Atomic force microscopy-based repeated machining theory for nanochannels on silicon oxide surfaces

The atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based repeated nanomachining of nanochannels on silicon oxide surfaces is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The relationships of the initial nanochannel depth vs. final nanochannel depth at a normal force are systematically studied. Using the derived theory and simulation results, the final nanochannel depth can be predicted easily. Meanwhile, if a nanochannel with an expected depth needs to be machined, a right normal force can be selected simply and easily in order to decrease the wear of the AFM tip. The theoretical analysis and simulation results can be effectively used for AFM-based fabrication of nanochannels.     

DNA adsorption and desorption on mica surface studied by atomic force microscopy

The adsorption of DNA molecules on mica surface and the following desorption of DNA molecules at ethanol-mica interface were studied using atomic force microscopy. By changing DNA concentration, different morphologies on mica surface have been observed. A very uniform and orderly monolayer of DNA molecules was constructed on the mica surface with a DNA concentration of 30 ng/μL. When the samples were immersed into ethanol for about 15 min, various desorption degree of DNA from mica (0-99%) was achieved. It was found that with the increase of DNA concentration, the desorption degree of DNA from the mica at ethanol-mica interface decreased. And when the uniform and orderly DNA monolayers were formed on the mica surface, almost no DNA molecule desorbed from the mica surface in this process. The results indicated that the uniform and orderly DNA monolayer is one of the most stable DNA structures formed on the mica surface. In addition, we have studied the structure change of DNA molecules after desorbed from the mica surface with atomic force microscopy, and found that the desorption might be ascribed to the ethanol-induced DNA condensation.     

Surface characterization of plasma deposited nano-structured fluorocarbon coatings for promoting in vitro cell growth

Nano-structured “teflon-like” coatings characterized by highly-fluorinated, random, ribbon-shaped, micrometers-long structures were deposited on polyethylenetherephtalate (PET) substrates by plasma enhanced-chemical vapour deposition (PE-CVD) using modulated radiofrequency (RF, 13.56 MHz) glow discharges fed with C₂F₄ in modulated discharge (MD) and continuous wave (CW) regimes. Surfaces obtained in this way featured identical chemical composition and different roughness in the nanometric scale. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were utilized to characterize the surfaces. A positive relationship was shown to exist between the WCA value and the mean nano-structure height and the area root-mean-square (RMS) roughness of coatings. The possibility of obtaining coatings of varying nano-structure height, i.e., roughness, in a nanometric scale represents a promising result for further use of these surfaces as substrates for experiments on cell adhesion, proliferation and growth.     

Atomic force microscopy study of surface morphology change in spinel LiMn2O4: Possibility of direct observation of Jahn-Teller instability

Surface morphology in 3.5 × 3.5 μm² area of spinel LiMn₂O₄, which is a typical cathode material for Li ion secondary batteries, is studied using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a conductive probe. Negative bias voltage is applied to the probe to attract Li⁺ ions toward LiMn₂O₄ surface during the AFM observation. Before applying the voltage (0 V), the whole LiMn₂O₄ surface is covered with scale-shaped grains. Under the negative voltage of 5.5 V, electric current abruptly increases, indicating Li⁺ ionic conduction. Simultaneously, part of the scale-shaped grains expand and flatten. Jahn-Teller phase transition, which is induced by the repulsive interaction between the Mn-e_g and O-2p electrons in Li accumulated layer, is proposed as a possible origin of these results.     

Rotation rate of a three-wing rotor illuminated by upward-directed focused beam in optical tweezers

The optical torque and the trapping position (focal point) in optical tweezers are analyzed for upward-directed focused laser illumination using a ray optics model, considering that laser light is incident at not only the lower surface but also the side surface of a 3-wing rotor. The viscous drag force due to the pressure and the shearing stress on all surfaces of the rotor is evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The rotation rate is simulated in water by balancing the optical torque with the drag force, resulting in 500 rpm for an SU-8 rotor with 20 μm diameter at a laser power of 200 mW. The trapping position is estimated to be 7.6 μm in the rotor with an upward-directed laser at 200 mW via an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 1.4. Both the rotation rate and the trapping position agree well with the values obtained in the experiment.     

