoretical and experimental arguments. Consequently, beyond the noise interference range, commercial low stiffness AFM cantilevers are calibrated in two ways: using the thermal noise (in a wide temperature range) and acoustic pressures generated by a loudspeaker. We then demonstrate that acoustic noises can also be used for an efficient characterization and calibration of low stiffness AFM cantilevers. The accuracy of the acoustic characterization is evaluated by comparison with results from the thermal calibration.

Tribochemical wear of single crystal aluminum in NaCl solution studied by atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, M.; Langford, S. C.; Dickinson, J. T.

2011-09-01

We report a systematic study of chemically enhanced wear of single crystal aluminum surfaces in aqueous solutions using an environmentally equipped atomic force microscope (AFM). The experiments were conducted by using a standard Si3N4 AFM tip to apply a localized force on a polished, single crystal aluminum (110) surface. Most measurements were performed in 0.5 M NaCl solution. We show the effect of applied force, number of scans, chemical solution, and temperature on the chemical-mechanical wear of aluminum on the nanometer scale. Aggressive chemical environments significantly enhance the wear of aluminum relative to scanning in dry air. Quantitative measurements show that the wear volume increases in proportion to the square root of force and the number of scans (or time). Arrhenius plots of wear volume versus temperature are consistent with an activation energy of 31 kJ/mol for scanning in 0.5 M NaCl. The wear of the AFM tip and the aluminum substrate is explained in terms of the synergistic surface chemical reactions and mechanical action of the tip. We compare these results to previous studies of AFM wear of silicate glass.

Atomic Force Microscopy of Biological Membranes

PubMed Central

Frederix, Patrick L.T.M.; Bosshart, Patrick D.; Engel, Andreas

2009-01-01

Abstract Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an ideal method to study the surface topography of biological membranes. It allows membranes that are adsorbed to flat solid supports to be raster-scanned in physiological solutions with an atomically sharp tip. Therefore, AFM is capable of observing biological molecular machines at work. In addition, the tip can be tethered to the end of a single membrane protein, and forces acting on the tip upon its retraction indicate barriers that occur during the process of protein unfolding. Here we discuss the fundamental limitations of AFM determined by the properties of cantilevers, present aspects of sample preparation, and review results achieved on reconstituted and native biological membranes. PMID:19167286

PREFACE: NC-AFM 2005: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Non-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reichling, M.; Mikosch, W.

2006-04-01

The 8th International Conference on Non-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy, held in Bad Essen, Germany, from 15 18th August 2005, attracted a record breaking number of participants presenting excellent contributions from a variety of scientific fields. This clearly demonstrated the high level of activity and innovation present in the community of NC-AFM researchers and the continuous growth of the field. The strongest ever participation of companies for a NC-AFM meeting is a sign for the emergence of new markets for the growing NC-AFM community; and the high standard of the products presented at the exhibition, many of them brand-new developments, reflected the unbroken progress in technology. The development of novel technologies and the sophistication of known techniques in research laboratories and their subsequent commercialization is still a major driving force for progress in this area of nanoscience. The conference was a perfect demonstration of how progress in the development of enabling technologies can readily be transcribed into basic research yielding fundamental insight with an impact across disciplines. The NC-AFM 2005 scientific programme was based on five cornerstones, each representing an area of vivid research and scientific progress. Atomic resolution imaging on oxide surfaces, which has long been a vision for the catalysis community, appears to be routine in several laboratories and after a period of demonstrative experiments NC-AFM now makes unique contributions to the understanding of processes in surface chemistry. These capabilities also open up new routes for the analysis of clusters and molecules deposited on dielectric surfaces where resolution limits are pushed towards the single atom level. Atomic precision manipulation with the dynamic AFM left the cradle of its infancy and flourishes in the family of bottom-up fabrication nanotechnologies. The systematic development of established and the introduction of new concepts of contrast formation allow the highly resolved measurement of a number of physical properties far beyond the determination of surface topography. The development of techniques allowing atomic resolution dynamic mode imaging in liquids pushes the door open for an atomic precision analysis of biological samples under physiological conditions. In each of these fields, the conference demonstrated cutting-edge results and also provided perspectives for the next steps on the roadmap of NC-AFM towards the development of its full extent. The conference in Bad Essen was made possible by the continuous dedication of the local management and we are most grateful to Frauke Riemann, Joachim Fontaine and the members of the supporting team for the smooth organization. We gratefully appreciate the financial support of the exhibitors, namely Anfatec, HALCYONICS, JEOL, LOT-Oriel, NanoMagnetics, NT-MDT, Omicron, Schaefer Technology, SURFACE, UNISOKU and the local sponsors which enabled us to provide free participation at the conference for ten promising young researchers who had submitted excellent contributions. It was a great pleasure for us to continue our most successful collaboration with Nanotechnology as our partner for the proceedings publication and we would like to thank Ian Forbes and the publishing team for the professional handling of the peer review and all production matters.

Characterisation of dry powder inhaler formulations using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Weiss, Cordula; McLoughlin, Peter; Cathcart, Helen

2015-10-15

Inhalation formulations are a popular way of treating the symptoms of respiratory diseases. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is delivered directly to the site of action within the deep lung using an inhalation device such as the dry powder inhaler (DPI). The performance of the formulation and the efficiency of the treatment depend on a number of factors including the forces acting between the components. In DPI formulations these forces are dominated by interparticulate interactions. Research has shown that adhesive and cohesive forces depend on a number of particulate properties such as size, surface roughness, crystallinity, surface energetics and combinations of these. With traditional methods the impact of particulate properties on interparticulate forces could be evaluated by examining the bulk properties. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), however, enables the determination of local surface characteristics and the direct measurement of interparticulate forces using the colloidal probe technique. AFM is considered extremely useful for evaluating the surface topography of a substrate (an API or carrier particle) and even allows the identification of crystal faces, defects and polymorphs from high-resolution images. Additionally, information is given about local mechanical properties of the particles and changes in surface composition and energetics. The assessment of attractive forces between two bodies is possible by using colloidal probe AFM. This review article summarises the application of AFM in DPI formulations while specifically focussing on the colloidal probe technique and the evaluation of interparticulate forces. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Coupling of conservative and dissipative forces in frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sader, John E.; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

2006-11-01

Frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) utilizes the principle of self-excitation to ensure the cantilever probe vibrates at its resonant frequency, regardless of the tip-sample interaction. Practically, this is achieved by fixing the phase difference between tip deflection and driving force at precisely 90° . This, in turn, decouples the frequency shift and excitation amplitude signals, enabling quantitative interpretation in terms of conservative and dissipative tip-sample interaction forces. In this article, we theoretically investigate the effect of phase detuning in the self-excitation mechanism on the coupling between conservative and dissipative forces in FM-AFM. We find that this coupling depends only on the relative difference in the drive and resonant frequencies far from the surface, and is thus very weakly dependent on the actual phase error particularly for high quality factors. This establishes that FM-AFM is highly robust with respect to phase detuning, and enables quantitative interpretation of the measured frequency shift and excitation amplitude, even while operating away from the resonant frequency with the use of appropriate replacements in the existing formalism. We also examine the calibration of phase shifts in FM-AFM measurements and demonstrate that the commonly used approach of minimizing the excitation amplitude can lead to significant phase detuning, particularly in liquid environments.

DNA Free Energy Landscapes and RNA Nano-Self-Assembly Using Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frey, Eric William

There is an important conceptual lesson which has long been appreciated by those who work in biophysics and related interdisciplinary fields. While the extraordinary behavior of biological matter is governed by its detailed atomic structure and random fluctuations, and is therefore difficult to predict, it can nevertheless be understood within simplified frameworks. Such frameworks model the system as consisting of only one or a few components, and model the behavior of the system as the occupation of a single state out of a small number of states available. The emerging widespread application of nanotechnology, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), has expanded this understanding in eye-opening new levels of detail by enabling nano-scale control, measurement, and visualization of biological molecules. This thesis describes two independent projects, both of which illuminate this understanding using AFM, but which do so from very different perspectives. The organization of this thesis is as follows. Chapter 1 begins with an experimental background and introduction to AFM, and then describes our setup in both single-molecule manipulation and imaging modes. In Chapter 2, we describe the first project, the motivation for which is to extend methods for the experimental determination of the free energy landscape of a molecule. This chapter relies on the analysis of single-molecule manipulation data. Chapter 3 describes the second project, the motivation for which is to create RNA-based nano-structures suitable for future applications in living mammalian cells. This chapter relies mainly on imaging. Chapters 2 and 3 can thus be read and understood separately.

Stiffness and evolution of interfacial micropancakes revealed by AFM quantitative nanomechanical imaging.

PubMed

Zhao, Binyu; Wang, Xingya; Song, Yang; Hu, Jun; Lü, Junhong; Zhou, Xingfei; Tai, Renzhong; Zhang, Xuehua; Zhang, Lijuan

2015-05-28

Micropancakes are quasi-two-dimensional micron-sized domains on crystalline substrates (e.g. highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)) immersed in water. They are only a few nanometers thick, and are suspected to come from the accumulation of dissolved air at the solid-water interface. However, the exact chemical nature and basic physical properties of micropancakes have been under debate ever since their first observation, primarily due to the lack of a suitable characterization technique. In this study, the stiffness of micropancakes at the interface between HOPG and ethanol-water solutions was investigated by using PeakForce Quantitative NanoMechanics (PF-QNM) mode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Our measurements showed that micropancakes were stiffer than nanobubbles, and for bilayer micropancakes, the bottom layer in contact with the substrate was stiffer than the top one. Interestingly, the micropancakes became smaller and softer with an increase in the ethanol concentration in the solution, and were undetectable by AFM above a critical concentration of ethanol. But they re-appeared after the ethanol concentration in the solution was reduced. Clearly the evolution and stiffness of the micropancakes were dependent on the chemical composition in the solution, which could be attributed to the correlation of the mechanical properties of the micropancakes with the surface tension of the liquid phase. Based on the "go-and-come" behaviors of micropancakes with the ethanol concentration, we found that the micropancakes could actually tolerate the ethanol concentration much higher than 5%, a value reported in the literature. The results from this work may be helpful in alluding the chemical nature of micropancakes.

Wettability of natural root mucilage studied by atomic force microscopy and contact angle: Links between nanoscale and macroscale surface properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaltenbach, Robin; Diehl, Dörte; Schaumann, Gabriele E.

2017-04-01

Organic coatings are considered as main cause of soil water repellency (SWR). This phenomenon plays a crucial role in the rhizosphere, at the interface of plant water uptake and soil hydraulics. Still, there is little knowledge about the nanoscale properties of natural soil compounds such as root-mucilage and its mechanistic effect on wettability. In this study, dried films of natural root-mucilage from Sorghum (Sorghum sp., MOENCH) on glass substrates were studied in order to explore experimental and evaluation methods that allow to link between macroscopic wettability and nano-/microscopic surface properties in this model soil system. SWR was assessed by optical contact angle (CA) measurements. The nanostructure of topography and adhesion forces of the mucilage surfaces was revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements in ambient air, using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (PFQNM). Undiluted mucilage formed hydrophobic films on the substrate with CA > 90° and rather homogeneous nanostructure. Contact angles showed reduced water repellency of surfaces, when concentration of mucilage was decreased by dilution. AFM height and adhesion images displayed incomplete mucilage surface coverage for diluted samples. Hole-like structures in the film frequently exhibited increased adhesion forces. Spatial analysis of the AFM data via variograms enabled a numerical description of such 'adhesion holes'. The use of geostatistical approaches in AFM studies of the complex surface structure of soil compounds was considered meaningful in view of the need of comprehensive analysis of large AFM image data sets that exceed the capability of comparative visual inspection. Furthermore, force curves measured with the AFM showed increased break-free distances and pull-off forces inside the observed 'adhesion holes', indicating enhanced capillary forces due to adsorbed water films at hydrophilic domains for ambient RH (40 ± 2 %). This offers the possibility of mapping the nanostructure of water layers on soil surfaces and assessing the consequences for wettability. The collected information on macroscopic wetting properties, nanoscale roughness and adhesion structure of the investigated surfaces in this study are discussed in view of the applicability of the mechanistic wetting models given by Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter.

The Analog Atomic Force Microscope: Measuring, Modeling, and Graphing for Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goss, Valerie; Brandt, Sharon; Lieberman, Marya

2013-01-01

using an analog atomic force microscope (A-AFM) made from a cardboard box and mailing tubes. Varying numbers of ping pong balls inside the tubes mimic atoms on a surface. Students use a dowel to make macroscale measurements similar to those of a nanoscale AFM tip as it…

Coffee Cup Atomic Force Microscopy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashkenaz, David E.; Hall, W. Paige; Haynes, Christy L.; Hicks, Erin M.; McFarland, Adam D.; Sherry, Leif J.; Stuart, Douglas A.; Wheeler, Korin E.; Yonzon, Chanda R.; Zhao, Jing; Godwin, Hilary A.; Van Duyne, Richard P.

2010-01-01

In this activity, students use a model created from a coffee cup or cardstock cutout to explore the working principle of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Students manipulate a model of an AFM, using it to examine various objects to retrieve topographic data and then graph and interpret results. The students observe that movement of the AFM…

Chaos in Atomic Force Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Shuiqing; Raman, Arvind

2006-01-01

Chaotic oscillations of microcantilever tips in dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) are reported and characterized. Systematic experiments performed using a variety of microcantilevers under a wide range of operating conditions indicate that softer AFM microcantilevers bifurcate from periodic to chaotic oscillations near the transition from the noncontact to the tapping regimes. Careful Lyapunov exponent and noise titration calculations of the tip oscillation data confirm their chaotic nature. AFM images taken by scanning the chaotically oscillating tips over the sample show small, but significant metrology errors at the nanoscale due to this “deterministic” uncertainty.

Atomic Force Microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Day, R.D.; Russell, P.E.

The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is a recently developed instrument that has achieved atomic resolution imaging of both conducting and non- conducting surfaces. Because the AFM is in the early stages of development, and because of the difficulty of building the instrument, it is currently in use in fewer than ten laboratories worldwide. It promises to be a valuable tool for obtaining information about engineering surfaces and aiding the .study of precision fabrication processes. This paper gives an overview of AFM technology and presents plans to build an instrument designed to look at engineering surfaces.

Atomic force microscope-assisted scanning tunneling spectroscopy under ambient conditions.

PubMed

Vakhshouri, Amin; Hashimoto, Katsushi; Hirayama, Yoshiro

2014-12-01

We have developed a method of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-assisted scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) under ambient conditions. An AFM function is used for rapid access to a selected position prior to performing STS. The AFM feedback is further used to suppress vertical thermal drift of the tip-sample distance during spectroscopy, enabling flexible and stable spectroscopy measurements at room temperature. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japanese Society of Microscopy. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Adhesion mechanisms on solar glass: Effects of relative humidity, surface roughness, and particle shape and size

DOE PAGES

Moutinho, Helio R.; Jiang, Cun -Sheng; To, Bobby; ...

2017-07-27

To better understand and quantify soiling rates on solar panels, we are investigating the adhesion mechanisms between dust particles and solar glass. In this work, we report on two of the fundamental adhesion mechanisms: van der Waals and capillary adhesion forces. The adhesion was determined using force versus distance (F-z) measurements performed with an atomic force microscope (AFM). To emulate dust interacting with the front surface of a solar panel, we measured how oxidized AFM tips, SiO 2 glass spheres, and real dust particles adhered to actual solar glass. The van der Waals forces were evaluated by measurements performed withmore » zero relative humidity in a glove box, and the capillary forces were measured in a stable environment created inside the AFM enclosure with relative humidity values ranging from 18% to 80%. To simulate topographic features of the solar panels caused by factors such as cleaning and abrasion, we induced different degrees of surface roughness in the solar glass. As a result, we were able to 1) identify and quantify both the van der Waals and capillary forces, 2) establish the effects of surface roughness, relative humidity, and particle size on the adhesion mechanisms, and 3) compare adhesion forces between well-controlled particles (AFM tips and glass spheres) and real dust particles.« less

Investigation of polymer derived ceramics cantilevers for application of high speed atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chia-Yun

High speed Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has a wide variety of applications ranging from nanomanufacturing to biophysics. In order to have higher scanning speed of certain AFM modes, high resonant frequency cantilevers are needed; therefore, the goal of this research is to investigate using polymer derived ceramics for possible applications in making high resonant frequency AFM cantilevers using complex cross sections. The polymer derived ceramic that will be studied, is silicon carbide. Polymer derived ceramics offer a potentially more economic fabrication approach for MEMS due to their relatively low processing temperatures and ease of complex shape design. Photolithography was used to make the desired cantilever shapes with micron scale size followed by a wet etching process to release the cantilevers from the substrates. The whole manufacturing process we use borrow well-developed techniques from the semiconducting industry, and as such this project also could offer the opportunity to reduce the fabrication cost of AFM cantilevers and MEMS in general. The characteristics of silicon carbide made from the precursor polymer, SMP-10 (Starfire Systems), were studied. In order to produce high qualities of silicon carbide cantilevers, where the major concern is defects, proper process parameters needed to be determined. Films of polymer derived ceramics often have defects due to shrinkage during the conversion process. Thus control of defects was a central issue in this study. A second, related concern was preventing oxidation; the polymer derived ceramics we chose is easily oxidized during processing. Establishing an environment without oxygen in the whole process was a significant challenge in the project. The optimization of the parameters for using photolithography and wet etching process was the final and central goal of the project; well established techniques used in microfabrication were modified for use in making the cantilever in the project. The techniques developed here open a path to the fabrication of cantilevers with unconventional cross sections.

High-speed atomic force microscopy combined with inverted optical microscopy for studying cellular events

PubMed Central

Suzuki, Yuki; Sakai, Nobuaki; Yoshida, Aiko; Uekusa, Yoshitsugu; Yagi, Akira; Imaoka, Yuka; Ito, Shuichi; Karaki, Koichi; Takeyasu, Kunio

2013-01-01

A hybrid atomic force microscopy (AFM)-optical fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for investigating cellular morphologies and events. However, the slow data acquisition rates of the conventional AFM unit of the hybrid system limit the visualization of structural changes during cellular events. Therefore, high-speed AFM units equipped with an optical/fluorescence detection device have been a long-standing wish. Here we describe the implementation of high-speed AFM coupled with an optical fluorescence microscope. This was accomplished by developing a tip-scanning system, instead of a sample-scanning system, which operates on an inverted optical microscope. This novel device enabled the acquisition of high-speed AFM images of morphological changes in individual cells. Using this instrument, we conducted structural studies of living HeLa and 3T3 fibroblast cell surfaces. The improved time resolution allowed us to image dynamic cellular events. PMID:23823461

High-speed atomic force microscopy combined with inverted optical microscopy for studying cellular events.

PubMed

Suzuki, Yuki; Sakai, Nobuaki; Yoshida, Aiko; Uekusa, Yoshitsugu; Yagi, Akira; Imaoka, Yuka; Ito, Shuichi; Karaki, Koichi; Takeyasu, Kunio

2013-01-01

A hybrid atomic force microscopy (AFM)-optical fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for investigating cellular morphologies and events. However, the slow data acquisition rates of the conventional AFM unit of the hybrid system limit the visualization of structural changes during cellular events. Therefore, high-speed AFM units equipped with an optical/fluorescence detection device have been a long-standing wish. Here we describe the implementation of high-speed AFM coupled with an optical fluorescence microscope. This was accomplished by developing a tip-scanning system, instead of a sample-scanning system, which operates on an inverted optical microscope. This novel device enabled the acquisition of high-speed AFM images of morphological changes in individual cells. Using this instrument, we conducted structural studies of living HeLa and 3T3 fibroblast cell surfaces. The improved time resolution allowed us to image dynamic cellular events.

Progress in the Correlative Atomic Force Microscopy and Optical Microscopy

PubMed Central

Zhou, Lulu; Cai, Mingjun; Tong, Ti; Wang, Hongda

2017-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has evolved from the originally morphological imaging technique to a powerful and multifunctional technique for manipulating and detecting the interactions between molecules at nanometer resolution. However, AFM cannot provide the precise information of synchronized molecular groups and has many shortcomings in the aspects of determining the mechanism of the interactions and the elaborate structure due to the limitations of the technology, itself, such as non-specificity and low imaging speed. To overcome the technical limitations, it is necessary to combine AFM with other complementary techniques, such as fluorescence microscopy. The combination of several complementary techniques in one instrument has increasingly become a vital approach to investigate the details of the interactions among molecules and molecular dynamics. In this review, we reported the principles of AFM and optical microscopy, such as confocal microscopy and single-molecule localization microscopy, and focused on the development and use of correlative AFM and optical microscopy. PMID:28441775

Label-free optical imaging of membrane patches for atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Churnside, Allison B.; King, Gavin M.; Perkins, Thomas T.

2010-01-01

In atomic force microscopy (AFM), finding sparsely distributed regions of interest can be difficult and time-consuming. Typically, the tip is scanned until the desired object is located. This process can mechanically or chemically degrade the tip, as well as damage fragile biological samples. Protein assemblies can be detected using the back-scattered light from a focused laser beam. We previously used back-scattered light from a pair of laser foci to stabilize an AFM. In the present work, we integrate these techniques to optically image patches of purple membranes prior to AFM investigation. These rapidly acquired optical images were aligned to the subsequent AFM images to ~40 nm, since the tip position was aligned to the optical axis of the imaging laser. Thus, this label-free imaging efficiently locates sparsely distributed protein assemblies for subsequent AFM study while simultaneously minimizing degradation of the tip and the sample. PMID:21164738

Nano Mechanical Machining Using AFM Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mostofa, Md. Golam

Complex miniaturized components with high form accuracy will play key roles in the future development of many products, as they provide portability, disposability, lower material consumption in production, low power consumption during operation, lower sample requirements for testing, and higher heat transfer due to their very high surface-to-volume ratio. Given the high market demand for such micro and nano featured components, different manufacturing methods have been developed for their fabrication. Some of the common technologies in micro/nano fabrication are photolithography, electron beam lithography, X-ray lithography and other semiconductor processing techniques. Although these methods are capable of fabricating micro/nano structures with a resolution of less than a few nanometers, some of the shortcomings associated with these methods, such as high production costs for customized products, limited material choices, necessitate the development of other fabricating techniques. Micro/nano mechanical machining, such an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe based nano fabrication, has, therefore, been used to overcome some the major restrictions of the traditional processes. This technique removes material from the workpiece by engaging micro/nano size cutting tool (i.e. AFM probe) and is applicable on a wider range of materials compared to the photolithographic process. In spite of the unique benefits of nano mechanical machining, there are also some challenges with this technique, since the scale is reduced, such as size effects, burr formations, chip adhesions, fragility of tools and tool wear. Moreover, AFM based machining does not have any rotational movement, which makes fabrication of 3D features more difficult. Thus, vibration-assisted machining is introduced into AFM probe based nano mechanical machining to overcome the limitations associated with the conventional AFM probe based scratching method. Vibration-assisted machining reduced the cutting forces and burr formations through intermittent cutting. Combining the AFM probe based machining with vibration-assisted machining enhanced nano mechanical machining processes by improving the accuracy, productivity and surface finishes. In this study, several scratching tests are performed with a single crystal diamond AFM probe to investigate the cutting characteristics and model the ploughing cutting forces. Calibration of the probe for lateral force measurements, which is essential, is also extended through the force balance method. Furthermore, vibration-assisted machining system is developed and applied to fabricate different materials to overcome some of the limitations of the AFM probe based single point nano mechanical machining. The novelty of this study includes the application of vibration-assisted AFM probe based nano scale machining to fabricate micro/nano scale features, calibration of an AFM by considering different factors, and the investigation of the nano scale material removal process from a different perspective.

