Scanning Probe Microscopy

Scanning Probe Microscopy: Principles and Applications [ 下載 PDF ]

Ing-Shouh Hwang

The invention of scanning tunneling microscopy in early 1980's and the subsequent development of other scanning probe microscopies (SPMs) have provided scientists unprecedented capability to image, to measure, and to manipulate the nano-world. One unique advantage of SPMs is that different physical and chemical properties on surfaces can be studied at the nanometer scale by the appropriate choice of probe tips. Currently there are tens of different SPMs, and many other new probe technologies are under development. Besides, several technologies that were originally developed for SPMs have been found to be very useful for other applications, such as high-density storage drives and high-sensitivity bio-and-chemical sensors. Therefore, it can be expected that SPMs will have great impact on the nanoscience research and nanotechnology.

Development of Scanning Probe Microscopy at the Institute of Physics in Academia Sinica [ 下載 PDF ]

Ing-Shouh Hwang, Chia-Seng Chang, Shao-Kang Hung, Yen-Fu Chen, Edwin Hu, Chih-Wen Yang, Ya-Rou Chen

After many years of effort at the Institute of Physics in Academia Sinica, we have successfully developed scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and several other related nanotechnologies. In this article, our development history is briefly reviewed, and the functions and schematics of our instruments are presented. We also show several images taken by our microscopes and provide discussions on them. Now we are actively developing our second-generation commercial scanning probe microscopes. Through the development of these technologies, we hope to cooperate with other scientists and engineers to broaden the current technologies to an unexplored horizon, and to even bring forth new technologies and industries.

Application of Scanning Probe Microscopy under Environmental Control [ 下載 PDF ]

Chih-Chiang Ting, Shu-Teng Chou

In recent years, there has been a great amount of published papers for the application of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). These contain the field of photoelectric, physical, material, mechanical, life science, chemical..., etc. Therefore SPM becomes one of the main tool to go into the world of nanotechnology. We can get some physical properties such as soft/hard distribution, friction force difference, distribution of conductivity, hydrophilic/hydrophobic property, surface potential, electrostatic force, gradient of capacitance..., etc. from the sample surface by using SPM. This paper emphasized the application of environmental control in order to enhance the resolution of magnetic force, phase, topography..., or get additional information of material characterization such as T_g point.

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Technologies of Optical Pickup Heads with Multiple Wavelengths [ 下載 PDF ]

Hsi-Fu Shih

In recent years, the art of optical storage had great progresses and the development of optical pickup heads has been one of the most important key technologies. We reviewed the evolution of various optical pickup heads corresponding to the increasing of disk capacity density and the requirement of multiple wavelengths. Furthermore, the status of next generation blue-laser storage system was also described in this paper.

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State-of-the-Art Single-Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer CCD System [ 下載 PDF ]

Sue-Lein Wang

The area detector CCD system revolutionized the speed, accuracy, resolution, and quality for single crystal X-ray intensity data collection, thus allowing crystallographic analysis for smaller and more complex structures. In this report, we will introduce the advancement of CCD detectors, unique functions as well as its enhanced utility and matchless problem-solving capacity through actual cases.

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Dual Polarisation Interferometry for Measurement of Biomolecule at Nanometer Scale [ 下載 PDF ]

Yun-Han Lin, Ji-Liang Chen, Yu-Ming Wang, An-Bang Wang, Long-Sun Huang, Chih-Kung Lee, Shiming Lin

From decade the application of surface plasmon resonance technique was broadly on molecular dynamics, however, Fairfield Sensor invented the new method, dual polarisation interferometry, which is used on analysis of changes of diameter, thickness, density, surface concentration, and dynamics on solid-liquid interface at real time. The application of dual polarisation interferometer includes single molecule structure and conformation change, interactions between molecules, nanomedicine diagnosis, and nano-technology etc. The invention of dual polarisation interferometer proves the study on molecular structure conforfation change.

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A Study on the Field Emission Mechanism of Carbon Related Materials [ 下載 PDF ]

Sheng-Yuan Chen, Juh-Tzeng Lue, Ming-Yiut Lee, Chi-Lin Chen

Vacuum microelectronics (VME) for its extensive pragmatic use has been tremendously explored in recent years. Potential applications include flat panel field emission displays, miniaturized microwave power amplifier tubes, advanced sensors, X-ray generators, and electron beam lithography. In these fields, flat panel field emission display plays the essential role of industrial applications. However, the key problem in development of field emission displays (FED) is to fabricate effective cold cathodes. Carbon materials like diamond films are the most prominent material, because of their possible unique electronic property by behaving with negative electron affinity (NEA). Carbon nanotube (CNT) has attracted substantial attention as electron field emission sources due to its unique geometry and electronic properties. In this paper, we attempt to study the field emission characteristics of carbon-based materials.

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The New Technologies of Preparative HPLC on the Applications of Sample Purification [ 下載 PDF ]

Yun-Shan Chou

This article introduces three kinds of preparative chromatography used in purifying bio molecules and active ingredient pharmaceutical compounds for drug discovery and manufacture. 'Analytical Scale-up System' is used in the fields of purified of experimental compounds during laboratory research, drug discovery, or compounds in sufficient quantities for structure analysis, drug testing and clinical trials. The 'High Throughput Scale-up System' can be scale-up in the nonlinear overload condition for maximizing capability. It is a bench-top preparative HPLC solution on helping laboratories purifies compounds for clinical trials prior to full-scale production. The 'Process Scale-up System' is a complete preparative chromatography solution for purifying production volumes of bio molecules and active ingredient drug compounds used at pharmaceutical manufacturing. All these kinds of preparative HPLC design help scientists understand the structure, dynamics, and function of human proteins and prospective pharmaceutical compounds; perform critical analyses throughout the development process; and purify production quantities of active drug ingredients and bio-pharmaceuticals.

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Droplet Handling on an Open-Architecture Digital Microfluidic Chip [ 下載 PDF ]

Han-Sheng Chuang, Cheng-Tsair Yang, Chang-Yuan Hsieh, Guang-Chyan Fan, Da-Jeng Yao

A digital microfluidic platform has been developed to manipulate droplets on the basis of electrowetting. It results in an innovative influence on biomedical applications. In this article, we modified the conventional layout to a form of single-side electrode induction electrowetting (SEI-EW), so that more applications could be included through the open-architecture system. So far, the fundamental analysis of revised Lippmann-Young equation and droplet actuation on the one-dimensional electrodes were investigated. The results indicated that the state of the art design of SEI-EW could be greatly promoted its applicability by using dual-mask fabrication and in-equalizing the sizes of energized and grounded electrodes.