CAREER: Sub-NanoNewton Force Spectroscopy in Liquids with Dual-Frequency-Modulation AFM

职业：使用双调频 AFM 进行液体中的亚纳牛顿力谱分析

• 批准号: 0841840
• 负责人: Santiago Solares
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Maryland, College Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-02-01 至 2014-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841840&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Sub; NanoNewton; Force; Spectroscopy

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project is to develop a method for rapid mechanical characterization of nanoscale structures, based on atomic force microscopy (AFM). The new method will rely on a recently researched controls scheme concept that uses two self-excited vibration signals to enable simultaneous imaging and 3-dimensional force spectroscopy. The work focuses on structures submerged in water and consists of a computational and an experimental phase. The computational phase includes continuum-atomistic simulation of the fluid, AFM probe and sample during characterization, while the experimental phase includes incorporation of new hardware into an existing microscope, development of controls software and commissioning of the method for the same samples as in the simulations. Deliverables include a process specification describing fundamental components, basic mechanisms and controls schemes; modeling and analysis tools, demonstration and validation via hardware, documentation of research results, engineering student education, and engineering research experiences for first-generation pre-college students.If successful, the results of this work will broaden current AFM capabilities by enabling characterization of some of the most delicate biological samples in their native aqueous environment, and will lead to a more systematic, quantitative, and rapid evaluation of sub-nanometer mechanical properties. This will contribute to nanoscale engineering initiatives, such as nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing, which depend on the design of controllable structures with well-defined mechanical properties. The enhancement of AFM to characterize new biomaterials will also be beneficial in biological and medical fields like cancer research, genomics and cell reconstruction, where advances could directly contribute to improving the quality of life of human beings. Graduate and undergraduate engineering students and pre-college students will benefit through classroom instruction and involvement in the research.

该学院早期职业发展（CAREER）项目的研究目标是开发一种基于原子力显微镜（AFM）的纳米级结构快速机械表征方法。 新方法将依赖于最近研究的控制方案概念，该概念使用两个自激振动信号来实现同时成像和 3 维力谱。 这项工作的重点是浸没在水中的结构，包括计算和实验阶段。计算阶段包括在表征过程中对流体、AFM 探针和样品进行连续原子模拟，而实验阶段包括将新硬件合并到现有显微镜中、开发控制软件以及对与模拟中相同的样品进行方法调试。 可交付成果包括描述基本组件、基本机制和控制方案的流程规范；建模和分析工具、通过硬件进行演示和验证、研究结果文档、工程学生教育以及第一代预科学生的工程研究经验。如果成功，这项工作的结果将通过启用一些在其天然水环境中最脆弱的生物样品，并将导致对亚纳米机械性能的更加系统、定量和快速的评估。 这将有助于纳米级工程举措，例如纳米加工和纳米制造，这取决于具有明确机械性能的可控结构的设计。 增强 AFM 来表征新生物材料也将有益于癌症研究、基因组学和细胞重建等生物和医学领域，这些领域的进步可以直接有助于改善人类的生活质量。 工程专业的研究生和本科生以及大学预科生将通过课堂教学和参与研究而受益。