A Study of the Attraction Forces of Lunar Dust Simulant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bradley, Robert Kelley; Jeevarajan, Antony; Thomas, Valor

2007-01-01

In previous manned lunar missions little work was done on countermeasures to combat the spread of lunar dust onto equipment and into the habitat because the astronauts were not scheduled to stay on the lunar surface for extended periods of time. However, as NASA prepares to return to the moon for longer durations than before developing materials that can help in the fight against lunar dust is important. The purpose of this project is to examine the attraction forces between lunar dust and various materials in an effort to discover materials which have a low affinity for lunar dust. The adhesion forces present between individual grains of dust and various materials were analyzed using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The AFM probes were calibrated by the added-mass technique to find the spring constant of the cantilever. The probes were modified by attaching a particle of lunar dust stimulant to the cantilever arm. The adhesion force between the dust particle and various materials were determined by analysis of AFM force spectra.

AFM study of the plastic deformation behavior of poly-synthetically-twinned (PST) titanium aluminide crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yali

The plastic deformation behavior of PST TiAl crystals was investigated using AFM techniques to reveal the effects of lamellar structure on the deform mechanisms of two-phase TiAl materials. PST crystals with a nominal composition of Ti52Al48 (atomic percent) were grown by the floating zone method and at various orientations deformed in compression at room temperature. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was employed to investigate the deformation structure on the free surfaces. The deformation of the PST crystals is highly anisotropic and the deformation mechanism changes dramatically with sample orientation. When the angle between the loading axis and the lamellar interfaces is below 20°, the gamma lamellae deform by dislocation slip and twinning on planes oblique to the lamellar interfaces, but the Burgers vectors or the resultant shear vectors are parallel to the lamellar interfaces inside each lamella. When the angle is between 20° and 80° the gamma phase deforms by shear on planes parallel to the lamellar interfaces. Some domains deform by a combination of ordinary dislocation slip and twinning. In the domains where twinning cannot be activated, slip occurs by ordinary dislocations or superdislocations. When the loading axis is nearly perpendicular to the lamellar interfaces ordinary dislocation slip and twinning on slip planes inclined with the lamellar interfaces are dominant and the shear is trans-lamellar. The three deformation modes are termed as A, B and N type deformation modes respectively. In the A type mode the alpha2 lamellae concomitantly deform by prismatic slip. In the other two modes, the alpha2 phase does not deform and acts as strong obstacles to the transfer of deformation. Abundant misfit dislocations are emitted from the lamellar interfaces which is beneficial for the plastic deformation. On the other hand, the lamellar interfaces strongly impede trans-lamellar deformation and channel the deformation inside each lamella. The inhomogeneous coherency stresses at the lamellar interfaces also lead to heterogeneous deformation of PST crystals. The deformation behavior of the lamellar grains produces remarkable strain incompatibility in lamellar polycrystals and deteriorates the deformability.

In-Process Atomic-Force Microscopy (AFM) Based Inspection

PubMed Central

Mekid, Samir

2017-01-01

A new in-process atomic-force microscopy (AFM) based inspection is presented for nanolithography to compensate for any deviation such as instantaneous degradation of the lithography probe tip. Traditional method used the AFM probes for lithography work and retract to inspect the obtained feature but this practice degrades the probe tip shape and hence, affects the measurement quality. This paper suggests a second dedicated lithography probe that is positioned back-to-back to the AFM probe under two synchronized controllers to correct any deviation in the process compared to specifications. This method shows that the quality improvement of the nanomachining, in progress probe tip wear, and better understanding of nanomachining. The system is hosted in a recently developed nanomanipulator for educational and research purposes. PMID:28561747

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kasper, M.; Gramse, G.; Hoffmann, J.

We measured the DC and RF impedance characteristics of micrometric metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors and Schottky diodes using scanning microwave microscopy (SMM). The SMM consisting of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) interfaced with a vector network analyser (VNA) was used to measure the reflection S11 coefficient of the metallic MOS and Schottky contact pads at 18 GHz as a function of the tip bias voltage. By controlling the SMM biasing conditions, the AFM tip was used to bias the Schottky contacts between reverse and forward mode. In reverse bias direction, the Schottky contacts showed mostly a change in the imaginary part ofmore » the admittance while in forward bias direction the change was mostly in the real part of the admittance. Reference MOS capacitors which are next to the Schottky diodes on the same sample were used to calibrate the SMM S11 data and convert it into capacitance values. Calibrated capacitance between 1–10 fF and 1/C{sup 2} spectroscopy curves were acquired on the different Schottky diodes as a function of the DC bias voltage following a linear behavior. Additionally, measurements were done directly with the AFM-tip in contact with the silicon substrate forming a nanoscale Schottky contact. Similar capacitance-voltage curves were obtained but with smaller values (30–300 aF) due to the corresponding smaller AFM-tip diameter. Calibrated capacitance images of both the MOS and Schottky contacts were acquired with nanoscale resolution at different tip-bias voltages.« less

An in vivo study of electrical charge distribution on the bacterial cell wall by atomic force microscopy in vibrating force mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marlière, Christian; Dhahri, Samia

2015-05-01

We report an in vivo electromechanical atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of charge distribution on the cell wall of Gram+ Rhodococcus wratislaviensis bacteria, naturally adherent to a glass substrate, under physiological conditions. The method presented in this paper relies on a detailed study of AFM approach/retract curves giving the variation of the interaction force versus distance between the tip and the sample. In addition to classical height and mechanical (as stiffness) data, mapping of local electrical properties, such as bacterial surface charge, was proved to be feasible at a spatial resolution better than a few tens of nanometers. This innovative method relies on the measurement of the cantilever's surface stress through its deflection far from (>10 nm) the repulsive contact zone: the variations of surface stress come from the modification of electrical surface charge of the cantilever (as in classical electrocapillary measurements) likely stemming from its charging during contact of both the tip and the sample electrical double layers. This method offers an important improvement in local electrical and electrochemical measurements at the solid/liquid interface, particularly in high-molarity electrolytes when compared to techniques focused on the direct use of electrostatic force. It thus opens a new way to directly investigate in situ biological electrical surface processes involved in numerous practical applications and fundamental problems such as bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, microbial fuel cells, etc.We report an in vivo electromechanical atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of charge distribution on the cell wall of Gram+ Rhodococcus wratislaviensis bacteria, naturally adherent to a glass substrate, under physiological conditions. The method presented in this paper relies on a detailed study of AFM approach/retract curves giving the variation of the interaction force versus distance between the tip and the sample. In addition to classical height and mechanical (as stiffness) data, mapping of local electrical properties, such as bacterial surface charge, was proved to be feasible at a spatial resolution better than a few tens of nanometers. This innovative method relies on the measurement of the cantilever's surface stress through its deflection far from (>10 nm) the repulsive contact zone: the variations of surface stress come from the modification of electrical surface charge of the cantilever (as in classical electrocapillary measurements) likely stemming from its charging during contact of both the tip and the sample electrical double layers. This method offers an important improvement in local electrical and electrochemical measurements at the solid/liquid interface, particularly in high-molarity electrolytes when compared to techniques focused on the direct use of electrostatic force. It thus opens a new way to directly investigate in situ biological electrical surface processes involved in numerous practical applications and fundamental problems such as bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation, microbial fuel cells, etc. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00968e

Nanostructure and force spectroscopy analysis of human peripheral blood CD4+ T cells using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Hu, Mingqian; Wang, Jiongkun; Cai, Jiye; Wu, Yangzhe; Wang, Xiaoping

2008-09-12

To date, nanoscale imaging of the morphological changes and adhesion force of CD4(+) T cells during in vitro activation remains largely unreported. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the morphological changes and specific binding forces in resting and activated human peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells. The AFM images revealed that the volume of activated CD4(+) T cells increased and the ultrastructure of these cells also became complex. Using a functionalized AFM tip, the strength of the specific binding force of the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction was found to be approximately three times that of the unspecific force. The adhesion forces were not randomly distributed over the surface of a single activated CD4(+) T cell, indicated that the CD4 molecules concentrated into nanodomains. The magnitude of the adhesion force of the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction did not change markedly with the activation time. Multiple bonds involved in the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction were measured at different activation times. These results suggest that the adhesion force involved in the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction is highly selective and of high affinity.

AFM nanoscale indentation in air of polymeric and hybrid materials with highly different stiffness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suriano, Raffaella; Credi, Caterina; Levi, Marinella; Turri, Stefano

2014-08-01

In this study, nanomechanical properties of a variety of polymeric materials was investigated by means of AFM. In particular, selecting different AFM probes, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bulk samples, sol-gel hybrid thin films and hydrated hyaluronic acid hydrogels were indented in air to determine the elastic modulus. The force-distance curves and the indentation data were found to be greatly affected by the cantilever stiffness and by tip geometry. AFM indentation tests show that the choice of the cantilever spring constant and of tip shape is crucially influenced by elastic properties of samples. When adhesion-dominated interactions occur between the tip and the surface of samples, force-displacement curves reveal that a suitable functionalization of AFM probes allows the control of such interactions and the extraction of Young' modulus from AFM curves that would be otherwise unfeasible. By applying different mathematical models depending on AFM probes and materials under investigation, the values of Young's modulus were obtained and compared to those measured by rheological and dynamic mechanical analysis or to literature data. Our results show that a wide range of elastic moduli (10 kPa-10 GPa) can be determined by AFM in good agreement with those measured by conventional macroscopic measurements.

Real-time Analysis of the Enzymatic Biodegradation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Thin Films Using Microfabricated Polymer Microstructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delfaus, Stephen; Latuga, Brian M.; Morse, Clinton; McCarney, Evan R.; Rossini, Connie J.; Augustine, Brian H.; Flythe, Michael D.; Rowe, Sean; Baron, Stephen F.; Dennis, Douglas E.

2003-11-01

In-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows for the real-time acquisition and analysis of materials undergoing biological and chemical alterations. A co-polymer blend of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate / poly 3-hydroxyvalerate P(3HB-3HV) were spun-cast onto glass slides to create thin films with film thickness of 40 nm. This polymer is naturally biodegradable by a variety of bacterially produced enzymes. In this study, these materials were degraded by an untyped and concentrated Strptomyces sp. enzyme produced from soil. Using liquid-cell AFM in contact mode, we were able to observe biodegradation uniformly across the surface of the P(3HB-3HV) films beginning within 2 min of introduction of the enzyme. Height standards have been developed using microcontact printing of self assembled monolayers and selective dewetting to produce P(3HB-3HV) structures with dimensions as small as 10 mm. We will discuss the use of microfabricated height standards to measure biodegradation kinetics in these polymers.

A role for ion implantation in quantum computing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jamieson, David N.; Prawer, Steven; Andrienko, Igor; Brett, David A.; Millar, Victoria

2001-04-01

We propose to create arrays of phosphorus atoms in silicon for quantum computing using ion implantation. Since the implantation of the ions is essentially random, the yield of usefully spaced atoms is low and therefore some method of registering the passage of a single ion is required. This can be accomplished by implantation of the ions through a thin surface layer consisting of resist. Changes to the chemical and/or electrical properties of the resist will be used to mark the site of the buried ion. For chemical changes, the latent damage will be developed and the atomic force microscope (AFM) used to image the changes in topography. Alternatively, changes in electrical properties (which obviate the need for post-irradiation chemical etching) will be used to register the passage of the ion using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), the surface current imaging mode of the AFM. We address the central issue of the contrast created by the passage of a single ion through resist layers of PMMA and C 60.

AFM-based micro/nanoscale lithography of poly(dimethylsiloxane): stick-slip on a softpolymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, Jolanta A.; Myhra, Sverre; Brown, Christopher L.; Watson, Gregory S.

2005-02-01

Silicone rubbers have steadily gained importance in industry since their introduction in the 1960"s. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is a relatively soft and optically clear, two-part elastomer with interesting and, more importantly, useful physical and electrical properties. Some of its common applications include protective coatings (e.g., against moisture, environmental attack, mechanical and thermal shock and vibrations), and encapsulation (e.g., amplifiers, inductive coils, connectors and circuit boards). The polymer has attracted recent interest for applications in soft lithography. The polymer is now routinely used as a patterned micro-stamp for chemical modification of surfaces, in particular Au substrates. Prominent stick-slip effects, surface relaxation and elastic recovery were found to be associated with micro/nano manipulation of the polymer by an AFM-based contact mode methodology. Those effects provide the means to explore in detail the meso-scale tip-to-surface interactions between a tip and a soft surface. The dependence of scan speed, loading force, attack angle and number of scan lines have been investigated.

Morphology and phase behavior of ethanol nanodrops condensed on chemically patterned surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Checco, Antonio; Ocko, Benjamin M.

2008-06-01

Equilibrium wetting of ethanol onto chemically patterned nanostripes has been investigated using environmental atomic force microscopy (AFM) in noncontact mode. The chemical patterns are composed of COOH-terminated “wetting” regions and CH3 -terminated “nonwetting” regions. A specially designed environmental AFM chamber allowed for accurate measurements of droplet height as a function of the temperature offset between the substrate and a macroscopic ethanol reservoir. At saturation, the height dependence scales with droplet width according to w1/2 , in excellent agreement with the augmented Young equation (AYE) modeled with dispersive, nonretarded surface potentials. At small under- and oversaturations, the AYE model accurately fits the data if an effective ΔT is used as a fitting parameter. There is a systematic difference between the measured ΔT and the values extracted from the fits to the data. In addition to static measurements, we present time-resolved measurements of the droplet height which enable the study of condensation-evaporation dynamics of nanometer-scale drops.

Advances in research on structural characterisation of agricultural products using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Liu, Dongli; Cheng, Fang

2011-03-30

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has many unique features compared with other conventional microscopies, such as high magnification with high resolution, minimal sample preparation, acquiring 2D and 3D images at the same time, observing ongoing processes directly, the possibility of manipulating macromolecules, etc. As a nanotechnology tool, AFM has been used to investigate the nanostructure of materials in many fields. This mini-review focuses mainly on its latest application to characterise the macromolecular nanostructure and surface topography of agricultural products. First the fundamentals of AFM are briefly explained. Then the macromolecular nanostructure information on agricultural products from AFM images is introduced by exploring the structure-function relationship in three aspects: agricultural product processing, agricultural product ripening and storage, and genetic and environmental factors. The surface topography characterisation of agricultural products using AFM is also discussed. The results reveal that AFM could be a powerful nanotechnology tool to acquire a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of structure and quality variations of agricultural products, which could be instructive in improving processing and storage technologies, and AFM is also helpful to reveal the essential nature of a product at nanoscale. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy, and raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of near-isogenic soft and hard wheat kernels and corresponding flours

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to investigate vitreous (hard) and non-vitreous (soft) wheat kernels and their corresponding wheat flours. AFM data reveal two different microstructures. The vitreous kernel reveals a granular text...

Methods and apparatus of spatially resolved electroluminescence of operating organic light-emitting diodes using conductive atomic force microscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hersam, Mark C. (Inventor); Pingree, Liam S. C. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A conductive atomic force microscopy (cAFM) technique which can concurrently monitor topography, charge transport, and electroluminescence with nanometer spatial resolution. This cAFM approach is particularly well suited for probing the electroluminescent response characteristics of operating organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) over short length scales.

A simple way to higher speed atomic force microscopy by retrofitting with a novel high-speed flexure-guided scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouma Alunda, Bernard; Lee, Yong Joong; Park, Soyeun

2018-06-01

A typical line-scan rate for a commercial atomic force microscope (AFM) is about 1 Hz. At such a rate, more than four minutes of scanning time is required to obtain an image of 256 × 256 pixels. Despite control electronics of most commercial AFMs permit faster scan rates, default piezoelectric X–Y scanners limit the overall speed of the system. This is a direct consequence of manufacturers choosing a large scan range over the maximum operating speed for a X–Y scanner. Although some AFM manufacturers offer reduced-scan area scanners as an option, the speed improvement is not significant because such scanners do not have large enough reduction in the scan range and are mainly targeted to reducing the overall cost of the AFM systems. In this article, we present a simple parallel-kinematic substitute scanner for a commercial atomic force microscope to afford a higher scanning speed with no other hardware or software upgrade to the original system. Although the scan area reduction is unavoidable, our modified commercial XE-70 AFM from Park Systems has achieved a line scan rate of over 50 Hz, more than 10 times faster than the original, unmodified system. Our flexure-guided X–Y scanner can be a simple drop-in replacement option for enhancing the speed of various aging atomic force microscopes.

Mode of bindings of zinc oxide nanoparticles to myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase: A spectroscopic investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandal, Gopa; Bhattacharya, Sudeshna; Ganguly, Tapan

2011-07-01

The interactions between two heme proteins myoglobin (HMb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are investigated by using UV-vis absorption, steady state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, FT-IR, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and circular dichroism (CD) techniques under physiological condition of pH˜7.4. The presence of mainly static mode in fluorescence quenching mechanism of HMb and HRP by ZnO nanoparticle indicates the possibility of formation of ground state complex. The processes of bindings of ZnO nanoparticles with the two proteins are spontaneous molecular interaction procedures. In both cases hydrogen bonding plays a major role. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra reveal that a helicity of the proteins is reduced by increasing ZnO nanoparticle concentration although the α-helical structures of HMb and HRP retain their identity. On binding to the ZnO nanoparticles the secondary structure of HRP molecules (or HMb molecules) remains unchanged while there is a substantial change in the environment of the tyrosin active site in case of HRP molecules and tryptophan active site in case of HMb molecules. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied for the investigation the structure of HRP adsorbed in the environment of nanoparticles on the silicon and on the bare silicon. HRP molecules adsorb and aggregate on the mica with ZnO nanoparticle. The aggregation indicates an attractive interaction among the adsorbed molecules. The molecules are randomly distributed on the bare silicon wafer. The adsorption of HRP in the environment of ZnO nanoparticle changes drastically the domains due to a strong interaction between HRP and ZnO nanoparticles. Similar situation is observed in case of HMb molecules. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of biomedical applications of ZnO nanoparticles as well as in elucidating their mechanisms of action as drugs in both human and plant systems.

An analytic model for accurate spring constant calibration of rectangular atomic force microscope cantilevers.

PubMed

Li, Rui; Ye, Hongfei; Zhang, Weisheng; Ma, Guojun; Su, Yewang

2015-10-29

Spring constant calibration of the atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever is of fundamental importance for quantifying the force between the AFM cantilever tip and the sample. The calibration within the framework of thin plate theory undoubtedly has a higher accuracy and broader scope than that within the well-established beam theory. However, thin plate theory-based accurate analytic determination of the constant has been perceived as an extremely difficult issue. In this paper, we implement the thin plate theory-based analytic modeling for the static behavior of rectangular AFM cantilevers, which reveals that the three-dimensional effect and Poisson effect play important roles in accurate determination of the spring constants. A quantitative scaling law is found that the normalized spring constant depends only on the Poisson's ratio, normalized dimension and normalized load coordinate. Both the literature and our refined finite element model validate the present results. The developed model is expected to serve as the benchmark for accurate calibration of rectangular AFM cantilevers.

Tribological behavior of micro/nano-patterned surfaces in contact with AFM colloidal probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaoliang; Wang, Xiu; Kong, Wen; Yi, Gewen; Jia, Junhong

2011-10-01

In effort to investigate the influence of the micro/nano-patterning or surface texturing on the nanotribological properties of patterned surfaces, the patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces with pillars were fabricated by replica molding technique. The surface morphologies of patterned PDMS surfaces with varying pillar sizes and spacing between pillars were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The AFM/FFM was used to acquire the friction force images of micro/nano-patterned surfaces using a colloidal probe. A difference in friction force produced a contrast on the friction force images when the colloidal probe slid over different regions of the patterned polymer surfaces. The average friction force of patterned surface was related to the spacing between the pillars and their size. It decreased with the decreasing of spacing between the pillars and the increasing of pillar size. A reduction in friction force was attributed to the reduced area of contact between patterned surface and colloidal probe. Additionally, the average friction force increased with increasing applied load and sliding velocity.

Atomic force microscope characterization of self-assembly behaviors of cyclo[8] pyrrole on solid substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hai; Zhao, Siqi; Xiong, Xiang; Jiang, Jinzhi; Xu, Wei; Zhu, Daoben; Zhang, Yi; Liang, Wenjie; Cai, Jianfeng

2017-04-01

Cyclo [8] pyrrole (CP) is a porphyrin analogue containing eight α-conjugated pyrrole units which are arranged in a nearly coplanar conformation. The π-π interactions between CP molecules lead to regular aggregations through a solution casting process. Using tapping mode atomic force microscope (AFM), we investigated the morphology of self-assembled aggregates formed by deposition of different CP solutions on different substrates. We found that in the n-butanol solution, nanofibrous structures could be formed on the silicon or mica surface. Interestingly, on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface, or silicon and mica surface with a toluene solution, only irregular spherical structures were identified. The difference in the nanomorphology may be attributed to distinct interactions between molecule-molecule, molecule-solvent and molecule-substrate.

Observation of linear I-V curves on vertical GaAs nanowires with atomic force microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geydt, P.; Alekseev, P. A.; Dunaevskiy, M.; Lähderanta, E.; Haggrén, T.; Kakko, J.-P.; Lipsanen, H.

