399 results about "Afm atomic force microscopy" patented technology

The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a nonmagnetic support. In the magnetic recording medium, a number of protrusions equal to or greater than 10 nm in height on the magnetic layer surface, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranges from 50 to 500 / 1,600 μm2, the binder comprises a polyurethane resin with a weight average molecular weight ranging from 100,000 to 200,000, and the magnetic layer further comprises a carbonic ester having a molecular weight ranging from 360 to 460.

Systems and methods are described for laser ablation of an analyte from a specimen and capturing of the analyte in a dispensed solvent to form a testing solution. A solvent dispensing and extraction system can form a liquid microjunction with the specimen. The solvent dispensing and extraction system can include a surface sampling probe. The laser beam can be directed through the surface sampling probe. The surface sampling probe can also serve as an atomic force microscopy probe. The surface sampling probe can form a seal with the specimen. The testing solution including the analyte can then be analyzed using an analytical instrument or undergo further processing.

A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 μm−1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 μm−1 or less.

Smooth silicon films having low compressive stress and smooth tensile silicon films are deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using a process gas comprising a silicon-containing precursor (e.g., silane), argon, and a second gas, such as helium, hydrogen, or a combination of helium and hydrogen. Doped smooth silicon films and smooth silicon germanium films can be obtained by adding a source of dopant or a germanium-containing precursor to the process gas. In some embodiments dual frequency plasma comprising high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) components is used during deposition, resulting in improved film roughness. The films are characterized by roughness (Ra) of less than about 7 Å, such as less than about 5 Å as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and a compressive stress of less than about 500 MPa in absolute value. In some embodiments smooth tensile silicon films are obtained.

Methods of measuring displacement of a movable mass in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) include driving the mass against two displacement-stopping surfaces and measuring corresponding differential capacitances of sensing capacitors such as combs. A MEMS device having displacement-stopping surfaces is described. Such a MEMS device can be used in a method of measuring properties of an atomic force microscope (AFM) having a cantilever and a deflection sensor, or in a temperature sensor having a displacement-sensing unit for sensing a movable mass permitted to vibrate along a displacement axis. A motion-measuring device can include pairs of accelerometers and gyroscopes driven 90° out of phase.

The problem addressed by this invention is to provide an aromatic polyamide porous film excellent in the capability of being thinned and capable of easily exhibiting stable porosity properties even if it is used for a long period of time at high temperature. This invention can be achieved by an aromatic polyamide porous film that contains an aromatic polyamide as a main component and is such that when an atomic force microscope is used to measure a range of S μm2 at least on one surface, the sectional area S(10) μm2 obtained at a depth of 10 nm from the surface and the sectional area S(20) μm2 obtained at a depth of 20 nm from the surface satisfy the following formulae simultaneously.0.01≦S(10) / S≦0.35≦S(20) / S(10)≦20

Polymeric microstructures and nanostructures can be prepared with use of a tip to pattern a surface. A tip can be used to pattern a structure which can initiate polymerization. The structure can be then exposed to monomer to induce polymerization at the structure. Alternatively, a tip can be used to pattern a surface with a monomer in which the surface is treated with polymerization catalyst so that polymerization occurs at the patterning site. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization can be carried out with use of the tip to control the polymerization. The tip can be a sharp tip as used in for example an atomic force microscope tip. Norbornene types of monomers can be used. Biological macromolecules can be also prepared.

The invention belongs to the field of atomic force microscopes and relates to a graphene-clad atomic force microscope probe and a manufacturing method and application thereof. The graphene-clad atomic force microscope probe comprises a probe base, a cantilever arm and a tip; the cantilever arm and the tip are provided with a metal layer; the tip is further provided with a graphene layer. The manufacturing method includes the steps of 1, preparing graphene solution, to be specific, adding 5-10mg of graphene to 1mL of water, and performing ultrasonic dispersion for 10min with an ultrasonic cleaner to obtain 5-10mg / mL graphene solution; and 2, preparing the graphene-clad atomic force microscope probe, to be specific, dipping the tip of the atomic force microscope probe with the metal layer on the cantilever arm and the tip, into the graphene solution of the step 1, and performing mechanical stirring for 30-60s before extracting the probe to allow natural airing.

