Nanotribology of cluster assembled carbon films

The frictional properties of cluster assembled carbon films have been investigated on nanometric scale by friction force microscopy. The experiment was performed at low loads to avoid plastic deformation and wear of materials. We found that load-dependent measurements acquired on samples with different composition present excellent agreement with the Hertzian-plus-offset model. A quantitative comparison among these films and atom-assembled carbon compounds is finally presented.     

Modeling electric-field-sensitive scanning probe measurements for a tip of arbitrary shape

We present a numerical method to model electric-field-sensitive scanning probe microscopy measurements which allows for a tip of arbitrary shape and invokes image charges to exactly account for a sample dielectric overlayer. The method is applied to calculate the spatial resolution of a subsurface charge accumulation imaging system, achieving reasonable agreement with experiment.     

掩模偏转方向对硅尖形状的影响

为制备高纵横比的纳米硅尖,研究了掩模的偏转方向对硅尖形状的影响.设计了硅尖制备的工艺流程,采用KOH溶液湿法各向异性腐蚀(100)单晶硅的方法制备硅尖,根据实验结果和{411}晶面模型,分析了硅尖侧壁的组成晶面,讨论了掩模偏转方向对硅尖形状的影响,得到了制备高纵横比纳米硅尖的工艺参数.实验结果表明:当腐蚀溶液浓度和温度一定时,正方形掩模的方向并不影响快腐蚀晶面的类型,利用正方形掩模的偏转,可以制备出八面体和四面体的硅尖.当正方形掩模边缘沿〈110〉晶向时,在78 ℃、浓度为40%的KOH溶液中腐蚀硅尖,经980 ℃干氧氧化3 h进行削尖,可制备出纵横比＞2的八面体纳米硅尖阵列,硅尖侧壁由与(100)面夹角为76.37°的{411}晶面组成.     

掩模偏转方向对硅尖形状影响的研究

为制备高纵横比的纳米硅尖,研究了掩模的偏转方向对硅尖形状的影响。设计了硅尖制备的工艺流程,采用KOH溶液湿法各向异性腐蚀制备硅尖,将实验和{411}晶面模型相结合,分析了硅尖的成型机理,讨论了掩模偏转方向对硅尖形状的影响,得到制备高纵横比纳米硅尖的工艺参数。实验结果表明：硅尖侧壁是由与(100)面夹角为76.37°的{411}晶面组成;利用正方形掩模的偏转,可以制备出八面体和四面体的硅尖。当正方形掩模边缘沿<110>晶向时,在78℃、浓度40%的KOH溶液中腐蚀的硅尖,经980℃氧化削尖,可以得纵横比大于2的八面体纳米硅尖阵列。     

Blind estimation of general tip shape in AFM imaging

The use of flared tip and bi-directional servo control in some recent atomic force microscopes (AFM) has made it possible for these advanced AFMs to image structures of general shapes with undercut surfaces. AFM images are distorted representations of sample surfaces due to the dilation produced by the finite size of the tip. It is necessary to obtain the tip shape in order to correct such tip distortion. This paper presents a noise-tolerant approach that can for the first time estimate a general 3-dimensional (3D) tip shape from its scanned image in such AFMs. It extends an existing blind tip estimation method. With the samples, images, and tips described by dexels, a representation that can describe general 3D shapes, the new approach can estimate general tip shapes, including reentrant features such as undercut lines.     

A simple method for AFM tip characterization by polystyrene spheres

An AFM image would not be the true topography of a surface because of the limitation of a finite size of the tip. The true topography of the surface can be deduced if we can know the tip shape. In this paper a simple method has been established to determine the profile of an AFM tip. A geometrical model for the tip and a spherical object has been proposed to show the procedure for deducing the tip shape from AFM images. Isolated spheres and closely packed spheres with different diameters have been observed to confirm the tip shape by this method. It is a non-destructive method to determine the tip shape and the results can be used for future reconstruction of an AFM image.     

A torsional resonance mode AFM for in-plane tip surface interactions

Changing the method of tip/sample interaction leads to contact, tapping and other dynamic imaging modes in atomic force microscopy (AFM) feedback controls. A common characteristic of these feedback controls is that the primary control signals are based on flexural deflection of the cantilever probes, statically or dynamically. We introduce a new AFM mode using the torsional resonance amplitude (or phase) to control the feedback loop and maintain the tip/surface relative position through lateral interaction. The torsional resonance mode (TRmode™) provides complementary information to tapping mode for surface imaging and studies. The nature of tip/surface interaction of the TRmode facilitates phase measurements to resolve the in-plane anisotropy of materials as well as measurements of dynamic friction at nanometer scale. TRmode can image surfaces interleaved with TappingMode™ with the same probe and in the same area. In this way we are able to probe samples dynamically in both vertical and lateral dimensions with high sensitivity to local mechanical and tribological properties. The benefit of TRmode has been proven in studies of water adsorption on HOPG surface steps. TR phase data yields approximately 20 times stronger contrast than tapping phase at step edges, revealing detailed structures that cannot be resolved in tapping mode imaging. The effect of sample rotation relative to the torsional oscillation axis of the cantilever on TR phase contrast has been observed. Tip wear studies of TRmode demonstrated that the interaction forces between tip and sample could be controlled for minimum tip damage by the feedback loop.     