2015-12-01

In this work we demonstrate the possibility of studying the current-voltage characteristics for single vertically standing semiconductor nanowires on standard AFM equipped by current measuring module in PeakForce Tapping mode. On the basis of research of eight different samples of p-doped GaAs nanowires grown on different GaAs substrates, peculiar electrical effects were revealed. It was found how covering of substrate surface by SiOx layer increases the current, as well as phosphorous passivation of the grown nanowires. Elimination of the Schottky barrier between golden cap and the top parts of nanowires was observed. It was additionally studied that charge accumulation on the shell of single nanowires affects its resistivity and causes the hysteresis loops on I-V curves.

Automated AFM for small-scale and large-scale surface profiling in CMP applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zandiatashbar, Ardavan; Kim, Byong; Yoo, Young-kook; Lee, Keibock; Jo, Ahjin; Lee, Ju Suk; Cho, Sang-Joon; Park, Sang-il

2018-03-01

As the feature size is shrinking in the foundries, the need for inline high resolution surface profiling with versatile capabilities is increasing. One of the important areas of this need is chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process. We introduce a new generation of atomic force profiler (AFP) using decoupled scanners design. The system is capable of providing small-scale profiling using XY scanner and large-scale profiling using sliding stage. Decoupled scanners design enables enhanced vision which helps minimizing the positioning error for locations of interest in case of highly polished dies. Non-Contact mode imaging is another feature of interest in this system which is used for surface roughness measurement, automatic defect review, and deep trench measurement. Examples of the measurements performed using the atomic force profiler are demonstrated.

DNA G-segment bending is not the sole determinant of topology simplification by type II DNA topoisomerases.

PubMed

Thomson, Neil H; Santos, Sergio; Mitchenall, Lesley A; Stuchinskaya, Tanya; Taylor, James A; Maxwell, Anthony

2014-08-21

DNA topoisomerases control the topology of DNA. Type II topoisomerases exhibit topology simplification, whereby products of their reactions are simplified beyond that expected based on thermodynamic equilibrium. The molecular basis for this process is unknown, although DNA bending has been implicated. To investigate the role of bending in topology simplification, the DNA bend angles of four enzymes of different types (IIA and IIB) were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The enzymes tested were Escherichia coli topo IV and yeast topo II (type IIA enzymes that exhibit topology simplification), and Methanosarcina mazei topo VI and Sulfolobus shibatae topo VI (type IIB enzymes, which do not). Bend angles were measured using the manual tangent method from topographical AFM images taken with a novel amplitude-modulated imaging mode: small amplitude small set-point (SASS), which optimises resolution for a given AFM tip size and minimises tip convolution with the sample. This gave improved accuracy and reliability and revealed that all 4 topoisomerases bend DNA by a similar amount: ~120° between the DNA entering and exiting the enzyme complex. These data indicate that DNA bending alone is insufficient to explain topology simplification and that the 'exit gate' may be an important determinant of this process.

DNA G-segment bending is not the sole determinant of topology simplification by type II DNA topoisomerases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomson, Neil H.; Santos, Sergio; Mitchenall, Lesley A.; Stuchinskaya, Tanya; Taylor, James A.; Maxwell, Anthony

2014-08-01

DNA topoisomerases control the topology of DNA. Type II topoisomerases exhibit topology simplification, whereby products of their reactions are simplified beyond that expected based on thermodynamic equilibrium. The molecular basis for this process is unknown, although DNA bending has been implicated. To investigate the role of bending in topology simplification, the DNA bend angles of four enzymes of different types (IIA and IIB) were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The enzymes tested were Escherichia coli topo IV and yeast topo II (type IIA enzymes that exhibit topology simplification), and Methanosarcina mazei topo VI and Sulfolobus shibatae topo VI (type IIB enzymes, which do not). Bend angles were measured using the manual tangent method from topographical AFM images taken with a novel amplitude-modulated imaging mode: small amplitude small set-point (SASS), which optimises resolution for a given AFM tip size and minimises tip convolution with the sample. This gave improved accuracy and reliability and revealed that all 4 topoisomerases bend DNA by a similar amount: ~120° between the DNA entering and exiting the enzyme complex. These data indicate that DNA bending alone is insufficient to explain topology simplification and that the `exit gate' may be an important determinant of this process.

Investigation into local cell mechanics by atomic force microscopy mapping and optical tweezer vertical indentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coceano, G.; Yousafzai, M. S.; Ma, W.; Ndoye, F.; Venturelli, L.; Hussain, I.; Bonin, S.; Niemela, J.; Scoles, G.; Cojoc, D.; Ferrari, E.

2016-02-01

Investigating the mechanical properties of cells could reveal a potential source of label-free markers of cancer progression, based on measurable viscoelastic parameters. The Young’s modulus has proved to be the most thoroughly studied so far, however, even for the same cell type, the elastic modulus reported in different studies spans a wide range of values, mainly due to the application of different experimental conditions. This complicates the reliable use of elasticity for the mechanical phenotyping of cells. Here we combine two complementary techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezer microscopy (OTM), providing a comprehensive mechanical comparison of three human breast cell lines: normal myoepithelial (HBL-100), luminal breast cancer (MCF-7) and basal breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells. The elastic modulus was measured locally by AFM and OTM on single cells, using similar indentation approaches but different measurement parameters. Peak force tapping AFM was employed at nanonewton forces and high loading rates to draw a viscoelastic map of each cell and the results indicated that the region on top of the nucleus provided the most meaningful results. OTM was employed at those locations at piconewton forces and low loading rates, to measure the elastic modulus in a real elastic regime and rule out the contribution of viscous forces typical of AFM. When measured by either AFM or OTM, the cell lines’ elasticity trend was similar for the aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells, which were found to be significantly softer than the other two cell types in both measurements. However, when comparing HBL-100 and MCF-7 cells, we found significant differences only when using OTM.

Staphylococcus aureus-Fibronectin Interactions with and without Fibronectin-Binding Proteins and Their Role in Adhesion and Desorption ▿

PubMed Central

Xu, Chun-Ping; Boks, Niels P.; de Vries, Joop; Kaper, Hans J.; Norde, Willem; Busscher, Henk J.; van der Mei, Henny C.

2008-01-01

Adhesion and residence-time-dependent desorption of two Staphylococcus aureus strains with and without fibronectin (Fn) binding proteins (FnBPs) on Fn-coated glass were compared under flow conditions. To obtain a better understanding of the role of Fn-FnBP binding, the adsorption enthalpies of Fn with staphylococcal cell surfaces were determined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Interaction forces between staphylococci and Fn coatings were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The strain with FnBPs adhered faster and initially stronger to an Fn coating than the strain without FnBPs, and its Fn adsorption enthalpies were higher. The initial desorption was high for both strains but decreased substantially within 2 s. These time scales of staphylococcal bond ageing were confirmed by AFM adhesion force measurement. After exposure of either Fn coating or staphylococcal cell surfaces to bovine serum albumin (BSA), the adhesion of both strains to Fn coatings was reduced, suggesting that BSA suppresses not only nonspecific but also specific Fn-FnBP interactions. Adhesion forces and adsorption enthalpies were only slightly affected by BSA adsorption. This implies that under the mild contact conditions of convective diffusion in a flow chamber, adsorbed BSA prevents specific interactions but does allow forced Fn-FnBP binding during AFM or stirring in ITC. The bond strength energies calculated from retraction force-distance curves from AFM were orders of magnitude higher than those calculated from desorption data, confirming that a penetrating Fn-coated AFM tip probes multiple adhesins in the outermost cell surface that remain hidden during mild landing of an organism on an Fn-coated substratum, like that during convective diffusional flow. PMID:18952882

Development and applications of optical interferometric micrometrology in the Angstrom and subangstrom range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lauer, James L.; Abel, Phillip B.

1988-01-01

The characteristics of the scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope (AFM) are briefly reviewed, and optical methods, mainly interferometry, of sufficient resolution to measure AFM deflections are discussed. The methods include optical resonators, laser interferometry, multiple-beam interferometry, and evanescent wave detection. Experimental results using AFM are reviewed.

Direct AFM observation of an opening event of a DNA cuboid constructed via a prism structure.

PubMed

Endo, Masayuki; Hidaka, Kumi; Sugiyama, Hiroshi

2011-04-07

A cuboid structure was constructed using a DNA origami design based on a square prism structure. The structure was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering. The real-time opening event of the cuboid was directly observed by high-speed AFM.

Electrical characterization of grain boundaries of CZTS thin films using conductive atomic force microscopy techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Muhunthan, N.; Singh, Om Pal; Toutam, Vijaykumar, E-mail: toutamvk@nplindia.org

2015-10-15

Graphical abstract: Experimental setup for conducting AFM (C-AFM). - Highlights: • Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} (CZTS) thin film was grown by reactive co-sputtering. • The electronic properties were probed using conducting atomic force microscope, scanning Kelvin probe microscopy and scanning capacitance microscopy. • C-AFM current flow mainly through grain boundaries rather than grain interiors. • SKPM indicated higher potential along the GBs compared to grain interiors. • The SCM explains that charge separation takes place at the interface of grain and grain boundary. - Abstract: Electrical characterization of grain boundaries (GB) of Cu-deficient CZTS (Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide) thin films wasmore » done using atomic force microscopic (AFM) techniques like Conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM). Absorbance spectroscopy was done for optical band gap calculations and Raman, XRD and EDS for structural and compositional characterization. Hall measurements were done for estimation of carrier mobility. CAFM and KPFM measurements showed that the currents flow mainly through grain boundaries (GB) rather than grain interiors. SCM results showed that charge separation mainly occurs at the interface of grain and grain boundaries and not all along the grain boundaries.« less

An observation of nanotwin lamellae in Cd 0.6Mn 0.4Te crystal by atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, M. A.; Azoulay, M.; Collins, W. E.; Burger, A.; Silberman, E.

1993-05-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to examine the structure of freshly cleaved Cd 0.6Mn 0.4Te surfaces. The present report complements previous results obtained with X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy which showed the existence of microtwins. The AFM analysis was performed under ambient conditions and yielded nanometer scale resolution images of single twin lamellae that ranged between 20 and 100 nm in width. This is a first observation using AFM of such a substructure, which we interpret as evidence for the presence of nonotwins.

AFM-IR: Technology and Applications in Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemical Imaging.

PubMed

Dazzi, Alexandre; Prater, Craig B

2016-12-13

Atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) is a rapidly emerging technique that provides chemical analysis and compositional mapping with spatial resolution far below conventional optical diffraction limits. AFM-IR works by using the tip of an AFM probe to locally detect thermal expansion in a sample resulting from absorption of infrared radiation. AFM-IR thus can provide the spatial resolution of AFM in combination with the chemical analysis and compositional imaging capabilities of infrared spectroscopy. This article briefly reviews the development and underlying technology of AFM-IR, including recent advances, and then surveys a wide range of applications and investigations using AFM-IR. AFM-IR applications that will be discussed include those in polymers, life sciences, photonics, solar cells, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and cultural heritage. In the Supporting Information , the authors provide a theoretical section that reviews the physics underlying the AFM-IR measurement and detection mechanisms.

The detection of hepatitis c virus core antigen using afm chips with immobolized aptamers.

PubMed

Pleshakova, T O; Kaysheva, A L; Bayzyanova, J М; Anashkina, А S; Uchaikin, V F; Ziborov, V S; Konev, V A; Archakov, A I; Ivanov, Y D

2018-01-01

In the present study, the possibility of hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCVcoreAg) detection in buffer solution, using atomic force microscope chip (AFM-chip) with immobilized aptamers, has been demonstrated. The target protein was detected in 1mL of solution at concentrations from 10 -10 М to 10 -13 М. The registration of aptamer/antigen complexes on the chip surface was carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The further mass-spectrometric (MS) identification of AFM-registered objects on the chip surface allowed reliable identification of HCVcoreAg target protein in the complexes. Aptamers, which were designed for therapeutic purposes, have been shown to be effective in HCVcoreAg detection as probe molecules. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanoscale visualization and characterization of Myxococcus xanthus cells with atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Pelling, Andrew E.; Li, Yinuo; Shi, Wenyuan; Gimzewski, James K.

2005-01-01

Multicellular microbial communities are the predominant form of existence for microorganisms in nature. As one of the most primitive social organisms, Myxococcus xanthus has been an ideal model bacterium for studying intercellular interaction and multicellular organization. Through previous genetic and EM studies, various extracellular appendages and matrix components have been found to be involved in the social behavior of M. xanthus, but none of them was directly visualized and analyzed under native conditions. Here, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging and in vivo force spectroscopy to characterize these cellular structures under native conditions. AFM imaging revealed morphological details on the extracellular ultrastructures at an unprecedented resolution, and in vivo force spectroscopy of live cells in fluid allowed us to nanomechanically characterize extracellular polymeric substances. The findings provide the basis for AFM as a useful tool for investigating microbial-surface ultrastructures and nanomechanical properties under native conditions. PMID:15840722

Application of Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy Techniques to Study Quantum Dots and Bio-materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guz, Nataliia

In recent years, there has been an increase in research towards micro- and nanoscale devices as they have proliferated into diverse areas of scientific exploration. Many of the general fields of study that have greatly affected the advancement of these devices includes the investigation of their properties. The sensitivity of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows detecting charges up to the single electron value in quantum dots in ambient conditions, the measurement of steric forces on the surface of the human cell brush, determination of cell mechanics, magnetic forces, and other important properties. Utilizing AFM methods, the fast screening of quantum dot efficiency and the differences between cancer, normal (healthy) and precancer (immortalized) human cells has been investigated. The current research using AFM techniques can help to identify biophysical differences of cancer cells to advance our understanding of the resistance of the cells against the existing medicine.

Multifunctional hydrogel nano-probes for atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Lee, Jae Seol; Song, Jungki; Kim, Seong Oh; Kim, Seokbeom; Lee, Wooju; Jackman, Joshua A.; Kim, Dongchoul; Cho, Nam-Joon; Lee, Jungchul

2016-01-01

Since the invention of the atomic force microscope (AFM) three decades ago, there have been numerous advances in its measurement capabilities. Curiously, throughout these developments, the fundamental nature of the force-sensing probe—the key actuating element—has remained largely unchanged. It is produced by long-established microfabrication etching strategies and typically composed of silicon-based materials. Here, we report a new class of photopolymerizable hydrogel nano-probes that are produced by bottom-up fabrication with compressible replica moulding. The hydrogel probes demonstrate excellent capabilities for AFM imaging and force measurement applications while enabling programmable, multifunctional capabilities based on compositionally adjustable mechanical properties and facile encapsulation of various nanomaterials. Taken together, the simple, fast and affordable manufacturing route and multifunctional capabilities of hydrogel AFM nano-probes highlight the potential of soft matter mechanical transducers in nanotechnology applications. The fabrication scheme can also be readily utilized to prepare hydrogel cantilevers, including in parallel arrays, for nanomechanical sensor devices. PMID:27199165

Crystal Initiation Structures in Developing Enamel: Possible Implications for Caries Dissolution of Enamel Crystals

PubMed Central

Robinson, Colin; Connell, Simon D.

2017-01-01

Investigations of developing enamel crystals using Atomic and Chemical Force Microscopy (AFM, CFM) have revealed a subunit structure. Subunits were seen in height images as collinear swellings about 30 nM in diameter on crystal surfaces. In friction mode they were visible as positive regions. These were similar in size (30–50 nM) to collinear spherical structures, presumably mineral matrix complexes, seen in developing enamel using a freeze fracturing/freeze etching procedure. More detailed AFM studies on mature enamel suggested that the 30–50 nM structures were composed of smaller units, ~10–15 nM in diameter. These were clustered in hexagonal or perhaps a spiral arrangement. It was suggested that these could be the imprints of initiation sites for mineral precipitation. The investigation aimed at examining original freeze etched images at high resolution to see if the smaller subunits observed using AFM in mature enamel were also present in developing enamel i.e., before loss of the organic matrix. The method used was freeze etching. Briefly samples of developing rat enamel were rapidly frozen, fractured under vacuum, and ice sublimed from the fractured surface. The fractured surface was shadowed with platinum or gold and the metal replica subjected to high resolution TEM. For AFM studies high-resolution tapping mode imaging of human mature enamel sections was performed in air under ambient conditions at a point midway between the cusp and the cervical margin. Both AFM and freeze etch studies showed structures 30–50 nM in diameter. AFM indicated that these may be clusters of somewhat smaller structures ~10–15 nM maybe hexagonally or spirally arranged. High resolution freeze etching images of very early enamel showed ~30–50 nM spherical structures in a disordered arrangement. No smaller units at 10–15 nM were clearly seen. However, when linear arrangements of 30–50 nM units were visible the picture was more complex but also smaller units including ~10–15 nM units could be observed. Conclusions: Structures ~10–15 nM in diameter were detected in developing enamel. While the appearance was complex, these were most evident when the 30–5 nM structures were in linear arrays. Formation of linear arrays of subunits may be associated with the development of mineral initiation sites and attendant processing of matrix proteins. PMID:28670283

The Atomic Force Microscopic (AFM) Characterization of Nanomaterials

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

Several Types of Microscopes ..................................................................................................7 8 OM on Mica Surface...12 9 AFM on Mica Surface...12 10 OM Images SWNTs on Mica After 1) 30 Minutes, b) 60

Mapping in vitro local material properties of intact and disrupted virions at high resolution using multi-harmonic atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Cartagena, Alexander; Hernando-Pérez, Mercedes; Carrascosa, José L; de Pablo, Pedro J; Raman, Arvind

2013-06-07

Understanding the relationships between viral material properties (stiffness, strength, charge density, adhesion, hydration, viscosity, etc.), structure (protein sub-units, genome, surface receptors, appendages), and functions (self-assembly, stability, disassembly, infection) is of significant importance in physical virology and nanomedicine. Conventional Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) methods have measured a single physical property such as the stiffness of the entire virus from nano-indentation at a few points which severely limits the study of structure-property-function relationships. We present an in vitro dynamic AFM technique operating in the intermittent contact regime which synthesizes anharmonic Lorentz-force excited AFM cantilevers to map quantitatively at nanometer resolution the local electro-mechanical force gradient, adhesion, and hydration layer viscosity within individual φ29 virions. Furthermore, the changes in material properties over the entire φ29 virion provoked by the local disruption of its shell are studied, providing evidence of bacteriophage depressurization. The technique significantly generalizes recent multi-harmonic theory (A. Raman, et al., Nat. Nanotechnol., 2011, 6, 809-814) and enables high-resolution in vitro quantitative mapping of multiple material properties within weakly bonded viruses and nanoparticles with complex structure that otherwise cannot be observed using standard AFM techniques.

Single molecule atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy of chitosan.

PubMed

Kocun, Marta; Grandbois, Michel; Cuccia, Louis A

2011-02-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and AFM-based force spectroscopy was used to study the desorption of individual chitosan polymer chains from substrates with varying chemical composition. AFM images of chitosan adsorbed onto a flat mica substrate show elongated single strands or aggregated bundles. The aggregated state of the polymer is consistent with the high level of flexibility and mobility expected for a highly positively charged polymer strand. Conversely, the visualization of elongated strands indicated the presence of stabilizing interactions with the substrate. Surfaces with varying chemical composition (glass, self-assembled monolayer of mercaptoundecanoic acid/decanethiol and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) were probed with chitosan modified AFM tips and the corresponding desorption energies, calculated from plateau-like features, were attributed to the desorption of individual polymer strands. Desorption energies of 2.0±0.3×10(-20)J, 1.8±0.3×10(-20)J and 3.5±0.3×10(-20)J were obtained for glass, SAM of mercaptoundecanoic/dodecanethiol and PTFE, respectively. These single molecule level results can be used as a basis for investigating chitosan and chitosan-based materials for biomaterial applications. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Progressing single biomolecule force spectroscopy measurements for the screening of DNA binding agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wenke; Barbagallo, Romina; Madden, Claire; Roberts, Clive J.; Woolford, Alison; Allen, Stephanie

2005-10-01

Recent studies have indicated that the force-extension properties of single molecules of double stranded (ds) DNA are sensitive to the presence of small molecule DNA binding agents, and also to their mode of binding. These observations raise the possibility of using this approach as a highly sensitive tool for the screening of such agents. However, particularly for studies employing the atomic force microscope (AFM), several non-trivial barriers hinder the progress of this approach to the non-specialist arena and hence also the full realization of this possibility. In this paper, we therefore address a series of key reproducibility and metrological issues associated with this type of measurement. Specifically, we present an improved immobilization method that covalently anchors one end (5' end) of a dual labelled (5'-thiol, 3'-biotin) p53 DNA molecule onto a gold substrate via gold-thiol chemistry, whilst the biotinylated 3' end is available for 'pick-up' using a streptavidin modified AFM tip. We also show that co-surface immobilization of DNA with 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) can also lead to a further increase the measured contour length. We demonstrate the impact of these improved protocols through the observation of the cooperative transition plateau in a DNA fragment of approximately 118 bp, a significantly smaller fragment than previously investigated. The results of a comparative study of the effects of a model minor groove binder (Hoechst 33258) and an intercalating drug (proflavine), alone, as a mixture and under different buffer conditions, are also presented.

Loading Mode and Environment Effects on Surface Profile Characteristics of Martensite Plates in Cu-Based SMAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suru, Marius-Gabriel; Paraschiv, Adrian-Liviu; Lohan, Nicoleta Monica; Pricop, Bogdan; Ozkal, Burak; Bujoreanu, Leandru-Gheorghe

2014-07-01

The present work reports the influence of the loading mode provided during training under constant stress, in bending, applied to lamellar specimens of Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys (SMAs). During training, the specimens were bent by a load fastened at their free end, while being martensitic at room temperature and they lifted the load by one-way effect (1WE), during heating up to austenitic field. On cooling to martensite field, the lower concave surface of bent specimens was compressed, and during heating it was elongated, being subjected to a series of tension-compression cycles, during heating-cooling, respectively. Conversely, the upper convex surface of bent specimens was elongated during cooling and compressed during heating, being subjected to compression-tension cycles. Furthermore, 2WE-trained actuators were tested by means of a hydraulic installation where, this time heating-cooling cycles were performed in oil conditions. Considering that the lower concave surface of the specimens was kept in compressed state, while the upper convex surface was kept in elongated state, the study reveals the influence of the two loading modes and environments on the width of martensite plates of the specimens trained under various numbers of cycles. In this purpose, Cu-Zn-Al specimens, trained under 100-300-500 cycles, were prepared and analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM and SEM, respectively). The analysis also included AFM micrographs corroborated with statistical evaluations in order to reveal the effects of loading mode (tension or compression) in different environmental conditions of the specimens, on the surface profile characteristics of martensite plates, revealed by electropolishing.