Frenkel-Kontorova模型中基底势振动的影响

基于一维Frenkel-Kontorova模型, 研究了振动的基底势对系统纳米摩擦现象的影响. 分别在相邻原子间的距离与周期势场的周期比为不公度(incommensurate)、可公度(commensurate)两种情形下, 探讨了基底势振动的振幅和频率对滞回现象(hysteresis)、最大静摩擦力以及超滑现象的作用机理. 两种情形下, 固定频率, 随着振幅的增大, 滞回区域的面积以及最大静摩擦力都将减小, 对于不同的频率, 减小的趋势不同. 系统甚至产生了超滑现象. 但当频率过大时, 振幅的改变不会影响滞回区域的面积以及最大静摩擦力的大小, 此时与基底不加振动时的情形一致; 当振幅固定, 随着频率的增大, 滞回区域的面积将增大, 对于不同振幅, 增大的趋势不同. 特别地, 对于某些固定的振幅, 最大静摩擦力随着振动频率的增大先逐步减小直至出现超滑现象, 再进一步增大频率, 最大静摩擦力又转而逐步增大. 这一现象类似于共振, 表明存在最佳的振动频率促进系统内所有原子的共同运动, 使得整个系统的最大静摩擦力几乎消失. 另外, 两种情形的区别是, 对于某些固定的频率(如ω= 0.5)和不同的小振幅, 不可公度情形往往具有相同的平均终止速度, 而可公度情形则不同, 表明相同前提下后者具有更复杂的动力学行为. 关键词： Frenkel-Kontorova模型 滞回 最大静摩擦力 超润滑     

感生电场与动生电场的等效性探究

本文认为在感生电场的情况下,磁场的强弱变化可以引起磁场自身的横向运动,使得线圈中电子相对于磁场发生运动,从而等效为一个动生电场,受到洛伦兹力的作用.借助磁感线模拟磁场的运动方式,得到圆形回路中任意一点与磁场相对运动速度的表达式,进而推得该＂等效动生电场＂中的洛伦兹力.以螺线管为例,验证该方法可以解释感生电场所满足的规律.将感生电场与动生电场的产生原因统一为导体中电子与磁场的相对运动,相应电动势的非静电力统一为洛伦兹力.     

A planar Bézier profiled horn for reducing penetration force in ultrasonic cutting

An ultrasonic planar horn with a Bézier profile is developed. The first longitudinal displacement mode of the horn is exploited for high displacement amplification in order to reduce the penetration force required to enter and cut materials. The displacement amplification and stress distribution characteristics of the Bézier horn and the commonly used catenary horn are examined. The penetration force by the Bézier horn is nearly 75% of that by the catenary horn with a penetration speed of 0.25 mm/s during cutting a tissue stimulant. At a penetration speed of 0.5 mm/s, the penetration force by the Bézier horn is nearly 85% of that by the catenary horn for cutting a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) material. The decrease in the penetration force by the Bézier horn is attributed to the fact that the displacement amplification of the Bézier horn is 30% higher than that of the traditional catenary horn with the same length and end surface widths.     

Improving the resolution and the uniformity of AFM tip induced oxide patterns with pulsed voltages

Oxide line patterns were fabricated on the surface of titanium (Ti) film using atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip induced local oxidation technique. The growth behavior of the oxide under static voltages was studied. It was found the lateral growth of the oxide experienced two stages and the growth rate at the initial stage was very high. Pulsed voltages were employed and their effects on the controlling of the oxidation dynamics were examined. The results indicated that the high lateral and vertical growth rates of oxide at the initial stage could be suppressed with pulsed voltages. A minimum line width of 8 nm and highly uniform patterns were obtained with optimized voltage pulses. These results indicated that applying pulsed voltage is an effective method for improving both the resolution and the uniformity of the fabricated structures with scanning probe microscopy (SPM) tip induced local oxidation technique.