Atomic Force Microscopic Studies of Light-Emitting Porous Silicon

The surface morphologies of porous silicon (PS), fabricated under various anodic etching conditions and on different typvs of silicon substrates, were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The typical sizes of silicon crystallites of PS were found to be 4-10 nanome-ters,an expected for quantum confinement effect. The results suggested the doping concentration of silicon substrate plays an important role compared with the doping type in determining the surface microstructures. On p^- PS samples, a step-like dependence of the PS crystallite size of HF etching concentration was observed for the first time,in nice agreement with the,tep-like photo-luminescence (PL) phenomenon. which strongly supported the quantum confinement model.     

原子力显微镜研究囊泡在云母表面形成的结构

The vesicle structures of egg yolks phosphatidylcholine/didodecyldimethylammonium bromide （1 ： 1, mass ratio） deposited on mica were studied by atomic force microscopy （AFM） both in aqueous phase and air. In aqueous phase both bilayer and domelike vesicles with a mean diameter of 45 nm were observed, whereas in air the structure was more complicated depending on the initial concentration of vesicles. Vesicles with the original size could only be visualized at very low concentration with a mean diameter of 55 nm, which is a little larger than the result obtained in aqueous phase. At higher concentrations, fused large aggregates and multiple bilayer with a thickness ca. 4 nm of each bilayer were dominated. A plausible adsorption mechanism was proposed based on the experimental results.     

Atomic Force Microscopic Studies of Porous TiO2 Thin Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Porous titanium dioxide thin films were prepared from alkoxide solutions with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) by the sol-gel method on soda-lime glass. The effects of PEG addition to the precursor solution on the microstructure and roughness of the resultant thin films were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that TiO₂ films prepared from the precursor solution without PEG had granular microstructure and flat texture, and was composed of about 100 nm spherical particles. With an increase in the times of coating cycles, the roughness of films decreased and the size of TiO₂ particles increased. On the other hand, the larger the amount and molecular weight of the added PEG in precursor solutions, the larger the diameter and the depth of pores in the resultant films on the decomposition of PEG during heat-treatment. The surface of the films was also rougher, and fewer pores were produced during heat-treatment. The mechanism of porous structure formation in the TiO₂ films was explained using the principle of spinodal phase separation.     

Atomic Force Microscopy Studies of Membranes: Effect of Surface Roughness on Double-Layer Interactions and Particle Adhesion

Atomic force microscopy in conjunction with the colloid (silica) probe technique has been used to quantify the variations in electrical double-layer interactions and adhesion at different locations on a rough reverse osmosis membrane (AFC99) surface in NaCl solutions. Prior scanning of the membrane surface with the colloid probe allowed precise location for force measurements. The membrane surface was composed entirely of peaks and valleys with a surface roughness substantially greater than that of most other types of polymeric membranes. The magnitude of the electrical double-layer repulsion between the colloid probe and the membrane at peaks on the membrane surface was greatly reduced compared to that in the valleys. Nevertheless, adhesion of the colloid probe was lower at the peaks on the membrane surface than in the valleys with the difference increasing with decreasing salt concentration, and reaching a factor of more than 20 in 10(-3) M solution. The study shows that minimization of membrane fouling by colloids could be achieved by choosing membranes with a roughness periodicity preventing penetration of foulants into valleys on the surface. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Magnesium-Free Immobilization of DNA Origami Nanostructures at Mica Surfaces for Atomic Force Microscopy

DNA origami nanostructures (DONs) are promising substrates for the single-molecule investigation of biomolecular reactions and dynamics by in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). For this, they are typically immobilized on mica substrates by adding millimolar concentrations of Mg²⁺ ions to the sample solution, which enable the adsorption of the negatively charged DONs at the like-charged mica surface. These non-physiological Mg²⁺ concentrations, however, present a serious limitation in such experiments as they may interfere with the reactions and processes under investigation. Therefore, we here evaluate three approaches to efficiently immobilize DONs at mica surfaces under essentially Mg²⁺-free conditions. These approaches rely on the pre-adsorption of different multivalent cations, i.e., Ni²⁺, poly-l-lysine (PLL), and spermidine (Spdn). DON adsorption is studied in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and pure water. In general, Ni²⁺ shows the worst performance with heavily deformed DONs. For 2D DON triangles, adsorption at PLL- and in particular Spdn-modified mica may outperform even Mg²⁺-mediated adsorption in terms of surface coverage, depending on the employed solution. For 3D six-helix bundles, less pronounced differences between the individual strategies are observed. Our results provide some general guidance for the immobilization of DONs at mica surfaces under Mg²⁺-free conditions and may aid future in situ AFM studies.     