Probing physical properties at the nanoscale using atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ditzler, Lindsay Rachel

Techniques that measure physical properties at the nanoscale with high sensitivity are significantly limited considering the number of new nanomaterials being developed. The development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has lead to significant advancements in the ability to characterize physical properties of materials in all areas of science: chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology have made great scientific strides do to the versatility of the AFM. AFM is used for quantification of many physical properties such as morphology, electrical, mechanical, magnetic, electrochemical, binding interactions, and protein folding. This work examines the electrical and mechanical properties of materials applicable to the field of nano-electronics. As electronic devices are miniaturized the demand for materials with unique electrical properties, which can be developed and exploited, has increased. For example, discussed in this work, a derivative of tetrathiafulvalene, which exhibits a unique loss of conductivity upon compression of the self-assembled monolayer could be developed into a molecular switch. This work also compares tunable organic (tetraphenylethylene tetracarboxylic acid and bis(pyridine)s assemblies) and metal-organic (Silver-stilbizole coordination compounds) crystals which show high electrical conductivity. The electrical properties of these materials vary depending on their composition allowing for the development of compositionally tunable functional materials. Additional work was done to investigate the effects of molecular environment on redox active 11-ferroceneyl-1 undecanethiol (Fc) molecules. The redox process of mixed monolayers of Fc and decanethiol was measured using conductive probe atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy. As the concentration of Fc increased large, variations in the force were observed. Using these variations the number of oxidized molecules in the monolayer was determined. AFM is additionally capable of investigating interactions at the nanoscale, such as ligand-receptor interactions. This work examines the interactions between the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a widely investigated enzyme targeted for cancer and antimicrobial pharmaceutical, and methotrexate (MTX), a strong competitive inhibitor of DHFR. The DHFR was immobilized on a gold substrate, bound through a single surface cysteine, and maintained catalytic activity. AFM probe was functionalized with MTX and the interaction strength was measured using AFM. This work highlights the versatility of AFM, specifically force spectroscopy for the quantification of electrical, mechanical, and ligand-receptor interactions at the nanoscale.

Influence of the surface chemistry on TiO2 - TiO2 nanocontact forces as measured by an UHV-AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunze, Christian; Giner, Ignacio; Torun, Boray; Grundmeier, Guido

2014-03-01

Particle-wall contact forces between a TiO2 film coated AFM tip and TiO2(1 1 0) single crystal surfaces were analyzed by means of UHV-AFM. As a reference system an octadecylphosphonic acid monolayer covered TiO2(1 1 0) surface was studied. The defect chemistry of the TiO2 substrate was modified by Ar ion bombardment, water dosing at 3 × 10-6 Pa and an annealing step at 473 K which resulted in a varying density of Ti(III) states. The observed contact forces are correlated to the surface defect density and are discussed in terms of the change in the electronic structure and its influence on the Hamaker constant.

Development of Thin Films as Potential Structural Cathodes to Enable Multifunctional Energy-Storage Structural Composite Batteries for the U.S. Army’s Future Force

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

glancing angle X - ray diffraction (GAXRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical...Emission SEM FWHM full width at half maximum GAXRD glancing angle X - ray diffraction H3COCH2CH2OH 2-methoxyethanol LiMn2O4 lithium manganese oxide...were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X - ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition,

Method of mechanical holding of cantilever chip for tip-scan high-speed atomic force microscope

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fukuda, Shingo; Uchihashi, Takayuki; Ando, Toshio

In tip-scan atomic force microscopy (AFM) that scans a cantilever chip in the three dimensions, the chip body is held on the Z-scanner with a holder. However, this holding is not easy for high-speed (HS) AFM because the holder that should have a small mass has to be able to clamp the cantilever chip firmly without deteriorating the Z-scanner’s fast performance, and because repeated exchange of cantilever chips should not damage the Z-scanner. This is one of the reasons that tip-scan HS-AFM has not been established, despite its advantages over sample stage-scan HS-AFM. Here, we present a novel method ofmore » cantilever chip holding which meets all conditions required for tip-scan HS-AFM. The superior performance of this novel chip holding mechanism is demonstrated by imaging of the α{sub 3}β{sub 3} subcomplex of F{sub 1}-ATPase in dynamic action at ∼7 frames/s.« less

Unraveling protein-protein interactions in clathrin assemblies via atomic force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Jin, Albert J; Lafer, Eileen M; Peng, Jennifer Q; Smith, Paul D; Nossal, Ralph

2013-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), and single particle force spectroscopy (SPFS) are used to characterize intermolecular interactions and domain structures of clathrin triskelia and clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs). The latter are involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) and other trafficking pathways. Here, we subject individual triskelia, bovine-brain CCVs, and reconstituted clathrin-AP180 coats to AFM-SMFS and AFM-SPFS pulling experiments and apply novel analytics to extract force-extension relations from very large data sets. The spectroscopic fingerprints of these samples differ markedly, providing important new information about the mechanism of CCV uncoating. For individual triskelia, SMFS reveals a series of events associated with heavy chain alpha-helix hairpin unfolding, as well as cooperative unraveling of several hairpin domains. SPFS of clathrin assemblies exposes weaker clathrin-clathrin interactions that are indicative of inter-leg association essential for RME and intracellular trafficking. Clathrin-AP180 coats are energetically easier to unravel than the coats of CCVs, with a non-trivial dependence on force-loading rate. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Traceable quantum sensing and metrology relied up a quantum electrical triangle principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yan; Wang, Hengliang; Yang, Xinju; Wei, Jingsong

2016-11-01

Hybrid quantum state engineering in quantum communication and imaging1-2 needs traceable quantum sensing and metrology, which are especially critical to quantum internet3 and precision measurements4 that are important across all fields of science and technology-. We aim to set up a mode of traceable quantum sensing and metrology. We developed a method by specially transforming an atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) into a conducting atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) with a feedback control loop, wherein quantum entanglement enabling higher precision was relied upon a set-point, a visible light laser beam-controlled an interferometer with a surface standard at z axis, diffractometers with lateral standards at x-y axes, four-quadrant photodiode detectors, a scanner and its image software, a phase-locked pre-amplifier, a cantilever with a kHz Pt/Au conducting tip, a double barrier tunneling junction model, a STM circuit by frequency modulation and a quantum electrical triangle principle involving single electron tunneling effect, quantum Hall effect and Josephson effect5. The average and standard deviation result of repeated measurements on a 1 nm height local micro-region of nanomedicine crystal hybrid quantum state engineering surface and its differential pA level current and voltage (dI/dV) in time domains by using C-AFM was converted into an international system of units: Siemens (S), an indicated value 0.86×10-12 S (n=6) of a relative standard uncertainty was superior over a relative standard uncertainty reference value 2.3×10-10 S of 2012 CODADA quantized conductance6. It is concluded that traceable quantum sensing and metrology is emerging.

Nanostructure and force spectroscopy analysis of human peripheral blood CD4{sup +} T cells using atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu Mingqian; Wang Jiongkun; Cai Jiye

2008-09-12

To date, nanoscale imaging of the morphological changes and adhesion force of CD4{sup +} T cells during in vitro activation remains largely unreported. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the morphological changes and specific binding forces in resting and activated human peripheral blood CD4{sup +} T cells. The AFM images revealed that the volume of activated CD4{sup +} T cells increased and the ultrastructure of these cells also became complex. Using a functionalized AFM tip, the strength of the specific binding force of the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction was found to be approximately three times thatmore » of the unspecific force. The adhesion forces were not randomly distributed over the surface of a single activated CD4{sup +} T cell, indicated that the CD4 molecules concentrated into nanodomains. The magnitude of the adhesion force of the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction did not change markedly with the activation time. Multiple bonds involved in the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction were measured at different activation times. These results suggest that the adhesion force involved in the CD4 antigen-antibody interaction is highly selective and of high affinity.« less

Interfacial gas nanobubbles or oil nanodroplets?

PubMed

Wang, Xingya; Zhao, Binyu; Hu, Jun; Wang, Shuo; Tai, Renzhong; Gao, Xingyu; Zhang, Lijuan

2017-01-04

The existence of nanobubbles at a solid-liquid interface with high stability has been confirmed by myriad experimental studies, and their gaseous nature has also been extensively verified. However, nanodroplets of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) recently observed in the atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement of nanobubbles plague the nanobubble community. It may easily lead to wrong interpretations of the AFM results and thus hinders further application of the already widely used AFM in nanobubble studies. Therefore, finding a direct experimental solution to distinguish nanobubbles from nanodroplets in AFM measurements is a matter of great urgency. Herein, we first developed an effective and reproducible method to produce PDMS nanodroplets at the highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)/water interface. From their size, contact angle, and stiffness, the formed PDMS nanodroplets are not distinguishable from nanobubbles. However, the force curves on these two objects are strikingly different from each other, i.e., a peculiar plateau in both the approach and retraction curves was found on nanobubbles whereas they changed linearly between the jump-in and jump-off point on PDMS nanodroplets. Thus, the present study not only provided a simple and effective procedure to generate PDMS nanodroplets but also paved a simple practical and in situ way to discriminate nanobubbles from the PDMS nanodroplets by direct AFM force measurements.

On mapping subangstrom electron clouds with force microscopy.

PubMed

Wright, C Alan; Solares, Santiago D

2011-11-09

In 2004 Hembacher et al. (Science 2004, 305, 380-383) reported simultaneous higher-harmonics atomic force mocroscopy (AFM)/scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images acquired while scanning a graphite surface with a tungsten tip. They interpreted the observed subatomic features in the AFM images as the signature of lobes of increased electron density at the tungsten tip apex. Although these intriguing images have stirred controversy, an in-depth theoretical feasibility study has not yet been produced. Here we report on the development of a method for simulating higher harmonics AFM images and its application to the same system. Our calculations suggest that four lobes of increased electron density are expected to be present at a W(001) tip apex atom and that the corresponding higher harmonics AFM images of graphite can exhibit 4-fold symmetry features. Despite these promising results, open questions remain since the calculated amplitudes of the higher harmonics generated by the short-range forces are on the order of hundredths of picometers, leading to very small corrugations in the theoretical images. Additionally, the complex, intermittent nature of the tip-sample interaction, which causes constant readjustment of the tip and sample orbitals as the tip approaches and retracts from the surface, prevents a direct quantitative connection between the electron density and the AFM image features.

Compensator design for improved counterbalancing in high speed atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Bozchalooi, I S; Youcef-Toumi, K; Burns, D J; Fantner, G E

2011-11-01

High speed atomic force microscopy can provide the possibility of many new scientific observations and applications ranging from nano-manufacturing to the study of biological processes. However, the limited imaging speed has been an imperative drawback of the atomic force microscopes. One of the main reasons behind this limitation is the excitation of the AFM dynamics at high scan speeds, severely undermining the reliability of the acquired images. In this research, we propose a piezo based, feedforward controlled, counter actuation mechanism to compensate for the excited out-of-plane scanner dynamics. For this purpose, the AFM controller output is properly filtered via a linear compensator and then applied to a counter actuating piezo. An effective algorithm for estimating the compensator parameters is developed. The information required for compensator design is extracted from the cantilever deflection signal, hence eliminating the need for any additional sensors. The proposed approach is implemented and experimentally evaluated on the dynamic response of a custom made AFM. It is further assessed by comparing the imaging performance of the AFM with and without the application of the proposed technique and in comparison with the conventional counterbalancing methodology. The experimental results substantiate the effectiveness of the method in significantly improving the imaging performance of AFM at high scan speeds. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Compensator design for improved counterbalancing in high speed atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Bozchalooi, I. S.; Youcef-Toumi, K.; Burns, D. J.; Fantner, G. E.

2011-01-01

High speed atomic force microscopy can provide the possibility of many new scientific observations and applications ranging from nano-manufacturing to the study of biological processes. However, the limited imaging speed has been an imperative drawback of the atomic force microscopes. One of the main reasons behind this limitation is the excitation of the AFM dynamics at high scan speeds, severely undermining the reliability of the acquired images. In this research, we propose a piezo based, feedforward controlled, counter actuation mechanism to compensate for the excited out-of-plane scanner dynamics. For this purpose, the AFM controller output is properly filtered via a linear compensator and then applied to a counter actuating piezo. An effective algorithm for estimating the compensator parameters is developed. The information required for compensator design is extracted from the cantilever deflection signal, hence eliminating the need for any additional sensors. The proposed approach is implemented and experimentally evaluated on the dynamic response of a custom made AFM. It is further assessed by comparing the imaging performance of the AFM with and without the application of the proposed technique and in comparison with the conventional counterbalancing methodology. The experimental results substantiate the effectiveness of the method in significantly improving the imaging performance of AFM at high scan speeds. PMID:22128989

Compensator design for improved counterbalancing in high speed atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bozchalooi, I. S.; Youcef-Toumi, K.; Burns, D. J.; Fantner, G. E.

2011-11-01

High speed atomic force microscopy can provide the possibility of many new scientific observations and applications ranging from nano-manufacturing to the study of biological processes. However, the limited imaging speed has been an imperative drawback of the atomic force microscopes. One of the main reasons behind this limitation is the excitation of the AFM dynamics at high scan speeds, severely undermining the reliability of the acquired images. In this research, we propose a piezo based, feedforward controlled, counter actuation mechanism to compensate for the excited out-of-plane scanner dynamics. For this purpose, the AFM controller output is properly filtered via a linear compensator and then applied to a counter actuating piezo. An effective algorithm for estimating the compensator parameters is developed. The information required for compensator design is extracted from the cantilever deflection signal, hence eliminating the need for any additional sensors. The proposed approach is implemented and experimentally evaluated on the dynamic response of a custom made AFM. It is further assessed by comparing the imaging performance of the AFM with and without the application of the proposed technique and in comparison with the conventional counterbalancing methodology. The experimental results substantiate the effectiveness of the method in significantly improving the imaging performance of AFM at high scan speeds.

Minimizing pulling geometry errors in atomic force microscope single molecule force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Rivera, Monica; Lee, Whasil; Ke, Changhong; Marszalek, Piotr E; Cole, Daniel G; Clark, Robert L

2008-10-01

In atomic force microscopy-based single molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS), it is assumed that the pulling angle is negligible and that the force applied to the molecule is equivalent to the force measured by the instrument. Recent studies, however, have indicated that the pulling geometry errors can drastically alter the measured force-extension relationship of molecules. Here we describe a software-based alignment method that repositions the cantilever such that it is located directly above the molecule's substrate attachment site. By aligning the applied force with the measurement axis, the molecule is no longer undergoing combined loading, and the full force can be measured by the cantilever. Simulations and experimental results verify the ability of the alignment program to minimize pulling geometry errors in AFM-SMFS studies.

Microfabricated Electrical Connector for Atomic Force Microscopy Probes with Integrated Sensor/Actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, Terunobu; Staufer, Urs; Rooij, Nico F. de

2002-06-01

A microfabricated, electrical connector is proposed for facilitating the mounting of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes, which have an integrated sensor and/or actuator. Only a base chip, which acts as a socket, is permanently fixed onto a printed circuit board and electronically connected by standard wire bonding. The AFM chip, the “plug”, is flipped onto the base chip and pressed from the backside by a spring. Electrical contact with the eventual stress sensors, capacitive or piezoelectric sensor/actuators, is provided by contact bumps. These bumps of about 8 μm height are placed onto the base chip. They touch the pads on the AFM chip that were originally foreseen to be for wire bonding and thus provide the electrical contact. This connector schema was successfully used to register AFM images with piezoresistive cantilevers.

In situ nanomanipulators as a tool to separate individual tobermorite crystals for AFM studies.

PubMed

Yang, Tianhe; Holzer, Lorenz; Kägi, Ralf; Winnefeld, Frank; Keller, Bruno

2007-10-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies of cementitious materials are limited, mainly due to the lack of appropriate sample preparation techniques. In porous autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) is produced in its crystalline form, tobermorite. The crystals are lath-like with a length of several micrometers. In this work, we demonstrate the application of nanomanipulators to separate an individual tobermorite crystal from the bulk AAC for subsequent AFM investigations. The nanomanipulators are operated directly in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). We studied the interaction between moisture and the tobermorite surface under controlled relative humidity (RH). The results of topography and adhesion force measurements with AFM suggest that the surface of tobermorite is hydrophobic, which contrasts the macroscopic material properties (e.g. moisture transport in capillary pores).

Interplay between Switching Driven by the Tunneling Current and Atomic Force of a Bistable Four-Atom Si Quantum Dot.

PubMed

Yamazaki, Shiro; Maeda, Keisuke; Sugimoto, Yoshiaki; Abe, Masayuki; Zobač, Vladimír; Pou, Pablo; Rodrigo, Lucia; Mutombo, Pingo; Pérez, Ruben; Jelínek, Pavel; Morita, Seizo

2015-07-08

We assemble bistable silicon quantum dots consisting of four buckled atoms (Si4-QD) using atom manipulation. We demonstrate two competing atom switching mechanisms, downward switching induced by tunneling current of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and opposite upward switching induced by atomic force of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Simultaneous application of competing current and force allows us to tune switching direction continuously. Assembly of the few-atom Si-QDs and controlling their states using versatile combined AFM/STM will contribute to further miniaturization of nanodevices.

75 FR 20982 - University of Michigan, et al., Notice of Consolidated Decision on Applications for Duty-Free...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-22

... conventional AFM type silicon cantilevers as well as cantilevered optical fiber probes with exposed probed... probe and the ability to image in both NSOM and AFM with AC operating modes. We know of no instrument...

Atomic force microscopy of lead iodide crystal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, M. A.; Azoulay, M.; Jayatirtha, H. N.; Biao, Y.; Burger, A.; Collins, W. E.; Silberman, E.

1994-03-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the surface of lead iodide crystals. The high vapor pressure of lead iodide prohibits the use of traditional high resolution surface study techniques that require high vacuum conditions. AFM was used to image numerous insulating surface in various ambients, with very little sample preparation techniques needed. Freshly cleaved and modified surfaces, including, chemical and vacuum etched, and air aged surfaces, were examined. Both intrinsic and induced defects were imaged with high resolution. The results were compared to a similar AFM study of mercuric iodide surfaces and it was found that, at ambient conditions, lead iodide is significantly more stable than mercuric iodide.

Atomic Force Microscope Investigations of Bacterial Biofilms Treated with Gas Discharge Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vandervoort, Kurt; Zelaya, Anna; Brelles-Marino, Graciela

2012-02-01

We present investigations of bacterial biofilms before and after treatment with gas discharge plasmas. Gas discharge plasmas represent a way to inactivate bacteria under conditions where conventional disinfection methods are often ineffective. These conditions involve biofilm communities, where bacteria grow embedded in an exopolysaccharide matrix, and cooperative interactions between cells make organisms less susceptible to standard inactivation methods. In this study, biofilms formed by the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa were imaged before and after plasma treatment using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Through AFM images and micromechanical measurements we observed bacterial morphological damage and reduced AFM tip-sample surface adhesion following plasma treatment.

CO tip functionalization in subatomic resolution atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Minjung; Chelikowsky, James R.

2015-10-01

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) employing a CO-functionalized tip displays dramatically enhanced resolution wherein covalent bonds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon can be imaged. Employing real-space pseudopotential first-principles calculations, we examine the role of CO in functionalizing the nc-AFM tip. Our calculations allow us to simulate full AFM images and ascertain the enhancement mechanism of the CO molecule. We consider two approaches: one with an explicit inclusion of the CO molecule and one without. By comparing our simulations to existing experimental images, we ascribe the enhanced resolution of the CO functionalized tip to the special orbital characteristics of the CO molecule.

CO tip functionalization in subatomic resolution atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Minjung; Chelikowsky, James R.

2015-10-19

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) employing a CO-functionalized tip displays dramatically enhanced resolution wherein covalent bonds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon can be imaged. Employing real-space pseudopotential first-principles calculations, we examine the role of CO in functionalizing the nc-AFM tip. Our calculations allow us to simulate full AFM images and ascertain the enhancement mechanism of the CO molecule. We consider two approaches: one with an explicit inclusion of the CO molecule and one without. By comparing our simulations to existing experimental images, we ascribe the enhanced resolution of the CO functionalized tip to the special orbital characteristics of the CO molecule.

GTG banding pattern on human metaphase chromosomes revealed by high resolution atomic-force microscopy.

PubMed

Thalhammer, S; Koehler, U; Stark, R W; Heckl, W M

2001-06-01

Surface topography of human metaphase chromosomes following GTG banding was examined using high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM). Although using a completely different imaging mechanism, which is based on the mechanical interaction of a probe tip with the chromosome, the observed banding pattern is comparable to results from light microscopy and a karyotype of the AFM imaged metaphase spread can be generated. The AFM imaging process was performed on a normal 2n = 46, XX karyotype and on a 2n = 46, XY, t(2;15)(q23;q15) karyotype as an example of a translocation of chromosomal bands.

Large-Scale Fabrication of Carbon Nanotube Probe Tips For Atomic Force Microscopy Critical Dimension Imaging Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ye, Qi Laura; Cassell, Alan M.; Stevens, Ramsey M.; Meyyappan, Meyya; Li, Jun; Han, Jie; Liu, Hongbing; Chao, Gordon

2004-01-01

Carbon nanotube (CNT) probe tips for atomic force microscopy (AFM) offer several advantages over Si/Si3N4 probe tips, including improved resolution, shape, and mechanical properties. This viewgraph presentation discusses these advantages, and the drawbacks of existing methods for fabricating CNT probe tips for AFM. The presentation introduces a bottom up wafer scale fabrication method for CNT probe tips which integrates catalyst nanopatterning and nanomaterials synthesis with traditional silicon cantilever microfabrication technology. This method makes mass production of CNT AFM probe tips feasible, and can be applied to the fabrication of other nanodevices with CNT elements.

Probing fibronectin–antibody interactions using AFM force spectroscopy and lateral force microscopy

PubMed Central

Kulik, Andrzej J; Lee, Kyumin; Pyka-Fościak, Grazyna; Nowak, Wieslaw

2015-01-01

Summary The first experiment showing the effects of specific interaction forces using lateral force microscopy (LFM) was demonstrated for lectin–carbohydrate interactions some years ago. Such measurements are possible under the assumption that specific forces strongly dominate over the non-specific ones. However, obtaining quantitative results requires the complex and tedious calibration of a torsional force. Here, a new and relatively simple method for the calibration of the torsional force is presented. The proposed calibration method is validated through the measurement of the interaction forces between human fibronectin and its monoclonal antibody. The results obtained using LFM and AFM-based classical force spectroscopies showed similar unbinding forces recorded at similar loading rates. Our studies verify that the proposed lateral force calibration method can be applied to study single molecule interactions. PMID:26114080

Beyond topography - enhanced imaging of cometary dust with the MIDAS AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bentley, M. S.; Torkar, K.; Jeszenszky, H.; Romstedt, J.

