Enhanced feature analysis using wavelets for scanning probe microscopy images of surfaces

In this work we develop wavelet theory for the analysis of surface topography images obtained by scanning probe microscopy (SPM) such as atomic force microscopy (AFM). Wavelet transformation is localized in space and frequency, which can offer an advantage for analyzing information on surface morphology and topography. Wavelet transformation is an ideal tool to detect trends, discontinuities, and short periodicities on a surface. Additionally, wavelets can be used to remove artifacts and noise from scanning microscopy images. In terms of 3-D image analysis, discrete wavelet transform can capture patterns at all relevant frequency scales, thus providing a level of image analysis that is not possible otherwise. It is also possible to use the methodology for analyzing surface structures at the molecular level. The results demonstrate superior capabilities of wavelet approach to scanning probe microscopy image analysis compared to traditional analysis techniques.     

Studies of host-guest thin films of corona-poled betaine-type polar molecules by kelvin probe technique and atomic force microscopy

In this work betaine-type molecules were investigated. As a result of the asymmetry of charge distribution, molecules possess in the ground state a considerable permanent dipole moment. The decay of surface potential of poled polymer films is dependent at least on two relaxation processes. The influence of glass transition of PMMA on thermal dependence of the surface potential is shown. The transition temperature, where no changes of the surface potential appeared, is related to glass transition temperature of the host-guest system. The topography of the film surface was obtained by AFM.     

Large area ordered lateral patterns in confined polymer thin films

The thermal stability of a model system consisting of a polymer film on a Si substrate capped by a thin metal layer has been investigated. When the model system is heated to a sufficiently high temperature characteristic surface wrinkling structures are formed with well defined periodicity over large areas. It is suggested that this wave-like surface morphology is driven by the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch of the different layers. A mechanism based on bending of a thin stiff surface on a thin elastic medium has been adopted to predict the pattern periodicity which gives satisfactory results with the experimental values.     

原子力显微镜研究高分子超薄膜结晶机理及功能化调控

近十年来,随着功能高分子单晶(含单层或寡层片晶)工程及应用研究的不断深入,除了纳米尺度结晶形貌的表征以外,多功能原子力显微镜还被用于研究分子结构、结晶条件和后处理条件对功能高分子晶体性能(电、热、光、磁等)的影响,进一步还可采用扫描探针加工技术(机械刻蚀、电致刻蚀和热致刻蚀等)对其性能进行调控以构筑功能化聚集态结构和微图案.另一方面,超薄膜中单层或寡层片晶可为研究高分子结晶提供合适的模型体系,与原子力显微镜相结合,不但可以原位、实空间、高分辨地研究高分子的成核与生长过程(生长形态演变和生长动力学),还可以用于研究亚稳态折叠链片晶厚度和形态随热处理温度与时间的演化,从而加深对片晶内有序差异、片晶增厚与熔融行为和自诱导成核的认识.     

Patterning in rapidly evaporated polymer solutions: formation of annular structures under evaporation of the poor solvent

Patterning in the intensively evaporated polymer solutions based on polystyrene and poor solvent (acetone) was investigated. SEM and AFM studies demonstrated that annular elements of the surface topography are formed in this case, in contrast to the honeycomb patterns obtained under the evaporation of the good solvent (chloroform). The authors suggest that the theory of viscous dewetting developed by de Gennes explains the phenomenon satisfactorily.     

Fast heating in µ-thermal analysis</o:p>

Summary Thermal analysis of the 10 μm surface of materials using TA Instruments' μ-TA thermal probe and pulsed force mode AFM has shown promising results. This addresses the need of additional surface characterization based on principle of Thermal Analysis, which is complementary to other surface characterization techniques, i.e., Surface-IR, TOF-SIMS, etc. The method calls for identification of surface landscape by imaging first, followed by fast heating the spots of interest. The micro thermal probe is viewed to heat a small material with a tiny heater rather than to heat small material with a large heater in conventional thermal analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability in the adhesion temperature of the topical coatings of Tyvek? HDPE sheets, fusion of the heat-processed polyethylene fibers in a bundle, the surface crystallinity of PET pellets, and two examples of phase images of toughened Nylon 66. Comparisons were made where it is possible with standard thermal analysis techniques as well as with the microscopic techniques of AFM, TEM and optical.     

