High throughput optical readout of dense arrays of nanomechanical systems for sensing applications

We present an instrument based on the scanning of a laser beam and the measurement of the reflected beam deflection that enables the readout of arrays of nanomechanical systems without limitation in the geometry of the sample, with high sensitivity and a spatial resolution of few micrometers. The measurement of nanoscale deformations on surfaces of cm(2) is performed automatically, with minimal need of user intervention for optical alignment. To exploit the capability of the instrument for high throughput biological and chemical sensing, we have designed and fabricated a two-dimensional array of 128 cantilevers. As a proof of concept, we measure the nanometer-scale bending of the 128 cantilevers, previously coated with a thin gold layer, induced by the adsorption and self-assembly on the gold surface of several self-assembled monolayers. The instrument is able to provide the static and dynamic responses of cantilevers with subnanometer resolution and at a rate of up to ten cantilevers per second. The instrumentation and the fabricated chip enable applications for the analysis of complex biological systems and for artificial olfaction.     

Electrochemically induced adsorption of radio-labeled DNA on gold and HOPG substrates for STM investigations.

In a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) electrochemical cell we have studied the effects of electrode potential on both the surface topography and the adsorption of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to graphite and gold surfaces. Images of the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), of the same area, in response to a positive increase in surface potential show degradation of the step edges with little change in the crystal plane. Images of the same area of a gold surface demonstrate the formation of and the progressive increase in nodular structures on the crystal planes, in response to increased potential, with little effect on the step edges. Using radio-labeled DNA we monitored electrochemical absorption onto HOPG and gold surfaces. Although at no applied potential and at negative surface potentials some DNA was bound, at positive potentials 3 to 5 times more DNA was incorporated onto both surfaces. DNA adsorbed to a surface at a positive potential was not removed by reversing the potential.     

Large-scale, uniform DNA network on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid modified gold (111) surface: atomic force microscopy study

Large-scale, uniform plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) network has been successfully constructed on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid modified gold (111) surface using a self-assembly technique. The effect of DNA concentration on the characteristics of the DNA network was investigated by atomic force microscopy. It was found that the size of meshes and the height of fibers in the DNA network could be controlled by varying the concentration of DNA with a constant time of assembly of 24 h.     

基于金纳米颗粒的化学电阻传感器检测苯类气体

为提高气体传感器对苯系物的选择性,文中通过Au-S键的自组装作用和滴铸法制备了4-甲氧基苄硫醇(MTT)修饰的金纳米颗粒(AuNPs)化学电阻传感器,用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对其微观形貌进行了表征.设计了气体检测平台和数据采集系统,并对传感器的气敏性能进行了检测,结果显示:基于MTT功能化的AuNP s化学电阻传感器...     

Surface Damage Characteristics of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkanethiols on Metal Surfaces

The effect of metal oxide layer on the nano-tribological characteristics of single chain alkanethiol (CH₃(CH₂) _n SH) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on various metal surfaces (gold, silver, copper) was investigated. In order to correlate the surface structures with the tribological characteristics, various surface analysis techniques such as Scanning Probe Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry were used. Results of surface analyses showed that thiols on a metal surface were susceptible to forming multilayers if the metal surface was oxidized before the thiol assembly process. From the friction and wear tests conducted using an Atomic Force Microscope and a Lateral Force Microscope, it was found that thiols on copper oxide surface could be easily removed even under a few nano-Newton normal load. On the other hand, thiols on gold and copper fresh surfaces (the surface which was made by minimizing oxide formation) could endure up to micro-Newton level loads. Based on these findings, it could be concluded that the nano-tribological characteristics of alkanethiol SAMs on various metal surfaces were largely dependent on the oxide layer that already formed on the metal surface before the thiol adsorption process.     

