The image quality and resolution of the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) operating in tapping mode is dependent on the quality (Q) factor of the sensing micro-cantilever. Increasing the cantilever Q factor improves image resolution and reduces the risk of sample and cantilever damage. Active piezoelectric shunt control is introduced in this work as a new technique for modifying the Q factor of a p...

We evaluate two novel reciprocal self-sensing methods for tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) utilizing charge measurement and charge actuation, respectively. A microcantilever, which can be batch fabricated through a standard microelectromechanical system (MEMS) process, is coated with a single piezoelectric layer and simultaneously used for actuation and deflection sensing. The setu...

The atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to continuously follow height changes of individual protein molecules exposed to physiological stimuli. A AFM tip was coated with ROMK1 (a cloned renal epithelial potassium channel known to be highly pH sensitive) and lowered onto atomically flat mica surface until the protein was sandwiched between AFM tip and mica. Because the AFM tip was an integral...

INTRODUCTION Interactions of the ceria particles with polyurethane surfaces are of great interest for polishing processes used in modern semiconductor industry. Specifically, ceria abrasive nanoparticles and polyurethane polishing pads are now broadly used in the process called Chemical-Mechanical Planarization/Polishing (CMP) [1,2,3]. To optimize the process of CMP, various chemicals, abrasive...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a frequently used method applicable also to biological studies due to its capability of measuring in native environment. Sharp Si, Si3N4 or C (carbon nanotubes, diamond, diamond coated) cantilevers repeatedly touching a sample are used in this method as sensitive probes. It is possible to control the interaction between the tip and the sample in order to make le...

A longstanding goal in cellular mechanobiology has been to link dynamic biomolecular processes underpinning disease or morphogenesis to spatio-temporal changes in nanoscale mechanical properties such as viscoelasticity, surface tension, and adhesion. This requires the development of quantitative mechanical microscopy methods with high spatio-temporal resolution within a single cell. The Atomic ...

Magnetic force microscope ( MFM ) is a powerful technique for mapping the magnetic force gradient above the sample surface. Herein, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were used to fabricate MFM probe by dielectrophoresis method which is a reproducible and cost-effective technique. The effect of induced voltage on the deposition manner of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the atomic force microscope (...

Advances in microscopy have contributed to many biologic discoveries. Electron microscopic techniques such as cryo-electron tomography are remarkable tools for imaging the interiors of bacterial cells in the near-native state, whereas optical microscopic techniques such as fluorescence imaging are useful for following the dynamics of specific single molecules in living cells. Neither technique,...

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is widely used in liquid environments, where true atomic resolution at the solid-liquid interface can now be routinely achieved. It is generally expected that AFM operation in more viscous environments results in an increased noise contribution from the thermal motion of the cantilever, thereby reducing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Thus, viscous fluids such as ...

During the past year, scanning probe microscopy, especially atomic force microscopy (AFM), has taken root in the biological sciences community, as is evident from the large number of publications and from the variety of specialized journals in which these papers appear. Furthermore, there is a strong indication that the technique is evolving from a qualitative imaging tool to a probe of the cri...