An improvement for atomic force microscopes, more generally for light beam detecting systems, but also in part applicable to scanning probe microscopes, providing significant novel features and advantages. Particular features include using different objective lens regions for incident and reflected light, a flexure that allows three dimensional motion of the optics block, forming the housing and optics block of a composite material or ceramic, arranging the components so that the beam never hits a flat surface at normal incidence, and providing a resonant frequency of cantilever vibration greater than 850 HZ between the cantilever and sample and the cantilever and focusing lens.

The invention is a method for manufacturing nano tube probe tip; the pin applies to various mode of atom microscope. At first, the method decorates hydrophobe single layer film on the surface of various silicon probe pin, then it uses electrical field to eliminate the film or oxides the film into hydrophile film, it calculates the size of the activated area through the action that the pin acts onthe standard sample surface, then it fixed catalyst particles in the hydrophile area on the surface of the pin, finally, puts the pin which carries catalyst nano particles in the nano reactor and forms into nano tube.

Photomask repair and fabrication with use of direct-write nanolithography, including use of scanning probe microscopic tips (e.g., atomic force microscope tips, etc.) for deposition of ink materials including sol-gel inks. Additive methods can be combined with subtractive methods. Holes can be filled with nanostructures. Heights of the nanostructures filling the holes can be controlled without losing control of the lateral dimensions of the nanostructures. Phase shifters on phase shifting masks (PSMs) are additively repaired with selectively deposited sol-gel material that is converted to solid oxide, which has optical transparency and index of refraction adapted for the phase shifters repaired.

A light extraction transparent substrate for an organic EL element includes a transparent supporting substrate; a diffraction grating having a first concavity and convexity layer having first concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, which is located on a surface of the transparent supporting substrate, and a microlens having a second concavity and convexity layer having second concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, which is located on a surface of the transparent supporting substrate. When a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing the shape of each of the first and second concavities and convexities by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 μm−1.

The invention relates to a low-temperature environmentally-friendly preparation method of nitrogen edge doped graphene, and belongs to the field of novel carbon nano-materials. The preparation method is characterized in that graphite powder and a nitrogen-containing polymer solid are mixed and subjected to continuous ball milling at a certain ball milling speed under the normal temperature and normal pressure so as to obtain a nitrogen edge doped graphene nanosheet, wherein no liquid agents are added during preparation. By analyzing through a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope, the product is a lamellar structure which is uniform in dispersion and less than 1 nanometer in thickness. The analysis result of an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the prepared product contains nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and other elements, and therefore, that the nitrogen edge doped graphene nanosheet is successfully prepared can be verified.

Methods and apparatus for automatically determining a feedback setpoint for use in operating an atomic force microscope (AFM) are provided. The setpoint may be determined by modulating a feedback setpoint while monitoring for a change in a detector signal. In an effort to avoid tip damage and remain in non-contact, attractive mode during use, a setpoint just above a setpoint corresponding to a detected change in a parameter of the detector signal, such as an abrupt change in phase, may be used to operate the AFM.

An apparatus and technique for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work is described.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a reflective multi-layered thin film mirror for an extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) exposure process that is one of the next generation exposure process masks using an atomic force microscope (AFM). This reflective multi-layered thin film mirror for extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) exposure process allows metal oxide structures with fixed height and width to be obtained using anodic oxidization phenomenon between the cantilever tip of a atomic force microscope and an absorber material during the patterning of an absorber layer on a multi-layered thin film of a substrate, followed by forming the ultra-fine line width absorber patterns via etching of the metal oxide structure. Use of the manufacturing process of this invention is advantageous in manufacturing of extreme ultraviolet radiation exposure mask mirrors with high resolution and in manufacturing of reflective multi-layered thin film mirrors with minute absorber pattern sizes (less than 20 nm line width) compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