流化床CVD淀积过程中铝膜微结构及表面形貌的研究

考察了在常压流化床CVD反应器中利用三异丁基铝的热分解反应在高折射率玻璃微珠表面淀积铝膜时,淀积温度和时间对铝膜微结构和表面形貌的影响.SEM谱的表面形貌分析表明,提高淀积温度时,铝膜经过三维岛状→孔洞结构→连续致密膜的变化;延长淀积时间,铝膜的晶粒会变粗变大.AES谱的表面化学组成分析表明,在较高的淀积温度下铝膜中碳的残留并不明显,但发生了玻璃微珠基材中Ti,Ba等元素向铝膜中的扩散.Ti的扩散有利于形成连续致密的铝膜.     

基于AFM的药物刺激前后淋巴瘤活细胞的形貌及弹性的变化

原子力显微镜(AFM)的发明为研究单个活细胞的形貌结构及物理特性提供了新的技术手段.然而,由于缺少合适的固定方法,利用AFM对动物悬浮活细胞的形貌进行高分辨率成像还面临着巨大的挑战.本文提出一种基于微柱阵列和静电吸附相结合的动物悬浮细胞固定方法.通过微柱阵列的机械钳制和多聚赖氨酸的静电吸附实现了对单个淋巴瘤B细胞的固定,并在此基础上利用AFM动态观测了不同浓度Rituximab刺激下淋巴瘤B细胞的表面形貌及弹性的变化.经过0.2 mg·mL-1的Rituximab刺激2 h后,细胞表面的褶皱增加,细胞的杨氏模量从196 kPa减小到183 kPa.经过0.5 mg·mL-1的Rituximab刺激2 h后,细胞形貌发生显著变化并出现突起结构,细胞的杨氏模量从234 kPa减小到175 kPa.实验结果表明淋巴瘤细胞形貌和弹性变化的幅度随着Rituximab刺激浓度的增加而增加,加深了对Rituximab作用效果的认识.     

Different interactions between the two sides of purple membrane with atomic force microscope tip

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is known to be capable of measuring local surface charge density based on the DLVO model. However, it has failed to distinguish charge density difference between the extracellular and cytoplasmic sides of purple membrane (PM) in previous studies. In this paper, tapping-mode AFM with thioglycolate-modified tips was used to image PM in buffers of different salt concentrations. When imaged in 25 mM KCl buffer, the topography of membranes appeared to be of two different types, one flat and the other domelike. Such a difference was not observed in buffers of high salt concentrations. This suggests that the topography variation results from differences in electrostatic interaction between the AFM tip and the different membrane surfaces. With images of papain-digested PM and high-resolution images of membrane surface structure, we proved that the membrane surfaces with flat topography were on the extracellular side while the surfaces with domelike topography were on the cytoplasmic side. Hence, this provides a straightforward method to distinguish the two sides of PM without the requirement of high-resolution imaging. Force-distance curves clearly demonstrated the different tip-sample interactions. The force curves recorded on the extracellular side of PM were consistent with the DLVO model, so its surface charge density can be estimated well. However, the curves recorded on the cytoplasmic side had a much longer decay length, which is supposed to be relevant to the flexibility of the C-terminus of bacteriorhodopsin (bR).     

Atomic force microscopy for the characterization of immobilized enzyme molecules on biosensor surfaces

The development of biosensors has been one of the key areas in biotechnology and biomedical studies. Often it is difficult to investigate the immobilized biomolecules on the surfaces for biosensor optimization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) should provide an ideal means for the visualization of biosensor surface and for the investigation of biomolecule activities. Therefore, AFM has been employed to study the surface topography of immobilized glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) on two-dimensional glutamate biosensor surfaces. Correlation between the surface topography and the activity of the biosensor was investigated. Surface analysis has revealed that the enzymatic activity of the immobilized GDH molecules on the biosensor surface is linked to surface roughness, as measured by the peak-to-valley distance. Fractal dimension of the immobilization sensor surface was found to be a good parameter for judging the quality of the immobilized biosensors. As enzyme immobilization time increases, the biosensor has its maximum activity with around 18 h of immobilization in 10^–6 M GDH solution. Various biosensors prepared under different experimental conditions have been studied by AFM. This technique is shown to be an effective tool to characterize biosensor surfaces.     