碳纳米管原子力显微镜针尖在结构生物学研究中的应用

碳纳米管以其较小的半径、较高的纵横比和高的柔韧性成为原子力显微镜对结构生物学进行研究的理想针尖。新的制备方法获得了亚纳米级半径的碳纳米管针尖,运用它们得到了生物大分子及其复合物的生物结构,并获得了新的生物信息,这用传统的原子力显微镜针尖是无法实现的。     

原子力显微镜在锂离子电池界面研究中的应用

近几年,电动汽车市场的飞速发展对锂离子电池的能量密度和安全性提出了更高的要求. 然而,过去近30年,在应用终端市场的大力推动下,锂离子电池的电极材料、电池结构设计和生产工艺都已经发展得比较成熟,容量提升空间已经比较小,想要进一步提高现有锂离子电池的能量密度,需要对锂离子电池的整个系统和工作原理有更深刻和全面的理解. 存在于锂离子电池电极材料和电解液之间的固态电解质中间相（solid electrolyte interphase,SEI）已被证明是一个影响电池性能的重要因素,目前学术界和产业界对其认识还不是很全面,尤其是高分辨、工况下以及多技术联合的界面表征工作较少见到报道. 原子力显微镜（atomic force microscopy,AFM）通过探测针尖与样品之间的相互作用力,能够在原子尺度上原位表征液态电池界面的形貌以及力学特性,对于电极界面的理解和调控非常重要. 本文作者通过总结近几年AFM在锂离子电池SEI研究的中的应用,并结合本课题组在该领域的工作,对AFM技术在锂离子电池SEI研究中的应用做了总结和展望,对加深锂离子电池界面的理解,以及构建稳定锂电池界面的相关研究有参考意义.     

纳米级钡铁氧体的原子力显微镜分析及微波性能的研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备掺杂钡离子的纳米六角晶型铁氧体.采用X衍射仪对其物相进行鉴定,利用原子力显微镜对不同方法制得的试样粒径进行了分析研究,最后用网络分析仪对铁氧体在1～6 GHz范围内的微波性能进行分析,结果表明:实验制得粉体为M型钡铁氧体,利用乙醇分散的稀浓度的试样能在原子力显微镜下很好地观察到颗粒的粒径,其平均粒径为52.68 nm左右,并且实验制得的纳米M型钡铁氧体具有较大的介电损耗和磁损耗,具有良好的吸波性能.     

利用原子力显微镜探针的扫帚机理制备胶原蛋白纳米纤维阵列

利用原子力显微镜能够在微观尺度上对样品材料进行操控和加工的特性,发现并考察了一种自上而下的生物大分子纳米纤维阵列的制备方法。将50μg/mL的天然I型鼠尾胶原蛋白溶液在云母晶面上形成胶原蛋白膜层,接着在原子力显微镜的接触模式下,利用探针对溶液中的胶原蛋白膜层施加100~1000 nN的力时,可以将膜层加工成具有特定取向的蛋白纳米纤维阵列。单根纤维的高度约2~5 nm,宽度在150~350 nm之间。根据纳米纤维阵列的结构与探针扫描方式的关系,对探针的制样原理进行了探讨,验证了原子力显微镜接触模式下的“分子扫帚”机理。此制备方法为生产细胞培养器皿、制备高特异性的生物探针,合成新型微纳材料提供了一种可行技术。     

The Adsorption of Dodecyltrimethylammonium Bromide on Mica in Aqueous Solution Studied by X-Ray Diffraction and Atomic Force Microscopy

The adsorption of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) onto natural muscovite mica and a synthetic expandable mica (EM) in aqueous solution has been investigated using both microscopic and macroscopic surface characterization techniques. The electrokinetic properties of the surfaces were monitored as a function of the concentration of DTAB using atomic force microscopy and microelectrophoresis. The adsorption isotherm of DTAB on EM was measured up to a solution concentration just below the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant. The thickness of the adsorbed layer on EM was determined using X-ray diffraction. Results indicate that the adsorbed layer consists of molecules lying quite flat on the mica surface at low concentrations and adsorbed in interleaved aggregate structures at concentrations approaching the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant in solution. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

用原子力显微镜研究磷脂酸Langmuir-Blodgett双层膜中超分子结构

用原子力显微镜研究了二棕榈酰磷脂酸(DPPA)双层LB膜的分子排列结构,发现DPPA双层膜的分子排列具有长程的位置和取向有序,为有序六方结构;同时,在DPPA双层膜的极性区磷酸基团间存在局域超分子结构.     

运用功能化修饰的碳纳米管针尖测量配体-受体的作用力

电弧法自制碳纳米管原子力显微镜针尖,对其末端进行功能化修饰,然后测量配体-受体之间的作用力。运用没有功能化修饰的碳纳米管针尖与修饰有亲和素分子的基底进行接触测量时,没有粘滞力出现;而运用末端修饰生物素分子的碳纳米管针尖测量时,有粘滞力产生。功能化的碳纳米管针尖直接测得的粘滞力均大约200pN,此值符合一对配体生物素和受体亲和素之间的作用力。这一结果很难用传统的针尖获得,功能化修饰的碳纳米管针尖能够克服传统针尖在力测量中的局限,在生物学和化学领域有着广泛的应用前景。     

High-Yield Characterization of Single Molecule Interactions with DeepTipTM Atomic Force Microscopy Probes

Single molecule interactions between biotin and streptavidin were characterized with functionalized DeepTip^TM probes and used as a model system to develop a comprehensive methodology for the high-yield identification and analysis of single molecular events. The procedure comprises the covalent binding of the target molecule to a surface and of the sensing molecule to the DeepTip^TM probe, so that the interaction between both chemical species can be characterized by obtaining force–displacement curves in an atomic force microscope. It is shown that molecular resolution is consistently attained with a percentage of successful events higher than 90% of the total number of recorded curves, and a very low level of unspecific interactions. The combination of both features is a clear indication of the robustness and versatility of the proposed methodology.     