2013-09-01

The MIDAS atomic force microscope (AFM) onboard the Rosetta spacecraft is primarily designed to return the 3D shape and structure of cometary dust particles collected at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko [1]. Commercial AFMs have, however, been further developed to measure many other sample properties. The possibilities to make such measurements with MIDAS are explored here.

Atomic force microscopy capable of vibration isolation with low-stiffness Z-axis actuation.

PubMed

Ito, Shingo; Schitter, Georg

2018-03-01

For high-resolution imaging without bulky external vibration isolation, this paper presents an atomic force microscope (AFM) capable of vibration isolation with its internal Z-axis (vertical) actuators moving the AFM probe. Lorentz actuators (voice coil actuators) are used for the Z-axis actuation, and flexures guiding the motion are designed to have a low stiffness between the mover and the base. The low stiffness enables a large Z-axis actuation of more than 700 µm and mechanically isolates the probe from floor vibrations at high frequencies. To reject the residual vibrations, the probe tracks the sample by using a displacement sensor for feedback control. Unlike conventional AFMs, the Z-axis actuation attains a closed-loop control bandwidth that is 35 times higher than the first mechanical resonant frequency. The closed-loop AFM system has robustness against the flexures' nonlinearity and uses the first resonance for better sample tracking. For further improvement, feedforward control with a vibration sensor is combined, and the resulting system rejects 98.4% of vibrations by turning on the controllers. The AFM system is demonstrated by successful AFM imaging in a vibrational environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[AFM fishing of proteins under impulse electric field].

PubMed

Ivanov, Yu D; Pleshakova, T O; Malsagova, K A; Kaysheva, A L; Kopylov, A T; Izotov, A A; Tatur, V Yu; Vesnin, S G; Ivanova, N D; Ziborov, V S; Archakov, A I

2016-05-01

A combination of (atomic force microscopy)-based fishing (AFM-fishing) and mass spectrometry allows to capture protein molecules from solutions, concentrate and visualize them on an atomically flat surface of the AFM chip and identify by subsequent mass spectrometric analysis. In order to increase the AFM-fishing efficiency we have applied pulsed voltage with the rise time of the front of about 1 ns to the AFM chip. The AFM-chip was made using a conductive material, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The increased efficiency of AFM-fishing has been demonstrated using detection of cytochrome b5 protein. Selection of the stimulating pulse with a rise time of 1 ns, corresponding to the GHz frequency range, by the effect of intrinsic emission from water observed in this frequency range during water injection into the cell.

Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) measurements and analysis on Sagem 05R0025 secondary substrate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Soufli, R; Baker, S L; Robinson, J C

2006-02-22

The summary of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) on Sagem 05R0025 secondary substrate: (1) 2 x 2 {micro}m{sup 2} and 10 x 10 {micro}m{sup 2} AFM measurements and analysis on Sagem 05R0025 secondary substrate at LLNL indicate rather uniform and extremely isotropic finish across the surface, with high-spatial frequency roughness {sigma} in the range 5.1-5.5 {angstrom} rms; (2) the marked absence of pronounced long-range polishing marks in any direction, combined with increased roughness in the very high spatial frequencies, are consistent with ion-beam polishing treatment on the surface. These observations are consistent with all earlier mirrors they measured from the samemore » vendor; and (3) all data were obtained with a Digital Instruments Dimension 5000{trademark} atomic force microscope.« less

Surface adhesion and confinement variation of Staphylococcus aurius on SAM surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amroski, Alicia; Olsen, Morgan; Calabrese, Joseph; Senevirathne, Reshani; Senevirathne, Indrajith

2012-02-01

Controlled surface adhesion of non - pathogenic gram positive strain, Staphylococcus aureus is interesting as a model system due to possible development of respective biosensors for prevention and detection of the pathogenic strain methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and further as a study for bio-machine interfacing. Self Assembled Monolayers (SAM) with engineered surfaces of linear thiols on Au(111) were used as the substrate. Sub cultured S. aureus were used for the analysis. The SAM layered surfaces were dipped in 2 -- 4 Log/ml S. aureus solution. Subsequent surface adhesion at different bacterial dilutions on surfaces will be discussed, and correlated with quantitative and qualitative adhesion properties of bacteria on the engineered SAM surfaces. The bacteria adhered SAM surfaces were investigated using intermittent contact, noncontact, lateral force and contact modes of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Nanohardness and Residual Stress in TiN Coatings.

PubMed

Hernández, Luis Carlos; Ponce, Luis; Fundora, Abel; López, Enrique; Pérez, Eduardo

2011-05-17

TiN films were prepared by the Cathodic arc evaporation deposition method under different negative substrate bias. AFM image analyses show that the growth mode of biased coatings changes from 3D island to lateral when the negative bias potential is increased. Nanohardness of the thin films was measured by nanoindentation, and residual stress was determined using Grazing incidence X ray diffraction. The maximum value of residual stress is reached at -100 V substrate bias coinciding with the biggest values of adhesion and nanohardness. Nanoindentation measurement proves that the force-depth curve shifts due to residual stress. The experimental results demonstrate that nanohardness is seriously affected by the residual stress.

Measurable characteristics of lysozyme crystal growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gorti, Sridhar; Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Pusey, Marc L.

2005-01-01

The behavior of protein crystal growth is estimated from measurements performed at both the microscopic and molecular levels. In the absence of solutal flow, it was determined that a model that balances the macromolecular flux toward the crystal surface with the flux of the crystal surface well characterizes crystal growth observed using microscopic methods. Namely, it was determined that the model provides accurate estimates for the crystal-growth velocities upon evaluation of crystal-growth measurements obtained in time. Growth velocities thus determined as a function of solution supersaturation were further interpreted using established deterministic models. From analyses of crystal-growth velocities, it was found that the mode of crystal growth varies with respect to increasing solution supersaturation, possibly owing to kinetic roughening. To verify further the hypothesis of kinetic roughening, crystal growth at the molecular level was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). From the AFM measurements, it was found that the magnitude of surface-height fluctuations, h(x), increases with increasing solution supersaturation. In contrast, the estimated characteristic length, xi, decreases rapidly upon increasing solution supersaturation. It was conjectured that the magnitude of both h(x) and xi could possibly determine the mode of crystal growth. Although the data precede any exact theory, the non-critical divergence of h(x) and xi with respect to increasing solution supersaturation was nevertheless preliminarily established. Moreover, approximate models to account for behavior of both h(x) and xi are also presented.

Silver nanowires for highly reproducible cantilever based AFM-TERS microscopy: towards a universal TERS probe.

PubMed

Walke, Peter; Fujita, Yasuhiko; Peeters, Wannes; Toyouchi, Shuichi; Frederickx, Wout; De Feyter, Steven; Uji-I, Hiroshi

2018-04-26

Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscopy is a unique analytical tool to provide complementary chemical and topographic information of surfaces with nanometric resolution. However, difficulties in reliably producing the necessary metallized scanning probe tips has limited its widespread utilisation, particularly in the case of cantilever-based atomic force microscopy. Attempts to alleviate tip related issues using colloidal or bottom-up engineered tips have so far not reported consistent probes for both Raman and topographic imaging. Here we demonstrate the reproducible fabrication of cantilever-based high-performance TERS probes for both topographic and Raman measurements, based on an approach that utilises noble metal nanowires as the active TERS probe. The tips show 10 times higher TERS contrasts than the most typically used electrochemically-etched tips, and show a reproducibility for TERS greater than 90%, far greater than found with standard methods. We show that TERS can be performed in tapping as well as contact AFM mode, with optical resolutions around or below 15 nm, and with a maximum resolution achieved in tapping-mode of 6 nm. Our work illustrates that superior TERS probes can be produced in a fast and cost-effective manner using simple wet-chemistry methods, leading to reliable and reproducible high-resolution and high-sensitivity TERS, and thus renders the technique applicable for a broad community.

Influence of growth temperature on laser molecular beam epitaxy and properties of GaN layers grown on c-plane sapphire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixit, Ripudaman; Tyagi, Prashant; Kushvaha, Sunil Singh; Chockalingam, Sreekumar; Yadav, Brajesh Singh; Sharma, Nita Dilawar; Kumar, M. Senthil

2017-04-01

We have investigated the influence of growth temperature on the in-plane strain, structural, optical and mechanical properties of heteroepitaxially grown GaN layers on sapphire (0001) substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy (LMBE) technique in the temperature range 500-700 °C. The GaN epitaxial layers are found to have a large in-plane compressive stress of about 1 GPa for low growth temperatures but the strain drastically reduced in the layer grown at 700 °C. The nature of the in-plane strain has been analyzed using high resolution x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. From AFM, a change in GaN growth mode from grain to island is observed at the high growth temperature above 600 °C. A blue shift of 20-30 meV in near band edge PL emission line has been noticed for the GaN layers containing the large in-plane strain. These observations indicate that the in-plane strain in the GaN layers is dominated by a biaxial strain. Using nanoindentation, it is found that the indentation hardness and Young's modulus of the GaN layers increases with increasing growth temperature. The results disclose the critical role of growth mode in determining the in-plane strain and mechanical properties of the GaN layers grown by LMBE technique.

Correlation Between Microstructure and Optical Properties of Cu (In0.7, Ga0.3) Se2 Grown by Electrodeposition Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chihi, Adel; Bessais, Brahim

2017-01-01

Polycrystalline thin films Cu (In0.7, Ga0.3) Se2 (CIGSe) were grown on copper foils at various cathodic potentials by using an electrodeposition technique. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the average diameter of CIGSe grains increase from 0.1 μm to 1 μm when the cathodic potential decreases. The structure and surface morphology were investigated by x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. This structure study shows that the thin films were well crystallized in a chalcopyrite structure without unwanted secondary phases with a preferred orientation along (112) plane. Energy-dispersive x-ray analyses confirms the existence of CIGSe single phase on a copper substrate. AFM analysis indicated that the root mean square roughness decreases from 64.28 to 27.42 when the potential deposition increases from -0.95 V to -0.77 V. Using Raman scattering spectroscopy, the A1 optical phonon mode was observed in 173 cm-1 and two other weak peaks were detected at 214 cm-1 and 225 cm-1 associated with the B2 and E modes of the CIGSe phase. Through spectroscopy ellipsometry analysis, a three-layer optical model was exploited to derive the optical properties and layer thickness of the CIGSe film by least-squares fitting the measured variation in polarization light versus the obtained microstructure.

Reversible electrochemical modification of the surface of a semiconductor by an atomic-force microscope probe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kozhukhov, A. S., E-mail: antonkozhukhov@yandex.ru; Sheglov, D. V.; Latyshev, A. V.

A technique for reversible surface modification with an atomic-force-microscope (AFM) probe is suggested. In this method, no significant mechanical or topographic changes occur upon a local variation in the surface potential of a sample under the AFM probe. The method allows a controlled relative change in the ohmic resistance of a channel in a Hall bridge within the range 20–25%.

Atomic force microscopy visualization of injuries in Enterococcus faecalis surface caused by Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers

PubMed Central

López-Jiménez, Lidia; Viñas, Miguel; Vinuesa, Teresa

2015-01-01

Aim: To visualize by Atomic Force Microscopy the alterations induced on Enterococcus. faecalis surface after treatment with 2 types of laser: Erbium chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser and Diode laser. Material and Methods: Bacterial suspensions from overnight cultures of E. faecalis were irradiated during 30 seconds with the laser-lights at 1 W and 2 W of power, leaving one untreated sample as control. Surface alterations on treated E. faecalis were visualized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and its surface roughness determined. Results: AFM imaging showed that at high potency of laser both cell morphology and surface roughness resulted altered, and that several cell lysis signs were easily visualized. Surface roughness clearly increase after the treatment with Er,Cr:YSGG at 2W of power, while the other treatments gave similar values of surface roughness. The effect of lasers on bacterial surfaces visualized by AFM revealed drastic alterations. Conclusions: AFM is a good tool to evaluate surface injuries after laser treatment; and could constitute a measure of antimicrobial effect that can complete data obtained by determination of microbial viability. Key words:Atomic force microscopy, Er,Cr:YSGG laser, diode laser, Enterococcus faecalis, surface roughness. PMID:25475770

Nanomechanics of multidomain neuronal cell adhesion protein contactin revealed by single molecule AFM and SMD.

PubMed

Mikulska-Ruminska, Karolina; Kulik, Andrej J; Benadiba, Carine; Bahar, Ivet; Dietler, Giovanni; Nowak, Wieslaw

2017-08-18

Contactin-4 (CNTN4) is a complex cell adhesion molecule (CAM) localized at neuronal membranes, playing a key role in maintaining the mechanical integrity and signaling properties of the synapse. CNTN4 consists of six immunoglobulin C2 type (IgC2) domains and four fibronectin type III (FnIII) domains that are shared with many other CAMs. Mutations in CNTN4 gene have been linked to various psychiatric disorders. Toward elucidating the response of this modular protein to mechanical stress, we studied its force-induced unfolding using single molecule atomic force microscopy (smAFM) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations. Extensive smAFM and SMD data both indicate the distinctive mechanical behavior of the two types of modules distinguished by unique force-extension signatures. The data also reveal the heterogeneity of the response of the individual FNIII and IgC2 modules, which presumably plays a role in the adaptability of CNTN4 to maintaining cell-cell communication and adhesion properties under different conditions. Results show that extensive sampling of force spectra, facilitated by robot-enhanced AFM, can help reveal the existence of weak stabilizing interactions between the domains of multidomain proteins, and provide insights into the nanomechanics of such multidomain or heteromeric proteins.

Multiscale Investigation of the Depth-Dependent Mechanical Anisotropy of the Human Corneal Stroma

PubMed Central

Labate, Cristina; Lombardo, Marco; De Santo, Maria P.; Dias, Janice; Ziebarth, Noel M.; Lombardo, Giuseppe

2015-01-01

Purpose. To investigate the depth-dependent mechanical anisotropy of the human corneal stroma at the tissue (stroma) and molecular (collagen) level by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Methods. Eleven human donor corneas were dissected at different stromal depths by using a microkeratome. Mechanical measurements were performed in 15% dextran on the surface of the exposed stroma of each sample by using a custom-built AFM in force spectroscopy mode using both microspherical (38-μm diameter) and nanoconical (10-nm radius of curvature) indenters at 2-μm/s and 15-μm/s indentation rates. Young's modulus was determined by fitting force curve data using the Hertz and Hertz-Sneddon models for a spherical and a conical indenter, respectively. The depth-dependent anisotropy of stromal elasticity was correlated with images of the corneal stroma acquired by two-photon microscopy. Results. The force curves were obtained at stromal depths ranging from 59 to 218 μm. At the tissue level, Young's modulus (ES) showed a steep decrease at approximately 140-μm stromal depth (from 0.8 MPa to 0.3 MPa; P = 0.03) and then was stable in the posterior stroma. At the molecular level, Young's modulus (EC) was significantly greater than at the tissue level; EC decreased nonlinearly with increasing stromal depth from 3.9 to 2.6 MPa (P = 0.04). The variation of microstructure through the thickness correlated highly with a nonconstant profile of the mechanical properties in the stroma. Conclusions. The corneal stroma exhibits unique anisotropic elastic behavior at the tissue and molecular levels. This knowledge may benefit modeling of corneal behavior and help in the development of biomimetic materials. PMID:26098472

Investigating single molecule adhesion by atomic force spectroscopy.

PubMed

Stetter, Frank W S; Kienle, Sandra; Krysiak, Stefanie; Hugel, Thorsten

2015-02-27

Atomic force spectroscopy is an ideal tool to study molecules at surfaces and interfaces. An experimental protocol to couple a large variety of single molecules covalently onto an AFM tip is presented. At the same time the AFM tip is passivated to prevent unspecific interactions between the tip and the substrate, which is a prerequisite to study single molecules attached to the AFM tip. Analyses to determine the adhesion force, the adhesion length, and the free energy of these molecules on solid surfaces and bio-interfaces are shortly presented and external references for further reading are provided. Example molecules are the poly(amino acid) polytyrosine, the graft polymer PI-g-PS and the phospholipid POPE (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine). These molecules are desorbed from different surfaces like CH3-SAMs, hydrogen terminated diamond and supported lipid bilayers under various solvent conditions. Finally, the advantages of force spectroscopic single molecule experiments are discussed including means to decide if truly a single molecule has been studied in the experiment.

Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Stetter, Frank W. S.; Kienle, Sandra; Krysiak, Stefanie; Hugel, Thorsten

2015-01-01

Atomic force spectroscopy is an ideal tool to study molecules at surfaces and interfaces. An experimental protocol to couple a large variety of single molecules covalently onto an AFM tip is presented. At the same time the AFM tip is passivated to prevent unspecific interactions between the tip and the substrate, which is a prerequisite to study single molecules attached to the AFM tip. Analyses to determine the adhesion force, the adhesion length, and the free energy of these molecules on solid surfaces and bio-interfaces are shortly presented and external references for further reading are provided. Example molecules are the poly(amino acid) polytyrosine, the graft polymer PI-g-PS and the phospholipid POPE (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine). These molecules are desorbed from different surfaces like CH3-SAMs, hydrogen terminated diamond and supported lipid bilayers under various solvent conditions. Finally, the advantages of force spectroscopic single molecule experiments are discussed including means to decide if truly a single molecule has been studied in the experiment. PMID:25867282

Stiffness nanotomography of human epithelial cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staunton, Jack R.; Doss, Bryant L.; Gilbert, C. Michael; Kasas, Sandor; Ros, Robert

2012-02-01

The mechanical stiffness of individual cells is important in both cancer initiation and metastasis. We present atomic force microscopy (AFM) based nanoindentation experiments on various human mammary and esophagus cell lines covering the spectrum from normal immortalized cells to highly metastatic ones. The combination of an AFM with a confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (FLIM) in conjunction with the ability to move the sample and objective independently allow for precise alignment of AFM probe and laser focus with an accuracy down to a few nanometers. This enables us to correlate the mechanical properties with the point of indentation in the FLIM image. We are using force-volume measurements as well as force indentation curves on distinct points on the cells to compare the elastic moduli of the nuclei, nucleoli, and the cytoplasm, and how they vary within and between individual cells and cell lines. Further, a detailed analysis of the force-indentation curves allows study of the cells' mechanical properties at different indentation depths and to generate 3D elasticity maps.

Cantilever spring constant calibration using laser Doppler vibrometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ohler, Benjamin

2007-06-15

Uncertainty in cantilever spring constants is a critical issue in atomic force microscopy (AFM) force measurements. Though numerous methods exist for calibrating cantilever spring constants, the accuracy of these methods can be limited by both the physical models themselves as well as uncertainties in their experimental implementation. Here we report the results from two of the most common calibration methods, the thermal tune method and the Sader method. These were implemented on a standard AFM system as well as using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV). Using LDV eliminates some uncertainties associated with optical lever detection on an AFM. It also offersmore » considerably higher signal to noise deflection measurements. We find that AFM and LDV result in similar uncertainty in the calibrated spring constants, about 5%, using either the thermal tune or Sader methods provided that certain limitations of the methods and instrumentation are observed.« less

Carbon nanotube modified probes for stable and high sensitivity conductive atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slattery, Ashley D.; Shearer, Cameron J.; Gibson, Christopher T.; Shapter, Joseph G.; Lewis, David A.; Stapleton, Andrew J.

2016-11-01

Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) is used to characterise the nanoscale electrical properties of many conducting and semiconducting materials. We investigate the effect of single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) modification of commercial Pt/Ir cantilevers on the sensitivity and image stability during C-AFM imaging. Pt/Ir cantilevers were modified with small bundles of SWCNTs via a manual attachment procedure and secured with a conductive platinum pad. AFM images of topography and current were collected from heterogeneous polymer and nanomaterial samples using both standard and SWCNT modified cantilevers. Typically, achieving a good current image comes at the cost of reduced feedback stability. In part, this is due to electrostatic interaction and increased tip wear upon applying a bias between the tip and the sample. The SWCNT modified tips displayed superior current sensitivity and feedback stability which, combined with superior wear resistance of SWCNTs, is a significant advancement for C-AFM.

Indentation of poroviscoelastic vocal fold tissue using an atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Heris, Hossein K; Miri, Amir K; Tripathy, Umakanta; Barthelat, Francois; Mongeau, Luc

2013-12-01

The elastic properties of the vocal folds (VFs) vary as a function of depth relative to the epithelial surface. The poroelastic anisotropic properties of porcine VFs, at various depths, were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation. The minimum tip diameter to effectively capture the local properties was found to be 25µm, based on nonlinear laser scanning microscopy data and image analysis. The effects of AFM tip dimensions and AFM cantilever stiffness were systematically investigated. The indentation tests were performed along the sagittal and coronal planes for an evaluation of the VF anisotropy. Hertzian contact theory was used along with the governing equations of linear poroelasticity to calculate the diffusivity coefficient of the tissue from AFM indentation creep testing. The permeability coefficient of the porcine VF was found to be 1.80±0.32×10(-15)m(4)/Ns. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A compact CCD-monitored atomic force microscope with optical vision and improved performances.

