Characterization of Resonant Mass Sensors Using Inkjet Deposition

Author(s):  
Nikhil Bajaj ◽  
Jeffrey F. Rhoads ◽  
George T.-C. Chiu

Micro- and millimeter-scale resonant mass sensors have received widespread research attention due to their robust and highly-sensitive performance in a wide range of detection applications. A key performance metric associated with such systems is the sensitivity of the resonant frequency of a given device to changes in mass, which needs to be calibrated for different sensor designs. This calibration is complicated by the fact that the position of any added mass on a sensor can have an effect on the measured sensitivity, and thus a spatial sensitivity mapping is needed. To date, most approaches for experimental sensitivity characterization are based upon the controlled addition of small masses. These approaches include the direct attachment of microbeads via atomic force microscopy or the selective microelectrodeposition of material, both of which are time consuming and require specialized equipment. This work proposes a method of experimental spatial sensitivity measurement that uses an inkjet system and standard sensor readout methodology to map the spatially-dependent sensitivity of a resonant mass sensor — a significantly easier experimental approach. The methodology is described and demonstrated on a quartz resonator and used to inform practical sensor development.

Author(s):  
Nikhil Bajaj ◽  
Jeffrey F. Rhoads ◽  
George T.-C. Chiu

Micro- and millimeter-scale resonant mass sensors have received widespread attention due to their robust and sensitive performance in a wide range of detection applications. A key performance metric for such systems is the sensitivity of the resonant frequency of a device to changes in mass, which needs to be calibrated. This calibration is complicated by the fact that the position of the added mass on a sensor can have an effect on the measured sensitivity—therefore, a spatial sensitivity mapping is needed. To date, most approaches for experimental sensitivity characterization are based upon the controlled addition of small masses, e.g., the direct attachment of microbeads via atomic force microscopy or the selective microelectrodeposition of material, both of which are time consuming and require specialized equipment. This work proposes a method of experimental spatial sensitivity measurement that uses an inkjet system and standard sensor readout methodology to map the spatially dependent sensitivity of a resonant mass sensor—a significantly easier experimental approach. The methodology is described and demonstrated on a quartz resonator. In the specific case of a Kyocera CX3225 thickness-shear mode resonator, the location of the region of maximum mass sensitivity is experimentally identified.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 930-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumar Virwani ◽  
Younes Ansari ◽  
Khanh Nguyen ◽  
Francisco José Alía Moreno-Ortiz ◽  
Jangwoo Kim ◽  
...  

The in situ observation of electrochemical reactions is challenging due to a constantly changing electrode surface under highly sensitive conditions. This study reports the development of an in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for electrochemical systems, including the design, fabrication, and successful performance of a sealed AFM cell operating in a controlled atmosphere. Documentation of reversible physical processes on the cathode surface was performed on the example of a highly reactive lithium–oxygen battery system at different water concentrations in the solvent. The AFM data collected during the discharge–recharge cycles correlated well with the simultaneously recorded electrochemical data. We were able to capture the formation of discharge products from correlated electrical and topographical channels and measure the impact of the presence of water. The cell design permitted acquisition of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, contributing information about electrical double layers under the system’s controlled environment. This characterization method can be applied to a wide range of reactive surfaces undergoing transformations under carefully controlled conditions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Mamun ◽  
A. H. Farha ◽  
Y. Ufuktepe ◽  
H. E. Elsayed-Ali ◽  
A. A. Elmustafa

ABSTRACTNanomechanical and structural properties of pulsed laser deposited niobium nitride thin films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and nanoindentation. NbN film reveals cubic δ-NbN structure with the corresponding diffraction peaks from the (111), (200), and (220) planes. The NbN thin films depict highly granular structure, with a wide range of grain sizes that range from 15-40 nm with an average surface roughness of 6 nm. The average modulus of the film is 420±60 GPa, whereas for the substrate the average modulus is 180 GPa, which is considered higher than the average modulus for Si reported in the literature due to pile-up. The hardness of the film increases from an average of 12 GPa for deep indents (Si substrate) measured using XP CSM and load control (LC) modes to an average of 25 GPa measured using the DCM II head in CSM and LC modules. The average hardness of the Si substrate is 12 GPa.