Hybridisation of short DNA molecules investigated with in situ atomic force microscopy

By introducing the complementary DNA (cDNA) strand to a molecular layer of short single stranded DNA (ssDNA), immobilised on a gold surface, we have investigated hybridisation between the two DNA strands through the technique of in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). Before introduction of cDNA, the ssDNA molecular layer was modulated with the spacer molecule mercaptohexanol (MCH), which makes the ssDNA molecules more accessible for hybridisation.With in situ AFM, we have monitored the formation of a smooth, mixed molecular layer containing ssDNA and MCH. Furthermore, the hybridisation between the two DNA strands has been studied. Introduction of the cDNA strand resulted in an increase in smoothness and thickness of the molecular layer. Both the increase in order and thickness of the molecular layer can be expected if hybridisation occurs, since double stranded DNA molecules have a more rigid and elongated structure than ssDNA molecules.     

Electrochemical deposition of molecular adsorbates for in situ scanning probe microscopy

We have studied gold and graphite electrodes in an electrochemistry cell under various solutions using the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The gold (111) surface yields quite reproducible images and cyclic voltammograms. In situ voltammograms show that, under certain conditions, nanomolar quantities of DNA fragments can suppress the adsorption of a buffer salt of millimolar concentration. When the DNA concentration is reduced below that required for a monolayer coverage, the salt adsorption is restored. We show images of bare gold, gold covered with an adsorbate produced by the buffer salt, and gold prepared with a concentration of DNA fragments close to that required for monolayer coverage added to the buffer. Under these conditions, the surface is found to be uniformly covered with a characteristic structure.     

用于恶劣环境的耐高温压力传感器

为了解决如高温200℃等恶劣环境下的压力测量问题,基于微机电系统(MEMS)和高能氧离子注入(SIMOX)技术,研制了一种量程为0~120 kPa的压阻式压力传感器。该传感器芯片由硅基底、薄层二氧化硅、惠斯登电桥结构的硼离子注入层、氮化硅应力匹配层、钛-铂-金梁式引线层和由湿法刻蚀形成的空腔组成。在氧剂量1.4×10¹⁸/cm²和注入能量200 keV条件下,由高能氧离子注入技术形成厚度为367 nm的埋层二氧化硅层,从而将上部测量电路层和硅基底隔离开,解决了漏电流问题,使得传感器芯片可以在高温200 ℃以上的环境下使用。为了提高传感器在宽温度范围内的稳定性,对温度补偿工艺进行了研究,补偿后的传感器灵敏度温度系数和零位温度系数很容易控制在1×10^-4/℃·FS。实验标定结果表明:在200 ℃下,研发的耐高温压力传感器具有很好的工作性能,其线性度误差达0.12%FS、重复性误差为0.1%FS、迟滞误差为0.12%FS,精度达0.197%FS,满足油井、风洞、汽车和石化工业等现代工业的应用需求。     

Multiwell micromechanical cantilever array reader for biotechnology

We use a multiwell micromechanical cantilever sensor (MCS) device to measure surface stress changes induced by specific adsorption of molecules. A multiplexed assay format facilitates the monitoring of the bending of 16 MCSs in parallel. The 16 MCSs are grouped within four separate wells. Each well can be addressed independently by different analyte liquids. This enables functionalization of MCS separately by flowing different solutions through each well. In addition, each well contains a fixed reference mirror which allows measuring the absolute bending of MCS. In addition, the mirror can be used to follow refractive index changes upon mixing of different solutions. The effect of the flow rate on the MCS bending change was found to be dependent on the absolute bending value of MCS. Experiments and finite element simulations of solution exchange in wells were performed. Both revealed that one solution can be exchanged by another one after 200 microl volume has flown through. Using this device, the adsorption of thiolated DNA molecules and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol on gold surfaces was performed to test the nanomechanical response of MCS.     