PubMed

Mingyue, Liu; Haijun, Zhang; Dongxian, Zhang

2013-09-01

A novel CCD-monitored atomic force microscope (AFM) with optical vision and improved performances has been developed. Compact optical paths are specifically devised for both tip-sample microscopic monitoring and cantilever's deflection detecting with minimized volume and optimal light-amplifying ratio. The ingeniously designed AFM probe with such optical paths enables quick and safe tip-sample approaching, convenient and effective tip-sample positioning, and high quality image scanning. An image stitching method is also developed to build a wider-range AFM image under monitoring. Experiments show that this AFM system can offer real-time optical vision for tip-sample monitoring with wide visual field and/or high lateral optical resolution by simply switching the objective; meanwhile, it has the elegant performances of nanometer resolution, high stability, and high scan speed. Furthermore, it is capable of conducting wider-range image measurement while keeping nanometer resolution. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Indentation of poroviscoelastic vocal fold tissue using an atomic force microscope☆

PubMed Central

Heris, Hossein K.; Miri, Amir K.; Tripathy, Umakanta; Barthelat, Francois; Mongeau, Luc

2013-01-01

The elastic properties of the vocal folds (VFs) vary as a function of depth relative to the epithelial surface. The poroelastic anisotropic properties of porcine VFs, at various depths, were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation. The minimum tip diameter to effectively capture the local properties was found to be 25 µm, based on nonlinear laser scanning microscopy data and image analysis. The effects of AFM tip dimensions and AFM cantilever stiffness were systematically investigated. The indentation tests were performed along the sagittal and coronal planes for an evaluation of the VF anisotropy. Hertzian contact theory was used along with the governing equations of linear poroelasticity to calculate the diffusivity coefficient of the tissue from AFM indentation creep testing. The permeability coefficient of the porcine VF was found to be 1.80 ± 0.32 × 10−15 m4/N s. PMID:23829979

Nanoscale monitoring of drug actions on cell membrane using atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Li, Mi; Liu, Lian-qing; Xi, Ning; Wang, Yue-chao

2015-01-01

Knowledge of the nanoscale changes that take place in individual cells in response to a drug is useful for understanding the drug action. However, due to the lack of adequate techniques, such knowledge was scarce until the advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM), which is a multifunctional tool for investigating cellular behavior with nanometer resolution under near-physiological conditions. In the past decade, researchers have applied AFM to monitor the morphological and mechanical dynamics of individual cells following drug stimulation, yielding considerable novel insight into how the drug molecules affect an individual cell at the nanoscale. In this article we summarize the representative applications of AFM in characterization of drug actions on cell membrane, including topographic imaging, elasticity measurements, molecular interaction quantification, native membrane protein imaging and manipulation, etc. The challenges that are hampering the further development of AFM for studies of cellular activities are aslo discussed. PMID:26027658

Applications of atomic force microscopy to the studies of biomaterials in biomolecular systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiang

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a unique tool for the studies of nanoscale structures and interactions. In this dissertation, I applied AFM to study transitions among multiple states of biomaterials in three different microscopic biomolecular systems: MukB-dependent DNA condensation, holdfast adhesion, and virus elasticity. To elucidate the mechanism of MukB-dependent DNA condensation, I have studied the conformational changes of MukB proteins as indicators for the strength of interactions between MukB, DNA and other molecular factors, such as magnesium and ParC proteins, using high-resolution AFM imaging. To determine the physical origins of holdfast adhesion, I have investigated the dynamics of adhesive force development of the holdfast, employing AFM force spectroscopy. By measuring rupture forces between the holdfast and the substrate, I showed that the holdfast adhesion is strongly time-dependent and involves transformations at multiple time scales. Understanding the mechanisms of adhesion force development of the holdfast will be critical for future engineering of holdfasts properties for various applications. Finally, I have examined the elasticity of self-assembled hepatitis B virus-like particles (HBV VLPs) and brome mosaic virus (BMV) in response to changes of pH and salinity, using AFM nanoindentation. The distributions of elasticity were mapped on a single particle level and compared between empty, RNA- and gold-filled HBV VLPs. I found that a single HBV VLP showed heterogeneous distribution of elasticity and a two-step buckling transition, suggesting a discrete property of HBV capsids. For BMV, I have showed that viruses containing different RNA molecules can be distinguished by mechanical measurements, while they are indistinguishable by morphology. I also studied the effect of pH on the elastic behaviors of three-particle BMV and R3/4 BMV. This study can yield insights into RNA presentation/release mechanisms, and could help us to design novel drug delivery vehicles.

Non-contact quantification of laser micro-impulse in water by atomic force microscopy and its application for biomechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosokawa, Yoichiroh

2011-12-01

We developed a local force measurement system of a femtosecond laser-induced impulsive force, which is due to shock and stress waves generated by focusing an intense femtosecond laser into water with a highly numerical aperture objective lens. In this system, the force localized in micron-sized region was detected by bending movement of a cantilever of atomic force microscope (AFM). Here we calculated the bending movement of the AFM cantilever when the femtosecond laser is focused in water at the vicinity of the cantilever and the impulsive force is loaded on the cantilever. From the result, a method to estimate the total of the impulsive force at the laser focal point was suggested and applied to estimate intercellular adhesion strength.

Early Adhesion of Candida albicans onto Dental Acrylic Surfaces.

PubMed

Aguayo, S; Marshall, H; Pratten, J; Bradshaw, D; Brown, J S; Porter, S R; Spratt, D; Bozec, L

2017-07-01

Denture-associated stomatitis is a common candidal infection that may give rise to painful oral symptoms, as well as be a reservoir for infection at other sites of the body. As poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) remains the main material employed in the fabrication of dentures, the aim of this research was to evaluate the adhesion of Candida albicans cells onto PMMA surfaces by employing an atomic force microscopy (AFM) single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) technique. For experiments, tipless AFM cantilevers were functionalized with PMMA microspheres and probed against C. albicans cells immobilized onto biopolymer-coated substrates. Both a laboratory strain and a clinical isolate of C. albicans were used for SCFS experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM imaging of C. albicans confirmed the polymorphic behavior of both strains, which was dependent on growth culture conditions. AFM force-spectroscopy results showed that the adhesion of C. albicans to PMMA is morphology dependent, as hyphal tubes had increased adhesion compared with yeast cells ( P < 0.05). C. albicans budding mother cells were found to be nonadherent, which contrasts with the increased adhesion observed in the tube region. Comparison between strains demonstrated increased adhesion forces for a clinical isolate compared with the lab strain. The clinical isolate also had increased survival in blood and reduced sensitivity to complement opsonization, providing additional evidence of strain-dependent differences in Candida-host interactions that may affect virulence. In conclusion, PMMA-modified AFM probes have shown to be a reliable technique to characterize the adhesion of C. albicans to acrylic surfaces.

Detection of percolating paths in polyhedral segregated network composites using electrostatic force microscopy and conductive atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waddell, J.; Ou, R.; Capozzi, C. J.; Gupta, S.; Parker, C. A.; Gerhardt, R. A.; Seal, K.; Kalinin, S. V.; Baddorf, A. P.

2009-12-01

Composite specimens possessing polyhedral segregated network microstructures require a very small amount of nanosize filler, <1 vol %, to reach percolation because percolation occurs by accumulation of the fillers along the edges of the deformed polymer matrix particles. In this paper, electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) were used to confirm the location of the nanosize fillers and the corresponding percolating paths in polymethyl methacrylate/carbon black composites. The EFM and C-AFM images revealed that the polyhedral polymer particles were coated with filler, primarily on the edges as predicted by the geometric models provided.

Conservative and dissipative force imaging of switchable rotaxanes with frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farrell, Alan A.; Fukuma, Takeshi; Uchihashi, Takayuki; Kay, Euan R.; Bottari, Giovanni; Leigh, David A.; Yamada, Hirofumi; Jarvis, Suzanne P.

2005-09-01

We compare constant amplitude frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) in ambient conditions to ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) experiments by analysis of thin films of rotaxane molecules. Working in ambient conditions is important for the development of real-world molecular devices. We show that the FM-AFM technique allows quantitative measurement of conservative and dissipative forces without instabilities caused by any native water layer. Molecular resolution is achieved despite the low Q-factor in the air. Furthermore, contrast in the energy dissipation is observed even at the molecular level. This should allow investigations into stimuli-induced sub-molecular motion of organic films.

Single cell adhesion force measurement for cell viability identification using an AFM cantilever-based micro putter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Yajing; Nakajima, Masahiro; Kojima, Seiji; Homma, Michio; Kojima, Masaru; Fukuda, Toshio

2011-11-01

Fast and sensitive cell viability identification is a key point for single cell analysis. To address this issue, this paper reports a novel single cell viability identification method based on the measurement of single cell shear adhesion force using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever-based micro putter. Viable and nonviable yeast cells are prepared and put onto three kinds of substrate surfaces, i.e. tungsten probe, gold and ITO substrate surfaces. A micro putter is fabricated from the AFM cantilever by focused ion beam etching technique. The spring constant of the micro putter is calibrated using the nanomanipulation approach. The shear adhesion force between the single viable or nonviable cell and each substrate is measured using the micro putter based on the nanorobotic manipulation system inside an environmental scanning electron microscope. The adhesion force is calculated based on the deflection of the micro putter beam. The results show that the adhesion force of the viable cell to the substrate is much larger than that of the nonviable cell. This identification method is label free, fast, sensitive and can give quantitative results at the single cell level.

Electron beam detection of a Nanotube Scanning Force Microscope.

PubMed

Siria, Alessandro; Niguès, Antoine

2017-09-14

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows to probe matter at atomic scale by measuring the perturbation of a nanomechanical oscillator induced by near-field interaction forces. The quest to improve sensitivity and resolution of AFM forced the introduction of a new class of resonators with dimensions at the nanometer scale. In this context, nanotubes are the ultimate mechanical oscillators because of their one dimensional nature, small mass and almost perfect crystallinity. Coupled to the possibility of functionalisation, these properties make them the perfect candidates as ultra sensitive, on-demand force sensors. However their dimensions make the measurement of the mechanical properties a challenging task in particular when working in cavity free geometry at ambient temperature. By using a focused electron beam, we show that the mechanical response of nanotubes can be quantitatively measured while approaching to a surface sample. By coupling electron beam detection of individual nanotubes with a custom AFM we image the surface topography of a sample by continuously measuring the mechanical properties of the nanoresonators. The combination of very small size and mass together with the high resolution of the electron beam detection method offers unprecedented opportunities for the development of a new class of nanotube-based scanning force microscopy.

Local Viscoelastic Properties of Live Cells Investigated Using Dynamic and Quasi-Static Atomic Force Microscopy Methods

PubMed Central

Cartagena, Alexander; Raman, Arvind

2014-01-01

The measurement of viscoelasticity of cells in physiological environments with high spatio-temporal resolution is a key goal in cell mechanobiology. Traditionally only the elastic properties have been measured from quasi-static force-distance curves using the atomic force microscope (AFM). Recently, dynamic AFM-based methods have been proposed to map the local in vitro viscoelastic properties of living cells with nanoscale resolution. However, the differences in viscoelastic properties estimated from such dynamic and traditional quasi-static techniques are poorly understood. In this work we quantitatively reconstruct the local force and dissipation gradients (viscoelasticity) on live fibroblast cells in buffer solutions using Lorentz force excited cantilevers and present a careful comparison between mechanical properties (local stiffness and damping) extracted using dynamic and quasi-static force spectroscopy methods. The results highlight the dependence of measured viscoelastic properties on both the frequency at which the chosen technique operates as well as the interactions with subcellular components beyond certain indentation depth, both of which are responsible for differences between the viscoelasticity property maps acquired using the dynamic AFM method against the quasi-static measurements. PMID:24606928

Wideband digital frequency detector with subtraction-based phase comparator for frequency modulation atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Mitani, Yuji; Kubo, Mamoru; Muramoto, Ken-ichiro; Fukuma, Takeshi

2009-08-01

We have developed a wideband digital frequency detector for high-speed frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). We used a subtraction-based phase comparator (PC) in a phase-locked loop circuit instead of a commonly used multiplication-based PC, which has enhanced the detection bandwidth to 100 kHz. The quantitative analysis of the noise performance revealed that the internal noise from the developed detector is small enough to provide the theoretically limited noise performance in FM-AFM experiments in liquid. FM-AFM imaging of mica in liquid was performed with the developed detector, showing its stability and applicability to true atomic-resolution imaging in liquid.

Correlating yeast cell stress physiology to changes in the cell surface morphology: atomic force microscopic studies.

PubMed

Canetta, Elisabetta; Walker, Graeme M; Adya, Ashok K

2006-07-06

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a powerful biophysical tool in biotechnology and medicine to investigate the morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of yeasts and other biological systems. However, properties such as, yeasts' response to environmental stresses, metabolic activities of pathogenic yeasts, cell-cell/cell-substrate adhesion, and cell-flocculation have rarely been investigated so far by using biophysical tools. Our recent results obtained by AFM on one strain each of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe show a clear correlation between the physiology of environmentally stressed yeasts and the changes in their surface morphology. The future directions of the AFM related techniques in relation to yeasts are also discussed.

Atomic force microscopic study of the effects of ethanol on yeast cell surface morphology.

PubMed

Canetta, Elisabetta; Adya, Ashok K; Walker, Graeme M

2006-02-01

The detrimental effects of ethanol toxicity on the cell surface morphology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain NCYC 1681) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (strain DVPB 1354) were investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). In combination with culture viability and mean cell volume measurements AFM studies allowed us to relate the cell surface morphological changes, observed on nanometer lateral resolution, with the cellular stress physiology. Exposing yeasts to increasing stressful concentrations of ethanol led to decreased cell viabilities and mean cell volumes. Together with the roughness and bearing volume analyses of the AFM images, the results provided novel insight into the relative ethanol tolerance of S. cerevisiae and Sc. pombe.

Imaging powders with the atomic force microscope: from biominerals to commercial materials.

PubMed

Friedbacher, G; Hansma, P K; Ramli, E; Stucky, G D

1991-09-13

Atomically resolved images of pressed powder samples have been obtained with the atomic force microscope (AFM). The technique was successful in resolving the particle, domain, and atomic structure of pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) and sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) shells and of commercially available calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) and strontium carbonate (SrCO(3)) powders. Grinding and subsequent pressing of the shells did not destroy the microstructure of these materials. The atomic-resolution imaging capabilities of AFM can be applied to polycrystalline samples by means of pressing powders with a grain size as small as 50 micrometers. These results illustrate that the AFM is a promising tool for material science and the study of biomineralization.

AFM combined to ATR-FTIR reveals Candida cell wall changes under caspofungin treatment.

PubMed

Quilès, Fabienne; Accoceberry, Isabelle; Couzigou, Célia; Francius, Grégory; Noël, Thierry; El-Kirat-Chatel, Sofiane

2017-09-21

Fungal pathogens from Candida genus are responsible for severe life-threatening infections and the antifungal arsenal is still limited. Caspofungin, an antifungal drug used for human therapy, acts as a blocking agent of the cell wall synthesis by inhibiting the β-1,3-glucan-synthase encoded by FKS genes. Despite its efficiency, the number of genetic mutants that are resistant to caspofungin is increasing. An important challenge to improve antifungal therapy is to understand cellular phenomenon that are associated with drug resistance. Here we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) to decipher the effect of low and high drug concentration on the morphology, mechanics and cell wall composition of two Candida strains, one susceptible and one resistant to caspofungin. Our results confirm that caspofungin induces a dramatic cell wall remodelling via activation of stress responses, even at high drug concentration. Additionally, we highlighted unexpected changes related to drug resistance, suggesting that caspofungin resistance associated with FKS gene mutations comes from a combination of effects: (i) an overall remodelling of yeast cell wall composition; and (ii) cell wall stiffening through chitin synthesis. This work demonstrates that AFM combined to ATR-FTIR is a valuable approach to understand at the molecular scale the biological mechanisms associated with drug resistance.

Photomask applications of traceable atomic force microscope dimensional metrology at NIST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dixson, Ronald; Orji, Ndubuisi G.; Potzick, James; Fu, Joseph; Allen, Richard A.; Cresswell, Michael; Smith, Stewart; Walton, Anthony J.; Tsiamis, Andreas

2007-10-01

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a multifaceted program in atomic force microscope (AFM) dimensional metrology. Three major instruments are being used for traceable measurements. The first is a custom in-house metrology AFM, called the calibrated AFM (C-AFM), the second is the first generation of commercially available critical dimension AFM (CD-AFM), and the third is a current generation CD-AFM at SEMATECH - for which NIST has established the calibration and uncertainties. All of these instruments have useful applications in photomask metrology. Linewidth reference metrology is an important application of CD-AFM. We have performed a preliminary comparison of linewidths measured by CD-AFM and by electrical resistance metrology on a binary mask. For the ten selected test structures with on-mask linewidths between 350 nm and 600 nm, most of the observed differences were less than 5 nm, and all of them were less than 10 nm. The offsets were often within the estimated uncertainties of the AFM measurements, without accounting for the effect of linewidth roughness or the uncertainties of electrical measurements. The most recent release of the NIST photomask standard - which is Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2059 - was also supported by CD-AFM reference measurements. We review the recent advances in AFM linewidth metrology that will reduce the uncertainty of AFM measurements on this and future generations of the NIST photomask standard. The NIST C-AFM has displacement metrology for all three axes traceable to the 633 nm wavelength of the iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser. One of the important applications of the C-AFM is step height metrology, which has some relevance to phase shift calibration. In the current generation of the system, the approximate level of relative standard uncertainty for step height measurements at the 100 nm scale is 0.1 %. We discuss the monitor history of a 290 nm step height, originally measured on the C-AFM with a 1.9 nm (k = 2) expanded uncertainty, and describe advances that bring the step height uncertainty of recent measurements to an estimated 0.6 nm (k = 2). Based on this work, we expect to be able to reduce the topographic component of phase uncertainty in alternating aperture phase shift masks (AAPSM) by a factor of three compared to current calibrations based on earlier generation step height references.

Space charge limited current measurements on conjugated polymer films using conductive atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Reid, Obadiah G; Munechika, Keiko; Ginger, David S

2008-06-01

We describe local (~150 nm resolution), quantitative measurements of charge carrier mobility in conjugated polymer films that are commonly used in thin-film transistors and nanostructured solar cells. We measure space charge limited currents (SCLC) through these films using conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) and in macroscopic diodes. The current densities we measure with c-AFM are substantially higher than those observed in planar devices at the same bias. This leads to an overestimation of carrier mobility by up to 3 orders of magnitude when using the standard Mott-Gurney law to fit the c-AFM data. We reconcile this apparent discrepancy between c-AFM and planar device measurements by accounting for the proper tip-sample geometry using finite element simulations of tip-sample currents. We show that a semiempirical scaling factor based on the ratio of the tip contact area diameter to the sample thickness can be used to correct c-AFM current-voltage curves and thus extract mobilities that are in good agreement with values measured in the conventional planar device geometry.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miranda, Adelaide; De Beule, Pieter A. A., E-mail: pieter.de-beule@inl.int; Martins, Marco

Combined microscopy techniques offer the life science research community a powerful tool to investigate complex biological systems and their interactions. Here, we present a new combined microscopy platform based on fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy through aperture correlation microscopy with a Differential Spinning Disk (DSD) and nanomechanical mapping with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The illumination scheme of the DSD microscope unit, contrary to standard single or multi-point confocal microscopes, provides a time-independent illumination of the AFM cantilever. This enables a distortion-free simultaneous operation of fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy and atomic force microscopy with standard probes. In this context, we discussmore » sample heating due to AFM cantilever illumination with fluorescence excitation light. Integration of a DSD fluorescence optical sectioning unit with an AFM platform requires mitigation of mechanical noise transfer of the spinning disk. We identify and present two solutions to almost annul this noise in the AFM measurement process. The new combined microscopy platform is applied to the characterization of a DOPC/DOPS (4:1) lipid structures labelled with a lipophilic cationic indocarbocyanine dye deposited on a mica substrate.« less

Atomic force microscopy for cellular level manipulation: imaging intracellular structures and DNA delivery through a membrane hole.

PubMed

Afrin, Rehana; Zohora, Umme Salma; Uehara, Hironori; Watanabe-Nakayama, Takahiro; Ikai, Atsushi

2009-01-01

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a versatile tool for imaging, force measurement and manipulation of proteins, DNA, and living cells basically at the single molecular level. In the cellular level manipulation, extraction, and identification of mRNA's from defined loci of a cell, insertion of plasmid DNA and pulling of membrane proteins, for example, have been reported. In this study, AFM was used to create holes at defined loci on the cell membrane for the investigation of viability of the cells after hole creation, visualization of intracellular structure through the hole and for targeted gene delivery into living cells. To create large holes with an approximate diameter of 5-10 microm, a phospholipase A(2) coated bead was added to the AFM cantilever and the bead was allowed to touch the cell surface for approximately 5-10 min. The evidence of hole creation was obtained mainly from fluorescent image of Vybrant DiO labeled cell before and after the contact with the bead and the AFM imaging of the contact area. In parallel, cells with a hole were imaged by AFM to reveal intracellular structures such as filamentous structures presumably actin fibers and mitochondria which were identified with fluorescent labeling with rhodamine 123. Targeted gene delivery was also attempted by inserting an AFM probe that was coated with the Monster Green Fluorescent Protein phMGFP Vector for transfection of the cell. Following targeted transfection, the gene expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was observed and confirmed by the fluorescence microscope. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ascent of atomic force microscopy as a nanoanalytical tool for exosomes and other extracellular vesicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, S.; LeClaire, M.; Gimzewski, J. K.

2018-04-01

Over the last 30 years, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has made several significant contributions to the field of biology and medicine. In this review, we draw our attention to the recent applications and promise of AFM as a high-resolution imaging and force sensing technology for probing subcellular vesicles: exosomes and other extracellular vesicles. Exosomes are naturally occurring nanoparticles found in several body fluids such as blood, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid and urine. Exosomes mediate cell-cell communication, transport proteins and genetic content between distant cells, and are now known to play important roles in progression of diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative disorders and infectious diseases. Because exosomes are smaller than 100 nm (about 30-120 nm), the structural and molecular characterization of these vesicles at the individual level has been challenging. AFM has revealed a new degree of complexity in these nanosized vesicles and generated growing interest as a nanoscale tool for characterizing the abundance, morphology, biomechanics, and biomolecular make-up of exosomes. With the recent interest in exosomes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, AFM-based characterization promises to contribute towards improved understanding of these particles at the single vesicle and sub-vesicular levels. When coupled with complementary methods like optical super resolution STED and Raman, AFM could further unlock the potential of exosomes as disease biomarkers and as therapeutic agents.

Ion irradiation induced surface modification studies of polymers using SPM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tripathi, A.; Kumar, Amit; Singh, F.; Kabiraj, D.; Avasthi, D. K.; Pivin, J. C.