Comparison of epithelial and fibroblastic cell behavior on nano/micro-topographic PCL membranes produced by crystallinity control

In this study, the relationship between the cellular morphology and the material surface topography was investigated. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes were prepared in a wide range of surface wettabilities by means of crystallinity-controlled solvent casting process. Membrane surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and static/dynamic water contact angle measurements. It was found that solvent evaporation and non-solvent (methanol) addition to the solvent (THF) are the most decisive parameters to change the surface topography. The non-solvent addition and the decrease in solvent evaporation temperature from room temperature to -20 °C caused increased polymeric chain mobility and crystallization time. Such changes in crystallization parameters led to the formation of micro/nano-sized features on the membrane. Cell culture studies indicated that in contrast to Madin Darby kidney (MDBK) epithelial cells, L929 mouse fibroblast preferred rough and porous surfaces.     

Deposition of refractory coatings on carbon fibers from volatile Hf-containing precursors

The possibility to modify the carbon fiber surface by refractory hafnium compounds via chemical vapor deposition of volatile metal-organic complexes is studied. Thermodynamic modeling is applied to calculate the CVD diagram of the Hf-C-O-F-H system within a 25–1200°C temperature range, 10⁻¹–10 Torr pressure range, and 0–2000 hydrogen/precursor vapor ratio. It is demonstrated that the deposition should be carried out at the maximum hydrogen flow and the minimum total pressure in the system. SEM and AFM techniques are used to examine the morphology and topography of the coatings on the fibers. Continuous coatings that are uniform in length and diameter of monofilaments and are tightly bound to them are obtained.     

Atomic force microscopy for the characterization of immobilized enzyme molecules on biosensor surfaces

The development of biosensors has been one of the key areas in biotechnology and biomedical studies. Often it is difficult to investigate the immobilized biomolecules on the surfaces for biosensor optimization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) should provide an ideal means for the visualization of biosensor surface and for the investigation of biomolecule activities. Therefore, AFM has been employed to study the surface topography of immobilized glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) on two-dimensional glutamate biosensor surfaces. Correlation between the surface topography and the activity of the biosensor was investigated. Surface analysis has revealed that the enzymatic activity of the immobilized GDH molecules on the biosensor surface is linked to surface roughness, as measured by the peak-to-valley distance. Fractal dimension of the immobilization sensor surface was found to be a good parameter for judging the quality of the immobilized biosensors. As enzyme immobilization time increases, the biosensor has its maximum activity with around 18 h of immobilization in 10(-6) M GDH solution. Various biosensors prepared under different experimental conditions have been studied by AFM. This technique is shown to be an effective tool to characterize biosensor surfaces.     

Impact of alkali treatment on physico-chemical,thermal, structural and tensile properties of Carica papaya bark fibers

This study aims to examine the effect of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) treatment on the physico-chemical properties, structure, thermal, tensile and surface topography of Carica papaya fibers (CPFs). The surface of raw CPFs was modified by soaking with 5% NaOH solution for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90?min. The results of thermo-gravimetric analysis revealed that the optimum treatment time for alkali treatment was 60?min. It was found that the alkali treatment improved the properties of the CPFs. The results of TGA, FT-IR, XRD and AFM suggest that the treated CPF is a suitable alternative as reinforcement in polymer composites.     

Investigations of local electrical surface characteristics by dynamical scanning force microscopy

A technique is presented that allows to obtain information about sample surface topography and local electrical surface properties simultaneously. A scanning electrical force microscope is used for that purpose which is based on an atomic force microscope (AFM) working in the dynamical mode. Different information channels contained in the cantilever excitation spectrum are separated by a lock-in technique. The physical content of the technique is discussed in detail and the influence of surface topography on the non-topographic imaging is demonstrated. Finally, the real advantages of cross-sectional sample preparation (as known from electron microscopy) for this kind of scanning probe microscopy with respect to various applications is presented.     