The invention discloses a manufacturing method of a piezoelectric micro-cantilever beam probe, belonging to the technical field of micro-mechanical sensors and actuators. The invention is characterized in that a partial piezoelectric layer is adopted to realize integration of the manufacturing technique of a nano silicon needle point and the manufacturing technique of a piezoelectric film. In the manufacturing process, the nano silicon needle point adopts anisotropic wet corrosion method with a mask; the piezoelectric film is manufactured by adopting a sol-gel method. The invention has the beneficial effects of having both functions of sensing and executing by adopting the piezoelectric film as a sensitive part, being capable of finishing the whole technological process by adopting a dry etching and wet etching technique, having lower requirements on the technological equipment, being capable of being produced in batches and reducing the cost of products. The piezoelectric micro-cantilever beam probe manufactured by the method can be used for atomic force microscopes, nano-imprint storage devices and field emission devices.

The invention relates to a method for observing the dislocation type of a heteroepitaxial growth material of gallium nitride (GaN) and measuring the dislocation density. The method is characterized by directly observing the dislocation type of the surface of a gallium nitride epitaxial film by using etching of molten potassium hydroxide and a potassium hydroxide and magnesia eutectic mixture in combination with a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope, analyzing and researching the characteristics and the distribution of dislocations of different types and calculating the dislocation density. The method is convenient and fast and is suitable for analytical testing of nitrides which grow through different processes. The characteristics of dislocations of different types in different nitride samples can be researched to obtain the distribution of various dislocations on the surface, and the densities and the total dislocation density of the dislocations of various types can be accurately calculated.

The present invention relates to an atomic force microscope probe device and its making method. It includes a probe seat, a cantilever which is fixed on the probe seat and has at least a tail end on which a probe point can be set and a carbon nano tube which is set on the tail end of said cantilever and used as probe point, in which the top portion of said probe cantilever tail end is formed into a plane with hole, and said carbon nano tube can be grown out from said hole which is basically perpendicular to said plane.

The invention discloses a single-cell / single-molecule imaging light / electricity comprehensive tester based on a multifunctional probe. The tester comprises the multifunctional nano-probe, a sample pool, an atomic force microscope system, a light source unit, an electricity testing unit, a cell sample locating system and a photon testing unit. The light source unit, the electricity testing unit, the cell sample locating system and the photon testing unit are respectively connected with a data collection and analyzing unit. The multifunctional nano-probe comprises an optical fiber layer, a nano electrode layer and an insulation layer. The nano electrode layer and the insulation layer are wrapped on the outer wall of the optical fiber layer in sequence. The synchronization comprehensive tester comprises a manufacturing method of the nano-probe which can carry out atomic force scanning imaging on single-cells / single-molecules and carry out light / electricity testing at the same time, a manufacturing method of the sample pool and relevant optics, electricity and mechanics testing and analyzing instruments. Temporal-spatial resolution and the range of target objects which can be tested are greatly improved, the tester can be widely used in biology and medicine and be used for fundamental research and disease testing under the level of sub-cells and molecules, and the tester has great development significance on tumor early diagnosis, medicine development and agricultural science.

A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 μm−1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 μm−1 or less.

The present application discloses a method for detecting a presence of target ligand in a fluid medium which includes the steps of: (i) contacting the fluid medium with a solid substrate that includes an array of dendrons on its surface, wherein each of the dendron includes a central atom, a probe that is attached to the central atom optionally through a linker, and a base portion attached to the central atom and having a plurality of termini that are attached to the surface of the solid support; and (ii) determining the presence of a probe-target ligand complex by measuring binding force between the bound ligand and detection molecule tethered to the tip of an atomic force microscope (“AFM”), which detection molecule has affinity for the ligand, wherein measurement of an increase in force between the probe-target ligand complex and the detection molecule by AFM indicates the presence of the probe-target ligand complex.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method including hardware and software, which allows collecting and analyzing of data to obtain information about mechanical properties of soft materials. This allows surface mapping of viscoelastic properties in a high-resolution and fast manner. It also allows finding the degree of nonlinearity of the material response of the sample during the measurements. The apparatus can be used as a stand-alone device, or an add-on to either the existing atomic force microscope or nanoindenter device.