2005-07-01

Various types of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques: atomic force microscopy (AFM) (contact and tapping in height and amplitude mode), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and conducting atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) are used for studying ion beam induced surface modifications, nanostructure/cluster formation and disintegration in polymers and similar soft carbon based materials. In the present study, the results of studies on four materials, namely, (A) methyltriethoxysilane/phenyltriethoxysilane (MTES/PTES) based gel, (B) triethoxisilane (TH) based gel, (C) highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) bulk and (D) fullerene (C60) thin films are discussed. In the case of Si based gels prepared from pre-cursors containing organic groups (MTES/PTES), hillocks are observed at the surface and their size decreases from 70 to 25 nm with increasing fluence, whereas, in the case of a gel with a stoichiometry SiO1.25H1, prepared from TH, an increases in the size of hillocks is observed. Hillocks are also formed at the surface of HOPG irradiated with 120 MeV Au beam at a low fluence, whereas, formation of craters and a re-organisation of surface features is observed at a higher fluence. In the case of C60 films, 120 MeV Au ion irradiation induces the formation of conducting ion tracks, which is attributed to the transformation from insulating C60 to conducting graphite like carbon.

Distributed force probe bending model of critical dimension atomic force microscopy bias

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ukraintsev, Vladimir A.; Orji, Ndubuisi G.; Vorburger, Theodore V.; Dixson, Ronald G.; Fu, Joseph; Silver, Rick M.

2013-04-01

Critical dimension atomic force microscopy (CD-AFM) is a widely used reference metrology technique. To characterize modern semiconductor devices, small and flexible probes, often 15 to 20 nm in diameter, are used. Recent studies have reported uncontrolled and significant probe-to-probe bias variation during linewidth and sidewall angle measurements. To understand the source of these variations, tip-sample interactions between high aspect ratio features and small flexible probes, and their influence on measurement bias, should be carefully studied. Using theoretical and experimental procedures, one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) models of cylindrical probe bending relevant to carbon nanotube (CNT) AFM probes were developed and tested. An earlier 1-D bending model was refined, and a new 2-D distributed force (DF) model was developed. Contributions from several factors were considered, including: probe misalignment, CNT tip apex diameter variation, probe bending before snapping, and distributed van der Waals-London force. A method for extracting Hamaker probe-surface interaction energy from experimental probe-bending data was developed. Comparison of the new 2-D model with 1-D single point force (SPF) model revealed a difference of about 28% in probe bending. A simple linear relation between biases predicted by the 1-D SPF and 2-D DF models was found. The results suggest that probe bending can be on the order of several nanometers and can partially explain the observed CD-AFM probe-to-probe variation. New 2-D and three-dimensional CD-AFM data analysis software is needed to take full advantage of the new bias correction modeling capabilities.

Molecular Dynamic Simulations of Interaction of an AFM Probe with the Surface of an SCN Sample

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bune, Adris; Kaukler, William; Rose, M. Franklin (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations is conducted in order to estimate forces of probe-substrate interaction in the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). First a review of available molecular dynamic techniques is given. Implementation of MD simulation is based on an object-oriented code developed at the University of Delft. Modeling of the sample material - succinonitrile (SCN) - is based on the Lennard-Jones potentials. For the polystyrene probe an atomic interaction potential is used. Due to object-oriented structure of the code modification of an atomic interaction potential is straight forward. Calculation of melting temperature is used for validation of the code and of the interaction potentials. Various fitting parameters of the probe-substrate interaction potentials are considered, as potentials fitted to certain properties and temperature ranges may not be reliable for the others. This research provides theoretical foundation for an interpretation of actual measurements of an interaction forces using AFM.

Morphological changes in textile fibres exposed to environmental stresses: atomic force microscopic examination.

PubMed

Canetta, Elisabetta; Montiel, Kimberley; Adya, Ashok K

2009-10-30

The ability of the atomic force microscope (AFM) to investigate the nanoscopic morphological changes in the surfaces of fabrics was examined for the first time. This study focussed on two natural (cotton and wool), and a regenerated cellulose (viscose) textile fibres exposed to various environmental stresses for different lengths of times. Analyses of the AFM images allowed us to measure quantitatively the surface texture parameters of the environmentally stressed fabrics as a function of the exposure time. It was also possible to visualise at the nanoscale the finest details of the surfaces of three weathered fabrics and clearly distinguish between the detrimental effects of the imposed environmental conditions. This study confirmed that the AFM could become a very powerful tool in forensic examination of textile fibres to provide significant fibre evidence due to its capability of distinguishing between different environmental exposures or forced damages to fibres.

Nano-Bio-Mechanics of Neuroblastoma Cells Using AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bastatas, Lyndon; Matthews, James; Kang, Min; Park, Soyeun

2011-10-01

We have conducted an in vitro study to determine the elastic moduli of neurobalstoma cell lines using atomic force microscopy. Using a panel of cell lines established from neuroblastoma patients at different stages of disease progress and treatment, we have investigated the differences in elastic moduli during a course of cancer progression and chemotherapy. The cells were grown on the hard substrates that are chemically functionalized to enhance adhesion. We have performed the AFM indentation experiments with different applied forces from the AFM probe. For the purpose of the comparison between cell lines, the indentations were performed only on cell centers. The obtained force-distance curves were analyzed using the Hertz model in order to extract the elastic moduli. We have found that the elastic moduli of human neuroblastoma cells significantly varied during the disease progression. We postulate that the observed difference might be affected by the treatment and chemotherapy.

Atomic force microscopy on chromosomes, chromatin and DNA: a review.

PubMed

Kalle, Wouter; Strappe, Padraig

2012-12-01

The purpose of this review is to discuss the achievements and progress that has been made in the use of atomic force microscopy in DNA related research in the last 25 years. For this review DNA related research is split up in chromosomal-, chromatin- and DNA focused research to achieve a logical flow from large- to smaller structures. The focus of this review is not only on the AFM as imaging tool but also on the AFM as measuring tool using force spectroscopy, as therein lays its greatest advantage and future. The amazing technological and experimental progress that has been made during the last 25 years is too extensive to fully cover in this review but some key developments and experiments have been described to give an overview of the evolution of AFM use from 'imaging tool' to 'measurement tool' on chromosomes, chromatin and DNA. Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface structure. Subatomic resolution force microscopy reveals internal structure and adsorption sites of small iron clusters.

PubMed

Emmrich, Matthias; Huber, Ferdinand; Pielmeier, Florian; Welker, Joachim; Hofmann, Thomas; Schneiderbauer, Maximilian; Meuer, Daniel; Polesya, Svitlana; Mankovsky, Sergiy; Ködderitzsch, Diemo; Ebert, Hubert; Giessibl, Franz J

2015-04-17

Clusters built from individual iron atoms adsorbed on surfaces (adatoms) were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) with subatomic resolution. Single copper and iron adatoms appeared as toroidal structures and multiatom clusters as connected structures, showing each individual atom as a torus. For single adatoms, the toroidal shape of the AFM image depends on the bonding symmetry of the adatom to the underlying structure [twofold for copper on copper(110) and threefold for iron on copper(111)]. Density functional theory calculations support the experimental data. The findings correct our previous work, in which multiple minima in the AFM signal were interpreted as a reflection of the orientation of a single front atom, and suggest that dual and triple minima in the force signal are caused by dimer and trimer tips, respectively. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ab initio simulations of subatomic resolution images in noncontact atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Minjung; Chelikowsky, James R.

2015-03-01

Direct imaging of polycyclic aromatic molecules with a subatomic resolution has recently been achieved with noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM). Specifically, nc-AFM employing a CO functionalized tip has provided details of the chemical bond in aromatic molecules, including the discrimination of bond order. However, the underlying physics of such high resolution imaging remains problematic. By employing new, efficient algorithms based on real space pseudopotentials, we calculate the forces between the nc-AFM tip and specimen. We simulate images of planar organic molecules with two different approaches: 1) with a chemically inert tip and 2) with a CO functionalized tip. We find dramatic differences in the resulting images, which are consistent with recent experimental work. Our work is supported by the DOE under DOE/DE-FG02-06ER46286 and by the Welch Foundation under Grant F-1837. Computational resources were provided by NERSC and XSEDE.

Manufacturing process of nanofluidics using afm probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karingula, Varun Kumar

A new process for fabricating a nano fluidic device that can be used in medical application is developed and demonstrated. Nano channels are fabricated using a nano tip in indentation mode on AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). The nano channels are integrated between the micro channels and act as a filter to separate biomolecules. Nano channels of 4 to7 m in length, 80nm in width, and at varying depths from 100nm to 850 nm allow the resulting device to separate selected groups of lysosomes and other viruses. Sharply developed vertical micro channels are produced from a deep reaction ion etching followed by deposition of different materials, such as gold and polymers, on the top surface, allowing the study of alternative ways of manufacturing a nanofluidic device. PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) bonding is performed to close the top surface of the device. An experimental setup is used to test and validate the device by pouring fluid through the channels. A detailed cost evaluation is conducted to compare the economical merits of the proposed process. It is shown that there is a 47:7% manufacturing time savings and a 60:6% manufacturing cost savings.

Study on the interaction of triadimenol with calf thymus DNA by multispectroscopic methods and molecular modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yepeng; Zhang, Guowen; Fu, Peng; Ma, Yadi; Zhou, Jia

2012-10-01

The binding mechanism of triadimenol (NOL) to calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was investigated by multispectroscopic methods including UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, coupled with viscosity measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. The results suggested that NOL interacted with ctDNA by intercalation mode. CD and AFM assays showed that NOL can damage the base stacking of ctDNA and result in regional cleavage of the two DNA strands. FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra coupled with molecular docking revealed that a specific binding mainly exists between NOL and G-C base pairs of the ctDNA where two hydrogen bonds form. Moreover, the association constants of NOL with DNA at three different temperatures were determined to be in the 103 L mol-1 range. The calculated thermodynamic parameters suggested that the binding of NOL to ctDNA was driven mainly by hydrogen bond and van der Waals.

Three-electrode self-actuating self-sensing quartz cantilever: design, analysis, and experimental verification.

PubMed

Chen, C Julian; Schwarz, Alex; Wiesendanger, Roland; Horn, Oliver; Müller, Jörg

2010-05-01

We present a novel quartz cantilever for frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) which has three electrodes: an actuating electrode, a sensing electrode, and a ground electrode. By applying an ac signal on the actuating electrode, the cantilever is set to vibrate. If the frequency of actuation voltage closely matches one of the characteristic frequencies of the cantilever, a sharp resonance should be observed. The vibration of the cantilever in turn generates a current on the sensing electrode. The arrangement of the electrodes is such that the cross-talk capacitance between the actuating electrode and the sensing electrode is less than 10(-16) F, thus the direct coupling is negligible. To verify the principle, a number of samples were made. Direct measurements with a Nanosurf easyPPL controller and detector showed that for each cantilever, one or more vibrational modes can be excited and detected. Using classical theory of elasticity, it is shown that such novel cantilevers with proper dimensions can provide optimized performance and sensitivity in FM-AFM with very simple electronics.

Evolution of the Copper Surface in the Course of Oxidation by CCl4-L (L=THF, Dmf, Dmso): Scanning Probe Microscope Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panteleev, S. V.; Maslennikov, S. V.; Ignatov, S. K.; Spirina, I. V.; Kruglova, M. V.; Gribkov, B. A.; Vdovichev, S. N.

2013-04-01

The evolution of compact surface of the 100 nm copper film deposited on the glass-ceramics doped with vanadium coating in the course of the oxidation by the CCl4-L (L = dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), CCl4 concentration ≈ 1 mol/L) was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode. The dynamics of active centers formation and destruction was investigated in the course of the oxidation process. The metallic sample dissolution rate was estimated as a function of the coordinating solvent nature. The development of the metal surface oxidation was established to lead to a significant increase of surface roughness. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that different parts of the surface react at different rates. Further course of the reaction leads to a significant decrease of the surface roughness of copper films. The amount of the metal reacted has an almost linear dependence on the reaction time. AFM scans indicate that there is the same mechanism of the reaction between copper and carbon tetrachloride for all solvents.

Improving the lateral resolution of quartz tuning fork-based sensors in liquid by integrating commercial AFM tips into the fiber end.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Laura; Martínez-Martín, David; Otero, Jorge; de Pablo, Pedro José; Puig-Vidal, Manel; Gómez-Herrero, Julio

2015-01-14

The use of quartz tuning fork sensors as probes for scanning probe microscopy is growing in popularity. Working in shear mode, some methods achieve a lateral resolution comparable with that obtained with standard cantilevered probes, but only in experiments conducted in air or vacuum. Here, we report a method to produce and use commercial AFM tips in electrically driven quartz tuning fork sensors operating in shear mode in a liquid environment. The process is based on attaching a standard AFM tip to the end of a fiber probe which has previously been sharpened. Only the end of the probe is immersed in the buffer solution during imaging. The lateral resolution achieved is about 6 times higher than that of the etched microfiber on its own.

Capillary force on a tilted cylinder: Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) measurements.

PubMed

Kosgodagan Acharige, Sébastien; Laurent, Justine; Steinberger, Audrey

2017-11-01

The capillary force in situations where the liquid meniscus is asymmetric, such as the one around a tilted object, has been hitherto barely investigated even though these situations are very common in practice. In particular, the capillary force exerted on a tilted object may depend on the dipping angle i. We investigate experimentally the capillary force that applies on a tilted cylinder as a function of its dipping angle i, using a home-built tilting Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) with custom made probes. A micrometric-size rod is glued at the end of an AFM cantilever of known stiffness, whose deflection is measured when the cylindrical probe is dipped in and retracted from reference liquids. We show that a torque correction is necessary to understand the measured deflection. We give the explicit expression of this correction as a function of the probes' geometrical parameters, so that its magnitude can be readily evaluated. The results are compatible with a vertical capillary force varying as 1/cosi, in agreement with a recent theoretical prediction. Finally, we discuss the accuracy of the method for measuring the surface tension times the cosine of the contact angle of the liquid on the probe. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nanophotonic Atomic Force Microscope Transducers Enable Chemical Composition and Thermal Conductivity Measurements at the Nanoscale [Nanophotonic AFM Transducers Enable Chemical Composition and Thermal Conductivity Measurements at the Nanoscale

DOE PAGES

Chae, Jungseok; An, Sangmin; Ramer, Georg; ...

2017-08-03

The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers a rich observation window on the nanoscale, yet many dynamic phenomena are too fast and too weak for direct AFM detection. Integrated cavity-optomechanics is revolutionizing micromechanical sensing; however, it has not yet impacted AFM. Here, we make a groundbreaking advance by fabricating picogram-scale probes integrated with photonic resonators to realize functional AFM detection that achieve high temporal resolution (<10 ns) and picometer vertical displacement uncertainty simultaneously. The ability to capture fast events with high precision is leveraged to measure the thermal conductivity (η), for the first time, concurrently with chemical composition at the nanoscalemore » in photothermal induced resonance experiments. The intrinsic η of metal–organic-framework individual microcrystals, not measurable by macroscale techniques, is obtained with a small measurement uncertainty (8%). The improved sensitivity (50×) increases the measurement throughput 2500-fold and enables chemical composition measurement of molecular monolayer-thin samples. In conclusion, our paradigm-shifting photonic readout for small probes breaks the common trade-off between AFM measurement precision and ability to capture transient events, thus transforming the ability to observe nanoscale dynamics in materials.« less

Nanophotonic Atomic Force Microscope Transducers Enable Chemical Composition and Thermal Conductivity Measurements at the Nanoscale [Nanophotonic AFM Transducers Enable Chemical Composition and Thermal Conductivity Measurements at the Nanoscale

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chae, Jungseok; An, Sangmin; Ramer, Georg

The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers a rich observation window on the nanoscale, yet many dynamic phenomena are too fast and too weak for direct AFM detection. Integrated cavity-optomechanics is revolutionizing micromechanical sensing; however, it has not yet impacted AFM. Here, we make a groundbreaking advance by fabricating picogram-scale probes integrated with photonic resonators to realize functional AFM detection that achieve high temporal resolution (<10 ns) and picometer vertical displacement uncertainty simultaneously. The ability to capture fast events with high precision is leveraged to measure the thermal conductivity (η), for the first time, concurrently with chemical composition at the nanoscalemore » in photothermal induced resonance experiments. The intrinsic η of metal–organic-framework individual microcrystals, not measurable by macroscale techniques, is obtained with a small measurement uncertainty (8%). The improved sensitivity (50×) increases the measurement throughput 2500-fold and enables chemical composition measurement of molecular monolayer-thin samples. In conclusion, our paradigm-shifting photonic readout for small probes breaks the common trade-off between AFM measurement precision and ability to capture transient events, thus transforming the ability to observe nanoscale dynamics in materials.« less

Fast, High Resolution, and Wide Modulus Range Nanomechanical Mapping with Bimodal Tapping Mode.

PubMed

Kocun, Marta; Labuda, Aleksander; Meinhold, Waiman; Revenko, Irène; Proksch, Roger

2017-10-24

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), also known as amplitude modulated (AM) or AC mode, is a proven, reliable, and gentle imaging mode with widespread applications. Over the several decades that tapping mode has been in use, quantification of tip-sample mechanical properties such as stiffness has remained elusive. Bimodal tapping mode keeps the advantages of single-frequency tapping mode while extending the technique by driving and measuring an additional resonant mode of the cantilever. The simultaneously measured observables of this additional resonance provide the additional information necessary to extract quantitative nanomechanical information about the tip-sample mechanics. Specifically, driving the higher cantilever resonance in a frequency modulated (FM) mode allows direct measurement of the tip-sample interaction stiffness and, with appropriate modeling, the set point-independent local elastic modulus. Here we discuss the advantages of bimodal tapping, coined AM-FM imaging, for modulus mapping. Results are presented for samples over a wide modulus range, from a compliant gel (∼100 MPa) to stiff materials (∼100 GPa), with the same type of cantilever. We also show high-resolution (subnanometer) stiffness mapping of individual molecules in semicrystalline polymers and of DNA in fluid. Combined with the ability to remain quantitative even at line scan rates of nearly 40 Hz, the results demonstrate the versatility of AM-FM imaging for nanomechanical characterization in a wide range of applications.

Phase-Imaging with a Sharpened Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube AFM Tip: Investigation of Low-k Dielectric Polymer Hybrids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Cattien V.; Stevens, Ramsey M.; Meyyappan, M.; Volksen, Willi; Miller, Robert D.

2005-01-01

Phase shift tapping mode scanning force microscopy (TMSFM) has evolved into a very powerful technique for the nanoscale surface characterization of compositional variations in heterogeneous samples. Phase shift signal measures the difference between the phase angle of the excitation signal and the phase angle of the cantilever response. The signal correlates to the tip-sample inelastic interactions, identifying the different chemical and/or physical property of surfaces. In general, the resolution and quality of scanning probe microscopic images are highly dependent on the size of the scanning probe tip. In improving AFM tip technology, we recently developed a technique for sharpening the tip of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) AFM tip, reducing the radius of curvature of the CNT tip to less than 5 nm while still maintaining the inherent stability of multi-walled CNT tips. Herein we report the use of sharpened (CNT) AFM tips for phase-imaging of polymer hybrids, a precursor for generating nanoporous low-k dielectrics for on-chip interconnect applications. Using sharpened CNT tips, we obtained phase-contrast images having domains less than 10 nm. In contrast, conventional Si tips and unsharpened CNT tips (radius greater than 15 nm) were not able to resolve the nanoscale domains in the polymer hybrid films. C1early, the size of the CNT tip contributes significantly to the resolution of phase-contrast imaging. In addition, a study on the nonlinear tapping dynamics of the multi-walled CNT tip indicates that the multi-walled CNT tip is immune to conventional imaging instabilities related to the coexistence of attractive and repulsive tapping regimes. This factor may also contribute to the phase-contrast image quality of multi-walled CNT AFM tips. This presentation will also offer data in support of the stability of the CNT tip for phase shift TMSFM.

Surfactant-mediated growth of cobalt on magnesium oxide(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson-Steigelman, Harry Trevor

Monolayer films of Co have been deposited using an electrostatic electron-beam evaporator on single-crystal MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° and MgO(111)-(1x1) substrates held at room temperature (RT), with subsequent annealing of temperatures 400°C to 800°C. These films have been characterized using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Upon RT deposition of Co, the LEED pattern of the substrate disappears and the XPS signal of MgO features reduce in intensity. After short anneals of 400°C, the LEED pattern returns and the MgO features increase in intensity. AFM images suggest that islanding has occurred at the surface. This conclusion is supported by the behavior of thicker films of Co on MgO(111), which showed pronounced changes in the MgO related XPS features. The behavior of the Mg 2p and O 1s features were analyzed and compared to previously reported reconstructions of the MgO(111)-(1x1) and MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° surfaces. Ag was examined as a potential surfactant to aid in the growth of smooth Co films. Ag was deposited onto MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates and investigated using XPS, LEED, and AFM. It was found that Ag formed islands upon annealing. Despite the fact that Ag formed islands, it was found that the presence of Ag did have a surfactant effect upon the thin-film growth of Co on Ag/MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates with 1-2 ML of Ag. Co islands were still present, but much more smooth than islands formed without the Ag surfactant. XPS peak intensity changes and AFM suggest strongly that Ag floated to the top of these samples at temperatures above 400°C. The Co growth mode appears to be Volmer-Weber island growth, as seen in AFM.

Evidence of the no-slip boundary condition of water flow between hydrophilic surfaces using atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Maali, Abdelhamid; Wang, Yuliang; Bhushan, Bharat

2009-10-20

In this study we present measurements of the hydrodynamic force exerted on a glass sphere glued to an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever approaching a mica surface in water. A large sphere was used to reduce the impact of the cantilever beam on the measurement. An AFM cantilever with large stiffness was used to accurately determine the actual contact position between the sphere and the sample surface. The measured hydrodynamic force with different approach velocities is in good agreement with the Taylor force calculated in the lubrication theory with the no-slip boundary conditions, which verifies that there is no boundary slip on the glass and mica surfaces. Moreover, a detailed procedure of how to subtract the electrostatic double-layer force is presented.

Nanomechanics of Cells and Biomaterials Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy.