Modal characteristics according to the tip shape and assembly condition of the turbine blade

To determine the reliability of a 5 MW gas turbine engine blade in high cycle fatigue (HFC) fracture being developed by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd., resonance characteristics are verified based on the turbine blade tip shape and assembly condition. In this study, the modal characteristics of compressor and turbine blades are investigated, and a Campbell diagram is established. During the preliminary study, modal analysis and holographic modal test of the first-, fifth-, and tenth-stage compressor blades were performed. Based on the preliminary study result, the natural frequency and Campbell diagram analysis for the turbine blades were performed. This research compared and verified the modal characteristic and resonance stability according to the tip shape and assembly condition of the blade to prevent any HCF fracture. In conclusion, the resonance stability of the shrouded blade is far superior to that of the squealer blade. Suitable assembly conditions must be applied.     

Evolution of tip shape during field evaporation of complex multilayer structures

Atom-probe tomography analysis of complex multilayer structures is a promising avenue for studying interfacial properties. However, significant artefacts in the three-dimensional reconstructed data arise due to the field evaporation process. To clarify the origin and impact of these artefacts for a FeCoB/FeCo/MgO/FeCo/IrMn multilayer, tip shapes were observed by transmission electron microscopy and compared to those obtained by finite difference modelling of electric fields and evaporation processes. It was found that the emitter shape is not spherical and its surface morphology evolves during successive evaporation of the different layers. This evolving morphology contributes to the artefacts generally observed in the reconstructed atom-probe data for multilayer structures because algorithms for three-dimensional reconstruction are based on the assumption that the shape of the emitter during field evaporation is spherical. Some proposed improvements to data reconstruction are proposed.     

V-shaped metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor probe with nano tip for surface electric properties

We design and fabricate a V-shaped metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor probe with the focused-ion-beam (FIB) nano tip to measure surface electric properties. The V-shaped structure is selected for its better lateral stiffness, and the specific dimensions are determined using the parallel beam approximation (PBA). The deposition conditions for the nano tip are also investigated for better tip sharpness. The high working frequency of the MOS transistor improves the scanning speed and the high sensitivity reduces the additional equipment required. The detection properties of the device are investigated with PZT poling patterns. The measured results show well-defined patterns, promising that the device can detect surface electric properties with high sensitivity and high working frequency.     

一种检测光学元件面形的新方法

随着光学元件的广泛应用,对光学元件面形检测提出了更严格的要求。目前常用的检测光学元件面形的方法有数字刀口检测技术和干涉检测技术,比较这两种方法的检测原理及优缺点,提出了一种适用于工厂在线检测的三维检测方法——投影检测技术。用该方法的检测原理和关键技术对光学元件进行实验验证,证明了投影检测技术这一新方法具有实际应用价值。     

Effect of tip shape on capacitance determination accuracy in scanning capacitance microscopy

We present an analysis of the measurement error caused by the stray field of scanning capacitance microscope probes of various shapes. Cylindrical islands and wells of varying radius and height or depth, in both conducting surfaces and structures containing dielectric films, were used as test features for modelling. The results show that high accuracy and good contrast of small details are contradictory requirements. Probes with small radius of curvature of the tip apex yield smaller errors on features with small diameter but larger ones on features with large diameter than tips with large radius of curvature. The stray electrostatic field causes large errors, which are exceptionally severe with microfabricated probes. Contrary to general belief, differential measurements, based on modulation of the probe/sample separation or of the width of depletion layer in semiconductors, do not reduce the effect of the stray field significantly. For best results, the probe should be shielded as close to the tip apex as possible. In the case of microfabricated probes, at least the side of the cantilever facing the sample should be shielded.     

