Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Saima A. Sumaiya, Jun Liu, Mehmet Z. Baykara
Summary: The atomic-scale structure and properties of material surfaces play a significant role in various chemical and mechanical phenomena. However, current methods for characterizing surfaces at the atomic level are limited by the need for strict environmental conditions. This study presents a new approach utilizing conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) to achieve atomic-resolution surface imaging under ambient conditions. The results demonstrate the capability of this method to manipulate and observe surface structure and electronics in real time, with wide-ranging applicability.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Telmo O. Paiva, Albertus Viljoen, Yves F. Dufrene
Summary: Advancements in atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques and methodologies in microbiology have enhanced our understanding of microbial cell surfaces. Recent studies have shown that AFM imaging of cells and membranes at or near molecular resolution enables detailed visualization of membrane-drug interactions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuji Yamagishi, Hiroaki Kominami, Kei Kobayashi, Yuki Nomura, Emiko Igaki, Hirofumi Yamada
Summary: In this study, the molecular-scale solvation structures at the electrolyte-mica interface were measured using FM-AFM. The effective size of molecular assemblies formed at the interface increased with increasing ion concentrations, as shown by both experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jing Chang, Bo Liu, James S. Grundy, Huaizhi Shao, Rogerio Manica, Zhen Li, Qingxia Liu, Zhenghe Xu
Summary: In this study, atomic force microscopy was used to image the surface lattice structure of kaolinite basal planes in liquids, revealing distinct ion adsorption characteristics in the presence and absence of monovalent and divalent cations through different mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
An Li, Jing Chang, Tao Shui, Qingxia Liu, Hao Zhang, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: The prevention of calcite aggregation and scaling is a challenging problem in aqueous systems and environmental science. This study investigated the nanoscale topographic features of calcite in aggregation and found that intermolecular and surface forces significantly influence the process. Factors such as solution pH, inhibitor concentration, and salinity were found to affect the forces involved, leading to either repulsion or adhesion, which could affect calcite aggregation and surface deposition.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuyao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhu, Bokai Zhu, Chiheng Chu, Baoliang Chen
Summary: The hydrophobicity of nanomaterials plays a crucial role in various interfacial phenomena. However, it is challenging to study the high-resolution surface hydrophobicity at the nanoscale. In this study, a chemical force microscopy technique is used to profile in situ hydrophobicity images with nanoscale resolution, providing significant improvement compared to traditional methods. The method is applied to recognize the spatial fine structure hydrophobicity of different materials and reveals new findings regarding the hydrophobicity of graphene oxides (GO) and the influence of wrinkles/edges on hydrophobicity. Furthermore, the technique enables the observation of local oxidation variation during interfacial reactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vytautas Navikas, Samuel M. Leitao, Kristin S. Grussmayer, Adrien Descloux, Barney Drake, Klaus Yserentant, Philipp Werther, Dirk-Peter Herten, Richard Wombacher, Aleksandra Radenovic, Georg E. Fantner
Summary: The combination of scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) and live-cell super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) is introduced for non-invasive topographical imaging of soft biological samples, preserving high axial resolution. This method allows for the visualization of cellular structures in 3D with high resolution while maintaining the integrity of fragile membrane samples.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Junsuke Yamanishi, Yan Jun Li, Yoshitaka Naitoh, Yasuhiro Sugawara
Summary: This review introduces the operating principle and applications of photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM), including the gradient force, scattering force, and methods to eliminate photothermal effects. Two PiFM operating modes, in air based on the tapping mode and in vacuum based on the frequency modulation (FM) mode, are discussed along with the measurement results of SiNc clusters and semiconductor quantum dots.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C-PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Devin T. Edwards, Marc-Andre Leblanc, Thomas T. Perkins
Summary: Single-molecule force spectroscopy was used to study protein folding dynamics, revealing intrinsic changes in protein folding dynamics and transition state height under different pH conditions. Despite differences in destabilization mechanisms, constant-force landscapes showed minimal differences in transition state height, while force-dependent rates increased as pH decreased. This study provides insights for future AFM-based studies of mechanoresponsive proteins.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Young-Joo Kim, Jaekyung Lim, Do-Nyun Kim
Summary: A systematic method combining data acquisition and preparation with deep-learning-based image super-resolution is proposed for rapid and accurate AFM characterization, achieving around a tenfold reduction in imaging time without significant loss of accuracy. Through a transfer learning strategy, it can be efficiently customized for a specific target sample on demand.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sergeej Y. M. H. Seepma, Bonny W. M. Kuipers, Mariette Wolthers
Summary: In this study, the impact of solution stoichiometry on the particle size development of BaSO4 crystals in 0.02 M NaCl suspensions was investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results showed that the average hydrodynamic particle size of the largest population in the suspensions increased from around 200 nm to around 700 nm within 10-15 min as the initial supersaturation and ion activity solution stoichiometries changed. The formation kinetics of BaSO4 crystals were found to be faster at near-stoichiometric conditions and slower at nonstoichiometric conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mariano D. Jimenez-Sanchez, Ivan Brihuega, Nicoleta Nicoara, Julio Gomez-Herrero, Jose M. Gomez-Rodriguez
Summary: This study overcomes the challenge of loss of spatial resolution in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) due to long-range interactions by selectively extracting single metallic nanoclusters grown on graphene. The created nanotips are stable and can be used to explore different surfaces without loss of resolution, opening up possibilities for specific functionalization of AFM tips to sense a variety of interactions.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Binxin Fu, Rosa M. Espinosa-Marzal
Summary: Nanoscale friction measurements were conducted on calcite single crystals to study the influence of surface roughness, contact aging, and different environments. The results showed that friction behavior varied significantly between dry and aqueous environments, with water environment even eliminating velocity-weakening friction caused by atomic attrition. Friction rate parameters and memory distance also exhibited differences between dry and aqueous environments, with implications for understanding fault stability and friction laws.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sho Nagai, Shingo Urata, Kent Suga, Takeshi Fukuma, Yasuo Hayashi, Keisuke Miyazawa
Summary: Water molecules can influence the reactivity and molecular adsorption behavior of oxide surfaces. This study used 3D-AFM and molecular dynamics simulations to observe the hydroxyl (OH) groups and their hydration structures on sapphire and alpha-quartz surfaces at the atomic scale. The results showed that the density and hydrogen-bonding strength of surface OH groups affect their hydration structures. Additionally, the force curves obtained by 3D-AFM revealed that hydration forces intensify at sites where water molecules strongly interact with surface OH groups. This research provides important insights for understanding the interaction between Al2O3 and SiO2 with water molecules and highlights the potential of 3D-AFM in studying atomic-scale hydration structures on different surfaces.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Keivan Asadi, Junghoon Yeom, Hanna Cho
Summary: Investigating internal resonance (IR) mechanisms in micro/nanoresonators reveals that intermodal coupling between second and third flexural modes in asymmetric structures provides an optimal condition for strong IR, with high energy transfer to the resonated mode. This study introduces design strategies that can be easily integrated into typical micro/nanoelectromechanical systems, offering potential for paradigm-shifting applications in micro/nanosystems.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2021)