PubMed

Kilpatrick, Jason I; Revenko, Irène; Rodriguez, Brian J

2015-11-18

The behavior and mechanical properties of cells are strongly dependent on the biochemical and biomechanical properties of their microenvironment. Thus, understanding the mechanical properties of cells, extracellular matrices, and biomaterials is key to understanding cell function and to develop new materials with tailored mechanical properties for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as an indispensable technique for measuring the mechanical properties of biomaterials and cells with high spatial resolution and force sensitivity within physiologically relevant environments and timescales in the kPa to GPa elastic modulus range. The growing interest in this field of bionanomechanics has been accompanied by an expanding array of models to describe the complexity of indentation of hierarchical biological samples. Furthermore, the integration of AFM with optical microscopy techniques has further opened the door to a wide range of mechanotransduction studies. In recent years, new multidimensional and multiharmonic AFM approaches for mapping mechanical properties have been developed, which allow the rapid determination of, for example, cell elasticity. This Progress Report provides an introduction and practical guide to making AFM-based nanomechanical measurements of cells and surfaces for tissue engineering applications. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Direct observation of the actin filament by tip-scan atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Narita, Akihiro; Usukura, Eiji; Yagi, Akira; Tateyama, Kiyohiko; Akizuki, Shogo; Kikumoto, Mahito; Matsumoto, Tomoharu; Maéda, Yuichiro; Ito, Shuichi; Usukura, Jiro

2016-01-01

Actin filaments, the actin–myosin complex and the actin–tropomyosin complex were observed by a tip-scan atomic force microscope (AFM), which was recently developed by Olympus as the AFM part of a correlative microscope. This newly developed AFM uses cantilevers of similar size as stage-scan AFMs to improve substantially the spatial and temporal resolution. Such an approach has previously never been possible by a tip-scan system, in which a cantilever moves in the x, y and z directions. We evaluated the performance of this developed tip-scan AFM by observing the molecular structure of actin filaments and the actin–tropomyosin complex. In the image of the actin filament, the molecular interval of the actin subunits (∼5.5 nm) was clearly observed as stripes. From the shape of the stripes, the polarity of the actin filament was directly determined and the results were consistent with the polarity determined by myosin binding. In the image of the actin–tropomyosin complex, each tropomyosin molecule (∼2 nm in diameter) on the actin filament was directly observed without averaging images of different molecules. Each tropomyosin molecule on the actin filament has never been directly observed by AFM or electron microscopy. Thus, our developed tip-scan AFM offers significant potential in observing purified proteins and cellular structures at nanometer resolution. Current results represent an important step in the development of a new correlative microscope to observe nm-order structures at an acceptable frame rate (∼10 s/frame) by AFM at the position indicated by the fluorescent dye observed under a light microscope. PMID:27242058

Antiferromagnetic Skyrmion: Stability, Creation and Manipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xichao; Zhou, Yan; Ezawa, Motohiko

2016-04-01

Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like topological excitations in ferromagnets, which have the topo-logical number Q = ± 1, and hence show the skyrmion Hall effect (SkHE) due to the Magnus force effect originating from the topology. Here, we propose the counterpart of the magnetic skyrmion in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) system, that is, the AFM skyrmion, which is topologically protected but without showing the SkHE. Two approaches for creating the AFM skyrmion have been described based on micromagnetic lattice simulations: (i) by injecting a vertical spin-polarized current to a nanodisk with the AFM ground state; (ii) by converting an AFM domain-wall pair in a nanowire junction. It is demonstrated that the AFM skyrmion, driven by the spin-polarized current, can move straightly over long distance, benefiting from the absence of the SkHE. Our results will open a new strategy on designing the novel spintronic devices based on AFM materials.

Application of focused ion beam for the fabrication of AFM probes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolomiytsev, A. S.; Lisitsyn, S. A.; Smirnov, V. A.; Fedotov, A. A.; Varzarev, Yu N.

2017-10-01

The results of an experimental study of the probe tips fabrication for critical-dimension atomic force microscopy (CD-AFM) using the focused ion beam (FIB) induced deposition are presented. Methods of the FIB-induced deposition of tungsten and carbon onto the tip of an AFM probe are studied. Based on the results obtained in the study, probes for the CD-AFM technique with a tip height about 1 μm and radius of 20 nm were created. The formation of CD-AFM probes by FIB-induced deposition allows creating a high efficiency tool for nanotechnology and nanodiagnostics. The use of modified cantilevers allows minimizing the artefacts of AFM images and increasing the accuracy of the relief measurement. The obtained results can be used for fabrication of AFM probes for express monitoring of the technological process in the manufacturing of the elements for micro- and nanoelectronics.

Combination of atomic force microscopy and mass spectrometry for the detection of target protein in the serum samples of children with autism spectrum disorders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaysheva, A. L.; Pleshakova, T. O.; Kopylov, A. T.; Shumov, I. D.; Iourov, I. Y.; Vorsanova, S. G.; Yurov, Y. B.; Ziborov, V. S.; Archakov, A. I.; Ivanov, Y. D.

2017-10-01

Possibility of detection of target proteins associated with development of autistic disorders in children with use of combined atomic force microscopy and mass spectrometry (AFM/MS) method is demonstrated. The proposed method is based on the combination of affine enrichment of proteins from biological samples and visualization of these proteins by AFM and MS analysis with quantitative detection of target proteins.

Real-space identification of intermolecular bonding with atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Zhang, Jun; Chen, Pengcheng; Yuan, Bingkai; Ji, Wei; Cheng, Zhihai; Qiu, Xiaohui

2013-11-01

We report a real-space visualization of the formation of hydrogen bonding in 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-hq) molecular assemblies on a Cu(111) substrate, using noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM). The atomically resolved molecular structures enable a precise determination of the characteristics of hydrogen bonding networks, including the bonding sites, orientations, and lengths. The observation of bond contrast was interpreted by ab initio density functional calculations, which indicated the electron density contribution from the hybridized electronic state of the hydrogen bond. Intermolecular coordination between the dehydrogenated 8-hq and Cu adatoms was also revealed by the submolecular resolution AFM characterization. The direct identification of local bonding configurations by NC-AFM would facilitate detailed investigations of intermolecular interactions in complex molecules with multiple active sites.

Atomic force microscopy observation of lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiomyocyte cytoskeleton reorganization.

PubMed

Wang, Liqun; Chen, Tangting; Zhou, Xiang; Huang, Qiaobing; Jin, Chunhua

2013-08-01

We applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intracellular cytoskeleton reorganization in primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal mouse. The nonionic detergent Triton X-100 was used to remove the membrane, soluble proteins, and organelles from the cell. The remaining cytoskeleton can then be directly visualized by AFM. Using three-dimensional technique of AFM, we were able to quantify the changes of cytoskeleton by the "density" and total "volume" of the cytoskeleton fibers. Compared to the control group, the density of cytoskeleton was remarkably decreased and the volume of cytoskeleton was significantly increased after LPS treatment, which suggests that LPS may induce the cytoskeleton reorganization and change the cardiomyocyte morphology. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KPFM/AFM imaging on TiO2(110) surface in O2 gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arima, Eiji; Wen, Huan Fei; Naitoh, Yoshitaka; Li, Yan Jun; Sugawara, Yasuhiro

2018-03-01

We have carried out high-speed imaging of the topography and local contact potential difference (LCPD) on rutile TiO2(110) in O2 gas by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). We succeeded in KPFM/AFM imaging with atomic resolution at 1 frame min-1 and observed the adsorbate on a hydroxylated TiO2(110) surface. The observed adsorbate is considered to be oxygen adatoms (Oa), hydroperoxyls (HO2), or terminal hydroxyls (OHt). After adsorption, changes in the topography and the LCPD of the adsorbate were observed. This phenomenon is thought to be caused by the charge transfer of the adsorbate. This technique has the potential to observe catalytic behavior with atomic resolution.

Nano-Electrochemistry and Nano-Electrografting with an Original Combined AFM-SECM

PubMed Central

Ghorbal, Achraf; Grisotto, Federico; Charlier, Julienne; Palacin, Serge; Goyer, Cédric; Demaille, Christophe; Ben Brahim, Ammar

2013-01-01

This study demonstrates the advantages of the combination between atomic force microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy. The combined technique can perform nano-electrochemical measurements onto agarose surface and nano-electrografting of non-conducting polymers onto conducting surfaces. This work was achieved by manufacturing an original Atomic Force Microscopy-Scanning ElectroChemical Microscopy (AFM-SECM) electrode. The capabilities of the AFM-SECM-electrode were tested with the nano-electrografting of vinylic monomers initiated by aryl diazonium salts. Nano-electrochemical and technical processes were thoroughly described, so as to allow experiments reproducing. A plausible explanation of chemical and electrochemical mechanisms, leading to the nano-grafting process, was reported. This combined technique represents the first step towards improved nano-processes for the nano-electrografting. PMID:28348337

Atomic force microscopy characterization of Zerodur mirror substrates for the extreme ultraviolet telescopes aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

PubMed

Soufli, Regina; Baker, Sherry L; Windt, David L; Gullikson, Eric M; Robinson, Jeff C; Podgorski, William A; Golub, Leon

2007-06-01

The high-spatial frequency roughness of a mirror operating at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths is crucial for the reflective performance and is subject to very stringent specifications. To understand and predict mirror performance, precision metrology is required for measuring the surface roughness. Zerodur mirror substrates made by two different polishing vendors for a suite of EUV telescopes for solar physics were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM measurements revealed features in the topography of each substrate that are associated with specific polishing techniques. Theoretical predictions of the mirror performance based on the AFM-measured high-spatial-frequency roughness are in good agreement with EUV reflectance measurements of the mirrors after multilayer coating.

Deposition And Characterization of (Ti,Zr)N Thin Films Grown Through PAPVD By The Pulsed Arc Technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marulanda, D. M.; Trujillo, O.; Devia, A.

The Plasma Assisted Physic Vapor Deposition (PAPVD) by the pulsed arc technique has been used for deposition of Titanium Zirconium Nitride (Ti,Zr)N coatings, using a segmented target of TiZr. The deposition was performed in a vacuum chamber with two faced electrodes (target and substrate) using nitrogen as working gas, and a power-controlled source used to produce the arc discharges. Films were deposited on stainless steel 304, and they were characterized using the X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) techniques. The XRD patterns show different planes in which the film grows.more » Through SPM, using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Lateral Force Microscopy (LFM) modes, a nanotribologic study of the thin film was made, determining hardness and friction coefficient.« less

The effects of viscoelastic polymer substrates on adult stem cell differentiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Chungchueh; Fields, Adam; Ramek, Alex; Jurukovski, Vladimir; Simon, Marcia; Rafailovich, Miriam

2009-03-01

Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are known to differentiate in either bone, dentine, or nerve tissue by different environment signals. In this study, we have determined whether differentiation could only through modification of the substrate mechanics. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) on Shear Modulation Force Microscopy (SMFM) mode indicated that the spun-cast polybutadiene (PB) thin films could be used to provide different stiffness substrates by changing the thicknesses of thin films. DPSCs were then plated on these substrates and cultured in standard media. After 28 days incubation, Lasar Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) with mercury lamp indicated that the crystals were observed only on hard surfaces. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX analysis) indicated that the crystals are calcium phosphates. The Glancing Incidence Diffraction (GID) was also used to determine the structure of crystals. These results indicate that DPSCs could be differentiated into osteoblasts by mechanical stimuli from substrate mechanics.

AFM Structural Characterization of Drinking Water Biofilm under Physiological Conditions

EPA Science Inventory

Due to the complexity of mixed culture drinking water biofilm, direct visual observation under in situ conditions has been challenging. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the three dimensional morphology and arrangement of drinking water relevant biofilm in air...

Conductance of AFM Deformed Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Svizhenko, Alexei; Maiti, Amitesh; Anatram, M. P.; Biegel, Bryan (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This viewgraph presentation provides information on the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes upon deformation by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The density of states and conductance were computed using four orbital tight-binding method with various parameterizations. Different chiralities develop bandgap that varies with chirality.

Computational model for noncontact atomic force microscopy: energy dissipation of cantilever.

PubMed

Senda, Yasuhiro; Blomqvist, Janne; Nieminen, Risto M

2016-09-21

We propose a computational model for noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM) in which the atomic force between the cantilever tip and the surface is calculated using a molecular dynamics method, and the macroscopic motion of the cantilever is modeled by an oscillating spring. The movement of atoms in the tip and surface is connected with the oscillating spring using a recently developed coupling method. In this computational model, the oscillation energy is dissipated, as observed in AFM experiments. We attribute this dissipation to the hysteresis and nonconservative properties of the interatomic force that acts between the atoms in the tip and sample surface. The dissipation rate strongly depends on the parameters used in the computational model.

Bubble colloidal AFM probes formed from ultrasonically generated bubbles.

PubMed

Vakarelski, Ivan U; Lee, Judy; Dagastine, Raymond R; Chan, Derek Y C; Stevens, Geoffrey W; Grieser, Franz

2008-02-05

Here we introduce a simple and effective experimental approach to measuring the interaction forces between two small bubbles (approximately 80-140 microm) in aqueous solution during controlled collisions on the scale of micrometers to nanometers. The colloidal probe technique using atomic force microscopy (AFM) was extended to measure interaction forces between a cantilever-attached bubble and surface-attached bubbles of various sizes. By using an ultrasonic source, we generated numerous small bubbles on a mildly hydrophobic surface of a glass slide. A single bubble picked up with a strongly hydrophobized V-shaped cantilever was used as the colloidal probe. Sample force measurements were used to evaluate the pure water bubble cleanliness and the general consistency of the measurements.

Investigations on Substrate Temperature-Induced Growth Modes of Organic Semiconductors at Dielectric/semiconductor Interface and Their Correlation with Threshold Voltage Stability in Organic Field-Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Padma, Narayanan; Maheshwari, Priya; Bhattacharya, Debarati; Tokas, Raj B; Sen, Shashwati; Honda, Yoshihide; Basu, Saibal; Pujari, Pradeep Kumar; Rao, T V Chandrasekhar

2016-02-10

Influence of substrate temperature on growth modes of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films at the dielectric/semiconductor interface in organic field effect transistors (OFETs) is investigated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging at the interface reveals a change from 'layer+island' to "island" growth mode with increasing substrate temperatures, further confirmed by probing the buried interfaces using X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and positron annihilation spectroscopic (PAS) techniques. PAS depth profiling provides insight into the details of molecular ordering while positron lifetime measurements reveal the difference in packing modes of CuPc molecules at the interface. XRR measurements show systematic increase in interface width and electron density correlating well with the change from layer + island to coalesced huge 3D islands at higher substrate temperatures. Study demonstrates the usefulness of XRR and PAS techniques to study growth modes at buried interfaces and reveals the influence of growth modes of semiconductor at the interface on hole and electron trap concentrations individually, thereby affecting hysteresis and threshold voltage stability. Minimum hole trapping is correlated to near layer by layer formation close to the interface at 100 °C and maximum to the island formation with large voids between the grains at 225 °C.

Mapping power-law rheology of living cells using multi-frequency force modulation atomic force microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takahashi, Ryosuke; Okajima, Takaharu, E-mail: okajima@ist.hokudai.ac.jp

We present multi-frequency force modulation atomic force microscopy (AFM) for mapping the complex shear modulus G* of living cells as a function of frequency over the range of 50–500 Hz in the same measurement time as the single-frequency force modulation measurement. The AFM technique enables us to reconstruct image maps of rheological parameters, which exhibit a frequency-dependent power-law behavior with respect to G{sup *}. These quantitative rheological measurements reveal a large spatial variation in G* in this frequency range for single cells. Moreover, we find that the reconstructed images of the power-law rheological parameters are much different from those obtained inmore » force-curve or single-frequency force modulation measurements. This indicates that the former provide information about intracellular mechanical structures of the cells that are usually not resolved with the conventional force measurement methods.« less

Force microscopy of layering and friction in an ionic liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoth, Judith; Hausen, Florian; Müser, Martin H.; Bennewitz, Roland

2014-07-01

The mechanical properties of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl) trifluorophosphate ([Py1,4][FAP]) in confinement between a SiOx and a Au(1 1 1) surface are investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) under electrochemical control. Up to 12 layers of ion pairs can be detected through force measurements while approaching the tip of the AFM to the surface. The particular shape of the force versus distance curve is explained by a model for the interaction between tip, gold surface and ionic liquid, which assumes an exponentially decaying oscillatory force originating from bulk liquid density correlations. Jumps in the tip-sample distance upon approach correspond to jumps of the compliant force sensor between branches of the oscillatory force curve. Frictional force between the laterally moving tip and the surface is detected only after partial penetration of the last double layer between tip and surface.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis generates nanomechanical force reflective of ligand identity and cellular property.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao; Ren, Juan; Wang, Jingren; Li, Shixie; Zou, Qingze; Gao, Nan

2018-08-01

Whether environmental (thermal, chemical, and nutrient) signals generate quantifiable, nanoscale, mechanophysical changes in the cellular plasma membrane has not been well elucidated. Assessment of such mechanophysical properties of plasma membrane may shed lights on fundamental cellular process. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) measurement of the mechanical properties of live cells was hampered by the difficulty in accounting for the effects of the cantilever motion and the associated hydrodynamic force on the mechanical measurement. These challenges have been addressed in our recently developed control-based AFM nanomechanical measurement protocol, which enables a fast, noninvasive, broadband measurement of the real-time changes in plasma membrane elasticity in live cells. Here we show using this newly developed AFM platform that the plasma membrane of live mammalian cells exhibits a constant and quantifiable nanomechanical property, the membrane elasticity. This mechanical property sensitively changes in response to environmental factors, such as the thermal, chemical, and growth factor stimuli. We demonstrate that different chemical inhibitors of endocytosis elicit distinct changes in plasma membrane elastic modulus reflecting their specific molecular actions on the lipid configuration or the endocytic machinery. Interestingly, two different growth factors, EGF and Wnt3a, elicited distinct elastic force profiles revealed by AFM at the plasma membrane during receptor-mediated endocytosis. By applying this platform to genetically modified cells, we uncovered a previously unknown contribution of Cdc42, a key component of the cellular trafficking network, to EGF-stimulated endocytosis at plasma membrane. Together, this nanomechanical AFM study establishes an important foundation that is expandable and adaptable for investigation of cellular membrane evolution in response to various key extracellular signals. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of carbon electrodes for electrochemistry, solid-state electronics and multimodal atomic force microscopy imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morton, Kirstin Claire

Carbon is one of the most remarkable elements due to its wide abundance on Earth and its many allotropes, which include diamond and graphite. Many carbon allotropes are conductive and in recent decades scientists have discovered and synthesized many new forms of carbon, including graphene and carbon nanotubes. The work in this thesis specifically focuses on the fabrication and characterization of pyrolyzed parylene C (PPC), a conductive pyrocarbon, as an electrode material for diodes, as a conductive coating for atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes and as an ultramicroelectrode (UME) for the electrochemical interrogation of cellular systems in vitro. Herein, planar and three-dimensional (3D) PPC electrodes were microscopically, spectroscopically and electrochemically characterized. First, planar PPC films and PPC-coated nanopipettes were utilized to detect a model redox species, Ru(NH3) 6Cl3. Then, free-standing PPC thin films were chemically doped, with hydrazine and concentrated nitric acid, to yield p- and n-type carbon films. Doped PPC thin films were positioned in conjunction with doped silicon to create Schottky and p-n junction diodes for use in an alternating current half-wave rectifier circuit. Pyrolyzed parylene C has found particular merit as a 3D electrode coating of AFM probes. Current sensing-atomic force microscopy imaging in air of nanoscale metallic features was undertaken to demonstrate the electronic imaging applicability of PPC AFM probes. Upon further insulation with parylene C and modification with a focused ion beam, a PPC UME was microfabricated near the AFM probe apex and utilized for electrochemical imaging. Subsequently, scanning electrochemical microscopy-atomic force microscopy imaging was undertaken to electrochemically quantify and image the spatial location of dopamine exocytotic release, elicited mechanically via the AFM probe itself, from differentiated pheochromocytoma 12 cells in vitro.

AFM of the ultrastructural and mechanical properties of lipid-raft-disrupted and/or cold-treated endothelial cells.

PubMed

Wu, Li; Huang, Jie; Yu, Xiaoxue; Zhou, Xiaoqing; Gan, Chaoye; Li, Ming; Chen, Yong

2014-02-01

The nonionic detergent extraction at 4 °C and the cholesterol-depletion-induced lipid raft disruption are the two widely used experimental strategies for lipid raft research. However, the effects of raft disruption and/or cold treatment on the ultrastructural and mechanical properties of cells are still unclear. Here, we evaluated the effects of raft disruption and/or cold (4 °C) treatment on these properties of living human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). At first, the cholesterol-depletion-induced raft disruption was visualized by confocal microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with fluorescent quantum dots. Next, the cold-induced cell contraction and the formation of end-branched filopodia were observed by confocal microscopy and AFM. Then, the cell-surface ultrastructures were imaged by AFM, and the data showed that raft disruption and cold treatment induced opposite effects on cell-surface roughness (a significant decrease and a significant increase, respectively). Moreover, the cell-surface mechanical properties (stiffness and adhesion force) of raft-disrupted- and/or cold-treated HUVECs were measured by the force measurement function of AFM. We found that raft disruption and cold treatment induced parallel effects on cell stiffness (increase) or adhesion force (decrease) and that the combination of the two treatments caused dramatically strengthened effects. Finally, raft disruption was found to significantly impair cell migration as previously reported, whereas temporary cold treatment only caused a slight but nonsignificant decrease in cell migration performed at physiological temperature. Although the mechanisms for causing these results might be complicated and more in-depth studies will be needed, our data may provide important information for better understanding the effects of raft disruption or cold treatment on cells and the two strategies for lipid raft research.

High-stress study of bioinspired multifunctional PEDOT:PSS/nanoclay nanocomposites using AFM, SEM and numerical simulation.

PubMed

Diaz, Alfredo J; Noh, Hanaul; Meier, Tobias; Solares, Santiago D

2017-01-01

Bioinspired design has been central in the development of hierarchical nanocomposites. Particularly, the nacre-mimetic brick-and-mortar structure has shown excellent mechanical properties, as well as gas-barrier properties and optical transparency. Along with these intrinsic properties, the layered structure has also been utilized in sensing devices. Here we extend the multifunctionality of nacre-mimetics by designing an optically transparent and electron conductive coating based on PEDOT:PSS and nanoclays Laponite RD and Cloisite Na + . We carry out extensive characterization of the nanocomposite using transmittance spectra (transparency), conductive atomic force microscopy (conductivity), contact-resonance force microscopy (mechanical properties), and SEM combined with a variety of stress-strain AFM experiments and AFM numerical simulations (internal structure). We further study the nanoclay's response to the application of pressure with multifrequency AFM and conductive AFM, whereby increases and decreases in conductivity can occur for the Laponite RD composites. We offer a possible mechanism to explain the changes in conductivity by modeling the coating as a 1-dimensional multibarrier potential for electron transport, and show that conductivity can change when the separation between the barriers changes under the application of pressure, and that the direction of the change depends on the energy of the electrons. We did not observe changes in conductivity under the application of pressure with AFM for the Cloisite Na + nanocomposite, which has a large platelet size compared with the AFM probe diameter. No pressure-induced changes in conductivity were observed in the clay-free polymer either.