Self‐assembled monolayers of DNA on cysteamine modified Au(111) surface: Atomic force microscopy study

The λ‐DNA molecules self‐assemble on cysteamine‐modified gold (111) surface to form flat‐lying self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). The formation kinetics of such DNA SAMs is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM results show that DNA molecules do not arrange themselves on cysteamine‐modified gold (111) surface into a well‐ordered monolayer. It is also found that the surface density of DNA monolayer does not increase as the DNA concentration increases. The high temperature of DNA solution and the immersing in ultrapure water produce some obvious DNA bundles. Whereas divalent cations in DNA solution result in the formation of more compact DNA films. The obtained information may be useful for practical application of the DNA films and further theoretical studies. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

State of the art and future developments of measurement applications on smartphones

The modern smartphones contain different sensor technologies, so they can be used as stand-alone measurement instruments on a wide range of application domains. The paper deals with a survey of measurement applications based on smartphones. In the first part, the evolution of mobile phone technologies, including the sensors and mobile networks developments, is presented. Then, in order to highlight the sensors and the communication capabilities, the architectural overview of the hardware and software technologies, which are available on latest series of smartphones, is reported and discussed. A review of measurements applications using the smart sensors and the communication interfaces available on smartphones, it is also presented. A classification of smartphone applications, which looks the smartphone as a handheld measurement instrument, is presented. In the last part, the integration of augmented reality to the measurement applications and new type of measurement systems, having a smartphone as processing support, is presented.     

Investigation of mercury adsorption on gold films by STM

Scanning tunnelling microscopy, combined with complementary electrical and analytical measurements, provides a powerful method for examining the behaviour of mercury on gold-film sensors under actual sensor operating conditions. The films exhibit a linear increase in resistance upon adsorption of mercury, and this resistive change is accompanied by a decrease in measured barrier height at submonolayer coverages of mercury. STM studies of changes in the effective barrier height upon mercury adsorption provide evidence that mercury migrates to grain boundaries for films exposed at submonolayer coverages. Coverages in excess of a monolayer result in a nearly constant, reduced effective barrier height across the entire surface, which is indicative of a more uniform distribution of mercury over the surface. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of the adsorption of mercury onto defective, contaminated gold surfaces.     

热喷涂宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层研究现状与展望

在航空、航天、冶金、电力、石化、矿采等领域,零件高温摩擦磨损特性是影响装备寿命的重要因素,在关重零部件表面设计制备宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层是装备零件强化改性和再制造修复的重要手段。首先阐述了宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层设计中过渡层、基础相、增强相的材料选择依据;其次针对单一固体润滑剂适用温度范围窄的问题,梳理了从低温润滑剂发生氧化反应原位生成高温润滑剂,低温润滑剂与高温润滑剂长时协同作用,添加抑制剂减缓润滑相的损耗退化等三种宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层材料设计方法;而后总结了宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层的制备工艺,分析了不同喷涂工艺的技术特点和涂层制备实例,介绍了宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层在军事装备和工业设备上的典型应用;最后在此基础上对宽温域耐磨自润滑涂层的未来发展方向进行了展望。     

可测量法向力和剪切力的带屏蔽软体电容传感器

软体电容传感器因其高柔顺性和高灵敏度等特征在人机交互、可穿戴设备和软体机器人中有很好的应用前景,然而电容检测很容易受到外界电磁场的干扰,因此提出了一种带屏蔽的软体电容传感器。为了能够同时检测法向压力和剪切压力,设计了一种三电极的双电容结构,同时在传感器上下表面添加屏蔽层来屏蔽外界电磁场干扰。为解决因屏蔽层变形产生的寄生电容对检测电容的影响,提出了一种刚度分层的方法,电极之间的电介质感知区域采用一种厚度仅约0.6mm的硅胶海绵结构,而电极和屏蔽层之间采用实心硅胶,从而保证按压传感器时感知区域的变形远大于屏蔽层。实验结果表明,传感器可以同时检测法向压力和剪切压力的变化,法向灵敏度可达到0.12kPa^-1,单位剪切压强的电容变化达10fF,与不带屏蔽的传感器相比,该传感器可将交流高压(1400 V)电场引起的噪声减小到9%。这种带屏蔽的传感器在电吸附皮肤、软体机器人、可穿戴医疗设备等电磁干扰较强的环境中具有潜在的应用价值。     