An atomic force microscope (ARM) tip holder includes a vessel open at the bottom with gas-tight walls and top. A piezoelectrically activated cantilever vibratory tip holder is secured at one end within the vessel and extends to a tip-holding end at a location proximate a liquid level established when the vessel is placed open end downward in a liquid trapping air or gas. Only a small portion of the tip extends into the liquid to contact the specimen for examination by e.g. “tapping mode” AFM. Presence of the cantilever and part of the tip in gas virtually eliminates the loss of performance encountered with liquid submersion.

The invention provides polishing solution used on the surface of the high quality polished silicon carbide wafer, a preparation method of the polishing solution and a use method of the polishing solution. The polishing solution is prepared from deionized water, silica polishing solution, auxiliary oxidant and pH regulator. The polishing solution prepared by the method is odorless, has state and no precipitate and can be dispersed evenly and properly recycled; when the polishing solution is used to process the wafer, the removal rate is high; the processed silicon carbide wafer is brighter; the wafer has no unnoticeable scratches and is smooth and uniform when observed by a microscope with 50 fold magnification; and the surface roughness can reach nanometer level stably through the detection of an atomic force microscope. The cycle count of the polishing solution can be adjusted by changing the amounts of the added auxiliary oxidant and pH regulator or the ratio of the auxiliary oxidant and the pH regulator.

The invention relates to a 2D micro-positioning platform for an atomic force microscope and a measuring method of mechanical parameters. The 2D micro-positioning platform is characterized in that the center of the 2D micro-positioning platform is provided with a hole for equipping a PZT scanning tube, wherein an X position and a Y position perpendicular to each other are provided with two adjusting knobs respectively, the two adjusting knobs are connected with two drive rods which are connected with the PZT scanning tube, and the 2D micro-positioning platform is fixed on a base. The moving range of the 2D micro-positioning platform of the invention is 3*3 square mm in the horizontal direction; and the maximum scanning shift of the PZT scanning tube is 20Mum. By utilizing an AFM microscope with the improved 2D micro-positioning platform, the mechanical parameters of a fixed point on a microstructure can be tested, the mechanical-displacement function test of micro point-to-point and the continuous elastic coefficient test in a micro area can be carried out, and all the tests produce good consistency results.

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a hexagonal ferrite powder and a binder on one surface of a nonmagnetic support and a backcoat layer on the other surface of the nonmagnetic support. A power spectrum density at a pitch of 10 micrometers ranges from 800 to 10,000 nm3 on the magnetic layer surface, a power spectrum density at a pitch of 10 micrometers ranges from 20,000 to 80,000 nm3 on the backcoat layer surface, the magnetic layer has a center surface average surface roughness Ra, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 nm, and the hexagonal ferrite powder has an average plate diameter ranging from 10 to 40 nm.

We describe a new technique, standing wave axial nanometry (SWAN), to image the axial location of a single nanoscale fluorescent object with sub-nanometer accuracy and 3.7 nm precision. A standing wave, generated by positing an atomic force microscope tip over a focused laser beam, is used to excite fluorescence; axial position is determined from the phase of the mission intensity.

An atomic force microscope includes a tip mounted on a micromachined cantilever. As the tip scans a surface to be investigated, interatomic forces between the tip and the surface induce displacement of the tip. A laser beam is transmitted to and reflected from the cantilever for measuring the cantilever orientation. In a preferred embodiment the laser beam has an elliptical shape. The reflected laser beam is detected with a position-sensitive detector, preferably a bicell. The output of the bicell is provided to a computer for processing of the data for providing a topographical image of the surface with atomic resolution.

A semiconductor device having a polymer layer and a method of fabricating the same is provided. A two-step plasma treatment for a surface of the polymer layer includes a first plasma process to roughen the surface of the polymer layer and loosen contaminants, and a second plasma process to make the polymer layer smoother or make the polymer layer less rough. An etch process may be used between the first plasma process and the second plasma process to remove the contaminants loosened by the first plasma process. In an embodiment, the polymer layer exhibits a surface roughness between about 1% and about 8% as measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) with the index of surface area difference percentage (SADP) and / or has surface contaminants of less than about 1% of Ti, less than about 1% of F, less than about 1.5% Sn, and less than about 0.4% of Pb.