1999 ◽  
Vol 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Venables ◽  
G. Haas ◽  
H. Brune ◽  
J.H. Harding

ABSTRACTNucleation and growth of metal clusters at defect sites is discussed in terms of rate equation models, which are applied to the cases of Pd and Ag on MgO(001) and NaCl(001) surfaces. Pd/MgO has been studied experimentally by variable temperature atomic force microscopy (AFM). The island density of Pd on Ar-cleaved surfaces was determined in-situ by AFM for a wide range of deposition temperature and flux, and stays constant over a remarkably wide range of parameters; for a particular flux, this plateau extends from 200 K ≤ T ≤ 600 K, but at higher temperatures the density decreases. The range of energies for defect trapping, adsorption, surface diffusion and pair binding are deduced, and compared with earlier data for Ag on NaCl, and with recent calculations for these metals on both NaCl and MgO


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Rafiul Shihab ◽  
Tasmirul Jalil ◽  
Burak Gulsacan ◽  
Matteo Aureli ◽  
Ryan Tung

Abstract Numerous nanometrology techniques concerned with probing a wide range of frequency dependent properties would benefit from a cantilevered sensor with tunable natural frequencies. In this work, we propose a method to arbitrarily tune the stiffness and natural frequencies of a microplate sensor for atomic force microscope applications, thereby allowing resonance amplification at a broad range of frequencies. This method is predicated on the principle of curvature-based stiffening. A macroscale experiment is conducted to verify the feasibility of the method. Next, a microscale finite element analysis is conducted on a proof-of-concept device. We show that both the stiffness and various natural frequencies of the device can be highly controlled through applied transverse curvature. Dynamic phenomena encountered in the method, such as eigenvalue curve veering, are discussed and methods are presented to accommodate these phenomena. We believe that this study will facilitate the development of future curvature-based microscale sensors for atomic force microscopy applications.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 463
Author(s):  
Haihua Pan ◽  
Ruikang Tang

Crystallization via particle attachment was used in a unified model for both classical and non-classical crystallization pathways, which have been widely observed in biomimetic mineralization and geological fields. However, much remains unknown about the detailed processes and driving mechanisms for the attachment. Here, we take calcite crystal as a model mineral to investigate the detailed attachment process using in situ Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) force measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that hydration layers hinder the attachment; however, in supersaturated solutions, ionic bridges are formed between crystal gaps as a result of capillary condensation, which might enhance the aggregation of calcite crystals. These findings provide a more detailed understanding of the crystal attachment, which is of vital importance for a better understanding of mineral formation under biological and geological environments with a wide range of chemical and physical conditions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Jason P. Killgore ◽  
William King ◽  
Kevin Kjoller ◽  
René M. Overney

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a key technique for the measurement and analysis of samples when nanoscale topography is of interest. It offers a number of complementary probing modes that extend an AFM's measurement capability to a wide range of material and transport properties of surfaces, including hardness, friction, conductivity and adhesion among others. Sample temperature controlled AFM extends the study of surface morphology and properties to include changes in the material phases.Recently, silicon microfabricated AFM cantilevers that have integrated heaters, as shown in figure 1, have become commercially available. These cantilevers were initially developed for probe based data storage by researchers at IBM Zurich, Figure 1. With the availability of these cantilevers, AFM measurements can be performed where the tip is heated as opposed to the sample.


2016 ◽  
Vol 108 (24) ◽  
pp. 243101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymeric Vecchiola ◽  
Pascal Chrétien ◽  
Sophie Delprat ◽  
Karim Bouzehouane ◽  
Olivier Schneegans ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rameshwar Adhikari

The investigation into morphology formation in ethylene/1-octene copolymers (EOCs) comprising variable 1-octene content and their blends with high density polyethylene (HDPE) and hence their tensile mechanical properties have been reported. The morphological analysis by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the macrophase separation of the components in the blends. In contrast to well defined spherulitic morphology and lamellar structure of the HDPE, the EOCs exhibited progressively distorted lamellar morphology with increasing 1-octene content. At high 1-octene content, the EOC samples possessed the ‘worm-like’ crystals, which resemble the ‘fringed micelles’ discussed in the literature. The blends allow a balance of mechanical properties (stiffness and toughness) over a wide range as shown by tensile stress strain behavior of the blends.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jncs.v30i0.9329Journal of Nepal Chemical Society Vol. 30, 2012 Page: 5-12 Uploaded date: 12/16/2013 


1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 1497-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
H G Hansma ◽  
A L Weisenhorn ◽  
A B Edmundson ◽  
H E Gaub ◽  
P K Hansma

Abstract The atomic force microscope (AFM) can image individual molecules by raster-scanning a sharp tip over a surface. In this paper we present molecular-resolution images of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and of ultraviolet light-polymerized films of the lipid dimethyl-bis(pentacosadiynoyloxyethyl) ammonium bromide ("BRONCO"). The polar head groups of individual lipid molecules can be resolved on the surface of this and other lipid films. These lipid films also provide a good substrate for AFM imaging of DNA and of other molecules such as antibodies. Because the AFM scans surfaces, it is most often successful at imaging either molecules that can form an array on a surface or molecules that are quite firmly attached to a surface. The ability of the AFM to operate under water, buffers, and other liquids makes it possible to study biological molecules under conditions in which they are physiologically active. Imaging of the actual molecular process of fibrin polymerization shows the potential of the AFM for studying biological processes. In the six years since its invention, the AFM has excited much interest and has imaged molecules in a wide range of systems.


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