Development of a dynamic surface shape measurement for magnetic fluid

Traditional measurement techniques such as fringe and stereo projection can hardly measure the black surface shape of magnetic liquid in revolving container which has a cover to prevent the liquid spilling out. To solve this problem, a multi-step measurement method based on linear laser projection is proposed. Modulated laser by synchronous revolving chopper is introduced to obtain the steady projection light curve on the measured location of the magnetic fluid surface. In order to capture the instantaneous reflected light of the projection light curve, a camera used a long exposure time of shooting is used. Taking the advantages of multiple exposure luminance enhancement effect of long exposure time, pictures with high brightness and contrast projection light are obtained. The overall surface shape of the fluid can be reconstructed by many laser projection lines extracted from the pictures captured at different angles of revolving container. A high transparency acrylic cover is adopted to provide good sealing performance and light transmission quality in the experiment. On the base of correction of influence of refractive index of the acrylic cover, the height formula of magnetic fluid surface is derived. The camera installation angle and distance between the camera and the container are not required as the size of container are utilized to calibrate the camera. The relationship between image coordinates and world coordinates is also obtained. According to the height curves of the projection lines and their measuring angles on the container, 3-D surface shape of magnetic fluid is reconstructed. The surface shape is verified indirectly by using the imbalance of the container, and the relative unbalance errors between the measurement results and the results by Shenk dynamic balancing machine under different conditions are between 0.8% and 11%. Another performance experiment on measuring the surface shape of an rubber block indicates that the measurement range of the proposed method is that the slope of the measured surface must be less than 3.94, and the sensitivity is 0.18 mm. All performance of the proposed method is acceptable, so such a complex industrial problem is solved only by a daily digital camera.     

Optimum shape design for surface of a thermohydrodynamic lubrication slider bearing

This paper utilises a thermohydrodynamic model of bearing to optimise the shape of slider bearing. Friction is minimised subject to load and centre of pressure requirements using a sequential quadratic programming algorithm. A generalised Reynolds equation is solved simultaneously with an energy equation using the finite volume method to obtain bearing characteristics, such as friction, load and centre of pressure. Results show that the coefficient of friction is reduced by the optimisation approach. Results also show that larger temperature–viscosity coefficient and inlet viscosity tend to yield smaller optimal friction, whereas larger thermal conductivity tends to yield larger optimal friction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Note: Compact high voltage pulse transformer made using a capacitor bank assembled in the shape of primary

The experimental results of an air-core pulse transformer are presented, which is very compact (<10 Kg in weight) and is primed by a capacitor bank that is fabricated in such a way that the capacitor bank with its switch takes the shape of single-turn rectangular shaped primary of the transformer. A high voltage capacitor assembly (pulse-forming-line capacitor, PFL) of 5.1 nF is connected with the secondary of transformer. The transformer output voltage is 160 kV in its second peak appearing in less than 2 μS from the beginning of the capacitor discharge. The primary capacitor bank can be charged up to a maximum of 18 kV, with the voltage delivery of 360 kV in similar capacitive loads.     

A three-dimensional active shape model for the detection of anatomical landmarks on the back surface

In this study relations between anatomical landmarks on the dorsal surface of the human torso corresponding to underlying skeletal structures are established. By examining the statistics of the positions of the landmarks in a training set of subjects a point distribution model is derived. Rotations of the pelvis are simulated in order to show that the main mode shapes of variation are consistent with rotations of the pelvis relative to the trunk. The parameters of these mode shapes can therefore be used as independent measures of clinical parameters such as pelvic inclination, pelvic tilt, etc. The point distribution model is further applied to improve reliability and robustness for an automatic and objective detection of the anatomical landmarks on the back surface (active shape model). The results show that it is possible to replace radiographs by surface measurements in order to measure position and orientation of the pelvis, which is particularly valuable in the case of functional examinations that normally involve a large number of radiographs (e.g. to measure the position of the pelvis in a scoliosis).     

Three-dimensional surface characterization for orthopaedic joint prostheses

This study attempts to investigate a range of 'better' methods for the characterization of the three-dimensional (3D) surface topography of orthopaedic joint prostheses. In this paper, a new characterization tool for the comprehensive identification and evaluation of functional features of these surface topographies is presented. For identification, the surface topography is investigated in a space-scale space, by employing wavelet analysis. The roughness, waviness and form involved in surface topography are consequently separated and recovered respectively. The multiscalar topographical features are identified and captured. The errors caused as a consequence of three-dimensional measurement methods can be reduced. After identification, the three-dimensional surface assessment techniques previously reported by Stout and co-workers are used for the quantitative evaluation of various surface roughness features of the orthopaedic joint prostheses. Moreover, the functional properties, such as bearing area, material volume and void volume which are significantly effected by large peaks, pits and scratches are studied and the location of isolated peaks, pits and scratches in the different scales is also clearly characterized. In this work, measurement of the femoral heads and acetabular cups is carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the characterization technique for the three-dimensional surface topography of orthopaedic joint prostheses.