Establishing proper scanning conditions in atomic force microscopy on polyimide and polyurethane samples and their effect on 3D surface texture parameters
Abstract:Several atomic force microscopy (AFM) tests have been carried out on both smooth (polyimide) and rough (polyurethane) surfaces so that to obtain the best results; subsequently, the optimization of experiments performed is presented. A special emphasis has been put on the effect of tip geometry, image pre-processing procedure, scanning area, resolution, pixel size, and cantilever oscillation amplitude in tapping mode, as well as on the quality of the topographical images and 3D surface texture parameters. After… Show more
“…It was showed that the measured height of organic samples critically depend on pixel size, as the measured average sample height decreased and standard deviation increased with increasing pixel size [108]. It was demonstrated that increasing pixel size results in an increase in the apparent surface roughness, and therefore in larger sample height deviations [112,113]. Quite generally, it is clear that imaging at insufficient resolution will cause distortions in image and will lead to deviations or lateral and vertical dimension measurements.Fig.…”
Section: Resolution Sensitivity and Accuracy For Single Molecule Meamentioning
The development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has opened up a wide range of novel opportunities in nanoscience and new modalities of observation in complex biological systems. AFM imaging has been widely employed to resolve the complex and heterogeneous conformational states involved in protein aggregation at the single molecule scale and shed light onto the molecular basis of a variety of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. The study of individual macromolecules at nanoscale, however, remains challenging, especially when fully quantitative information is required. In this review, we first discuss the principles of AFM with a special emphasis on the fundamental factors defining its sensitivity and accuracy. We then review the fundamental parameters and approaches to work at the limit of AFM resolution in order to perform single molecule statistical analysis of biomolecules and nanoscale protein aggregates. This single molecule statistical approach has proved to be powerful to unravel the molecular and hierarchical assembly of the misfolded species present transiently during protein aggregation, to visualise their dynamics at the nanoscale, as well to study the structural properties of amyloid-inspired functional nanomaterials.
“…It was showed that the measured height of organic samples critically depend on pixel size, as the measured average sample height decreased and standard deviation increased with increasing pixel size [108]. It was demonstrated that increasing pixel size results in an increase in the apparent surface roughness, and therefore in larger sample height deviations [112,113]. Quite generally, it is clear that imaging at insufficient resolution will cause distortions in image and will lead to deviations or lateral and vertical dimension measurements.Fig.…”
Section: Resolution Sensitivity and Accuracy For Single Molecule Meamentioning
The development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has opened up a wide range of novel opportunities in nanoscience and new modalities of observation in complex biological systems. AFM imaging has been widely employed to resolve the complex and heterogeneous conformational states involved in protein aggregation at the single molecule scale and shed light onto the molecular basis of a variety of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. The study of individual macromolecules at nanoscale, however, remains challenging, especially when fully quantitative information is required. In this review, we first discuss the principles of AFM with a special emphasis on the fundamental factors defining its sensitivity and accuracy. We then review the fundamental parameters and approaches to work at the limit of AFM resolution in order to perform single molecule statistical analysis of biomolecules and nanoscale protein aggregates. This single molecule statistical approach has proved to be powerful to unravel the molecular and hierarchical assembly of the misfolded species present transiently during protein aggregation, to visualise their dynamics at the nanoscale, as well to study the structural properties of amyloid-inspired functional nanomaterials.
“…25 The root mean square, evaluated adopting the plugin implemented in the Nanoscope software was adopted to characterize the surface roughness. 26 The maximum height difference within the investigated areas was selected below 300 nm, in order to minimize the curvature and height difference contribution in the evaluation of the modulus. 27 Barrier properties of water vapor were evaluated through a DVS automated multi-vapor gravimetric sorption analyzer, using dry nitrogen as a carrier gas.…”
Hemp fibers (HF) are used as filler in pectin to produce biocomposites. To improve the compatibility of the filler with the polymeric matrix, HF are treated through mechanochemically assisted alkaline attack. The effect of the treatment time on the morphology of HF is investigated through atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Cinnamic acid, a green pesticide, is added to the composites in order to test the capability of such materials to act as potential devices in the agricultural field. Analysis of thermal, mechanical, barrier properties and surface energy are evaluated on biocomposites and compared either to unfilled pectin or to composites filled with untreated HF. The release of cinnamic acid is evaluated and found to be dependent on the fibers' treatment time. The design and the fabrication of a pot prototype is also reported. The manufacture appears promising as green functional container for plants to be implanted in the ground.
“…The 1 × 1 μm 2 image shows a fine surface grain structure without any obvious orientation dependence. No attempt was made to deconvolute the tip geometry in the 1 × 1 μm 2 scan …”
Section: Characterization Of Tmns and Iii‐n/tmn Heterostructuresmentioning
Epitaxial integration of superconductors with semiconductors is expected to enable new device architectures and to increase electronic circuit and system functionality and performance in diverse fields, including sensing and quantum computing. Herein, radiofrequency plasma molecular-beam epitaxy is used to epitaxially grow 3-200 nm-thick metallic NbN x and TaN x thin films on hexagonal SiC substrates. Single-phase cubic δ-NbN and hexagonal TaN x films are obtained when the starting substrate temperature is %800 and %900 C, respectively, and the active N to Nb or Ta ratio is %2.5-3. The films are characterized using in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and ex-situ atomic force microscopy, contactless sheet resistance, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, secondary ion-mass spectrometry, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and low-temperature electrical measurements. Smooth, epitaxial, low-resistivity films of cubic δ-NbN and hexagonal TaN x on SiC are demonstrated for films at least %50 nm-thick, and their superconducting properties are reported. Epitaxy of AlN and GaN on δ-NbN is also demonstrated, as well as integration of an epitaxial NbN x superconducting electrode layer under GaN high-electron mobility transistors. These early demonstrations show the promise of direct epitaxial integration of superconducting transition metal nitrides with group III-N semiconductors.
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