MMA/DVB emulsion surface graft polymerization initiated by UV light

Methyl methacrylate/1,2-divinylbenzene (MMA/DVB) in an opaque emulsion were successfully grafted onto the surface of polymeric substrate under the irradiation of UV light with benzophenone (BP) as a photoinitiator that was previously coated on the substrate surface. Monomer conversion, grafting efficiency, and grafting yields were determined by the gravimetric method. ATR-IR, AFM, and TEM were used to characterize the surface composition, to observe the topography of the grafted substrates, and to view inter-film colloid particles formed by cross-linking. The results reveal that, with the opaque MMA/DVB emulsion system and CPP film as substrate, the monomer conversion is in the range of 15-55%, the grafting efficiency is about 80%, the grafting yield reaches 5%, and the thickness of the graft layer can be controlled in the range 0.09-1.5 microm. Images of AFM show that the graft layer is piled up by nanoparticles (about 30-50 nm in diameter), which are linked together and tied to the substrate surface with covalent bonds. A possible model of surface graft polymerization including surface initiating, nucleation, and shish kebab growing is put forward to interpreting the above results.     

非支撑磷脂双层膜制备及温度对其力学性质的影响

结合聚苯乙烯球刻蚀和微机电系统技术加工氮化硅纳米多孔膜, 并在其上用囊泡法制备非支撑磷脂双层膜, 通过温控原子力显微术(AFM)的成像模式和力曲线模式对非支撑磷脂双层膜的形貌和力学性质进行研究. 实验结果表明, 该方法制备的非支撑磷脂双层膜具有流动性, 能进行自我修复, 该特点有利于提供足够的非支撑磷脂双层膜区域用于其性质研究; 非支撑磷脂双层膜的膜破力和粘滞力均随着温度的升高而减小, 即膜的机械稳定性随着温度的升高而降低. 非支撑磷脂双层膜膜破力小于支撑磷脂双层膜的膜破力, 并且非支撑磷脂双层膜粘滞力随温度的变化趋势与支撑磷脂双层膜的变化趋势相反.     

Real-time AFM study of lamellar growth of semi-crystalline polymers

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to study the lamellar development during the crystallization and melting processes of poly(bisphenol A-co-alkyl ether) (BA-Cn) films. High-resolution and real-time AFM phase imaging enables us to observe the detailed growth process of the lamellae. At the early stage of the lamellar growth, embryos appeared firstly and some disappeared on the film surface after a period of time. The stable embryo developed into a single lamella. Then the lamella developed into a lamellar sheaf through branching and splaying. Our results revealed that the branches of the lamellae were formed by induced nucleation and it was also dependent on the crystallization temperature. Real-time AFM study of the melting, recrystallization and remelting processes of lamellae indicated that the thermal stability of different segments of a single lamella is different and that the thermal stability of the different lamellae is also different even if they develop at the same annealing temperature. The orientation and the development of the lamellae at the characteristic eyes and boundaries of the spherulites are observed in details.     

The characterisation of rough particle contacts by atomic force microscopy

An Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reverse imaging technique has been used to determine the contact zone topography of glass and UO3 particles in contact with flat mica substrates. A method is proposed that uses this topography to determine an effective asperity radius of curvature for the contacting particle. Application of the method has been found to be consistent with established contact mechanics models, for both glass and UO3 particle probes that present significantly different surface roughness. The method proposed is straightforward to apply and offers a greater insight into the influence of particle micro- and nano-roughness on adhesion. This is important for applications that rely on the control of granular flow such as pellet or tablet manufacture.     

THE MULTIPLE EQUILIBRIA IN THE COUPLED ATMOSPHERE-OCEAN SYSTEM

In this paper, a topography forced quasi-geostrophic baroclinic model and an SST (sea surface temperature) equation are used to set up a simple coupled atmosphere-ocean model The large-scale ocean current is nearly the Sverdrup flow. Two basic processes are considered in this system, i. e. the SST as a thermal forcing drives the atmospheric circulation and the ocean current produced by the wind redistributes the SST. Highly truncating and multiple scale method are used to simplify the model and obtain a low dimensional dynamic system. In this part, the qualitative vector in the phase space of the system is analysed and two stable equilibria are obtained. These two kinds of equailibria may be used to explain some features of the long-range anomalies of circulation.