3D‐Printed Scanning‐Probe Microscopes with Integrated Optical Actuation and Read‐Out

Scanning‐probe microscopy (SPM) is the method of choice for high‐resolution imaging of surfaces in science and industry. However, SPM systems are still considered as rather complex and costly scientific instruments, realized by delicate combinations of microscopic cantilevers, nanoscopic tips, and macroscopic read‐out units that require high‐precision alignment prior to use. This study introduces a concept of ultra‐compact SPM engines that combine cantilevers, tips, and a wide variety of actuator and read‐out elements into one single monolithic structure. The devices are fabricated by multiphoton laser lithography as it is a particularly flexible and accurate additive nanofabrication technique. The resulting SPM engines are operated by optical actuation and read‐out without manual alignment of individual components. The viability of the concept is demonstrated in a series of experiments that range from atomic‐force microscopy engines offering atomic step height resolution, their operation in fluids, and to 3D printed scanning near‐field optical microscopy. The presented approach is amenable to wafer‐scale mass fabrication of SPM arrays and capable to unlock a wide range of novel applications that are inaccessible by current approaches to build SPMs.     

Influence of drying conditions on the stress and weight development of capillary suspensions

Cracking of suspensions during drying is a common problem. While additives, for example, binders and surfactants, can mitigate this problem, some applications, such as printing conductive pastes or sintering green bodies, do not lend themselves to the use of additives. Capillary suspensions provide an alternative formulation without additives. In this work, we use simultaneous stress and weight measurements to investigate the influence of formulation and drying conditions. Capillary suspensions dry more homogeneously and with lower peak stresses, leading to an increased robustness against cracking compared. An increase in dry film porosity is not the key driver for the stress reduction. Instead, the capillary bridges, which create strong particle networks, resist the stress. Increasing the relative humidity enhances this effect, even for pure suspensions. While lower boiling point secondary liquids, for example, water, persist for very long times during drying, higher boiling point liquids offer further potential to tune the drying process.