Wear Resistance of Amorphous-Crystalline Coatings with Lubricants

The results of tests of a Zr–Al–B boundary friction detonation coating in a wide range of changes under friction conditions have been presented. A comparative analysis of the obtained characteristics of friction and wear in order to evaluate the tribotechnical properties of amorphous-crystalline coatings has been carried out. These results have been compared with parallel tests of coatings based on tungsten carbide, samples of hardened steel and bronze, and the bearing of the sliding layer. The formation of solid solutions has been established and the introduction of oxygen in zirconium that corresponds to the formation on the friction surfaces of the secondary structures of the first type, a characteristic feature of which is their surface localization, ultra-dispersed structure, and ability to minimize disruption and shield unacceptable adhesion phenomena. The use of the Auger electron microscope confirmed that oxygen completely replaces the sulfur in the surface structures.     

Optical analysis of surfaces by second‐harmonic generation: Possible applications to tribology

Optical second‐harmonic generation is a recently developed technique in surface science, the range of applications of which has been steadily broadening. It allows, among other things, the direct probing of molecular adsorption on to a solid substrate from a liquid or gaseous environment. This paper reports on the possibility of applying it to tribological studies. A set of possible experiments that could offer information, in particular, on the working principle of those oil additives, commonly used in the lubricant industry, whose effect derives from surface adsorption, are discussed briefly. In addition, the preliminary results of a first experiment are described.     

Microcantilever-based biosensors

The use of surface stress-based sensors as bio-chemical sensors was investigated. In principle, adsorption of biochemical species on a functionalised surface of a microfabricated cantilever will cause surface stress and consequently the cantilever bends. Two applications are presented: first lipoproteins and their oxidised form which are responsible for cholesterol accumulation in arteries were differentiated by measuring the surface stress involved in their adsorption on a sugar (heparin); secondly, the surface stress resulting from surface induced conformational changes in protein was monitored. That provided experimental evidence of long time-scale surface processes.     

Fabrication of self-assembled oligophenylethynylenethiol monolayer for electrochemical glucose biosensor

An electrochemical glucose biosensor was developed using a gold (Au) electrode, which was composed of self-assembled oligophenylethynylenethiol monolayer and glucose oxidase (GOx) structure. Oligophenylethynylenethiol was used as a chemical linker for the immobilization of GOx on Au electrode, which facilitates the transfer of electron produced by enzyme reaction to the Au electrode. The electrical property of self-assembled oligophenylethynylenethiol monolayer was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The formation of self-assembled oligophenylethynylenethiol monolayer and GOx layer on Au surface was verified by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The electrochemical glucose biosensor exhibited a linear relationship between target concentration and oxidation current in the range of 2–30 mM and its detection limit was 2 mM.     

Peripheral electrochemical grinding of sintered carbides — Effect on surface finish

Peripheral electrochemical grinding was studied on eight typical commercially available sintered carbide tool grades, with emphasis on surface integrity. The different wheel-workpiece regions — the “contact” region, characterized by a simultaneous electrochemical and abrasive action, and the “after-wheel” region in which only the electrochemical aspect is present — were examined with a microscope. A wide range of practical working conditions was covered for additional data. Geometrical surface parameters such as overcut and surface roughness were related to those of the main process. Electrochemical surface parameters such as selective etching, oxide layer formation and local activation were evaluated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. An appropriate process mechanism was suggested on the basis of the results.     

Lubricant layer formation during the dip-coating process: influence of adsorption and viscous flow mechanisms

Thickness and structure of Z03, Z-Dol, Z-tetraol and AM2001 lubricant layers dip-coated on amorphous carbon surfaces were studied as a function of the dwell time in solution and the pull-out speed. The results demonstrate that the lubricant layer is formed via the joint action of surface adsorption and viscous flow mechanisms. Surface adsorption creates the bonded layer in the case of functionalized lubricants, whose thickness was found to be dependent on dwell time. The observed kinetics of the surface adsorption was described as a reversible second order process. The viscous flow mechanism is responsible for the formation of the mobile layer, whose thickness only depends on the pull-out speed.