应用原子力显微镜研究淫羊霍苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞成骨分化

利用碱性磷酸酶(ALP)染色和钙结节(Vonkossa)染色的方法对诱导21 d的淫羊霍苷诱导人脐带间充质干细胞进行鉴定;应用原子力显微镜(AFM)观察淫羊霍苷的形貌和人脐带间充质干细胞诱导0、5、10、15、21 d后的细胞形貌。结果表明,经成骨诱导分化21 d后,ALP染色呈强阳性,Vonkossa染色可见明显钙结节。AFM分析表明,淫羊霍苷在盖玻片上呈分散状分布,在细胞表面上聚集并呈微米域分布。实验发现,由于吸附在细胞表面时,被细胞膜分子包裹,更有利于在细胞表面的吸附,进入细胞内部,细胞表面的淫羊霍苷颗粒较在盖玻片上时增大,由淫羊霍苷颗粒进入细胞后在细胞表面留下一些小孔,可知其通过进入细胞内部诱导成骨分化。分化后,细胞表面有小突触,是由成骨分化后细胞内形成钙结节造成。     

Atomic Force Microscopy Studies on the Chemical Treatment of Nanocrystalline Porous TiO2 Films

AFM has been utilized to study the surface topography and the local conductivity of nanocrystalline TiO2 films. Improving the local conductivity by Ti(iso-C3H7O4) treatment is characterized by quantitative analysis of the simultaneous current image. The mechanism of Ti(iso C3H7O4)4 treatment is discussed.     

Direct Measurement of Repulsive van der Waals Interactions Using an Atomic Force Microscope

The forces of interaction between a flat poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) surface and gold spheres (of radii 3–8 μm) were measured as a function of apparent surface separation for different intervening media. For air, fluorinated alkanes, and polar liquids the interaction between the surfaces was found to be attractive. With intervening liquids of low-polarity the interaction was found to be repulsive. This repulsion is attributed to a negative composite Hamaker coefficient leading to van der Waals repulsion.     

微电极上单核沉积的现场电化学原子力显微镜研究

用现场电化学原子力显微镜（ＥＣＡＦＭ）观察玻碳微电极上银单核电化学成核与生长的不同阶段的行为,结果表明银单核在玻碳边缘生成以（１００）面择优的晶粒,证实了成核过程强烈地信赖于玻碳棋底的状态,有成核历史的基底沉积多核,经特殊方法“清洗”的基底沉积单核,本工作首次把ＥＣＡＦＭ应用于微电极系统的研究,对微是极上的单核生长进行实时观察;同非现场测量进行比较,演示一种轩单晶微电极的可行方法。     

Langmuir-Blodgett膜超分子SM/DOPC/Chol三元脂系的原子力显微镜观察

用原子力显微镜研究了胆固醇(Chol)对鞘磷脂(SM)/1,2-二油酸甘油-3-磷脂酰胆碱(DOPC)二元脂系统结构的影响和神经酰胺对SM/DOPC/Chol三元脂系统结构的影响. 实验发现, 在SM/DOPC二元脂系统中, 胆固醇和带饱和脂肪酸链的磷脂发生相互作用形成微区结构, 随着胆固醇含量的增加, 微区的面积逐渐增大, 形成了稳定的片层结构. 当把神经酰胺加入到等摩尔配比的SM/DOPC/Chol三元脂系统中时, 随着神经酰胺比例的增加, 先形成紧密的聚集态结构, 然后逐渐演变成具有特定微区的网状结构. 研究结果表明, 微区的形成主要是由分子不同的官能团之间的相互作用所决定, 这可能在细胞信号传导等生理活动中起到重要的作用.     

Atomic Force Microscopy Studies of SnO2 Thin Film Microstruc tures Deposited by Atomic Layer Epitaxy

 ALE-grown, rutile-type SnO₂ thin films and gas sensor structures based thereupon were studied by AFM with main emphasis on cross-sectional investigations (X-AFM). On glass substrates the polycrystalline films showed a preferred orientation which depended on the film thickness and growth temperature while on single crystal sapphire () the growth was heteroepitaxial. For the X-AFM studies various sample preparation techniques were investigated but only ion beam etching gave satisfactory results and revealed substructures in the sensor structure consisting of Pt and SnO₂ layers on a silicon substrate.