We expand the range of applications of a tuning fork probe (TFP) in frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) by attaching a long metal tip at a certain angle. By the combined flexure of the metal tip and the tuning fork prong, this TFP can change the direction of the detectable force by switching the resonance frequency, which has not been realized with conventional TFPs with short tips. The oscillatory behavior of the tip apex of the TFP is predicted by computer simulations and is experimentally confirmed with scanning electron microscope. FM-AFM operations using this TFP are performed in various environments, i.e., in ultrahigh vacuum, air, and water. FM-AFM images obtained at an atomic step of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite in air show a clear difference depending on the excitation frequency. It is also revealed that the higher order flexural modes of this TFP are advantageous for FM-AFM in water due to the reduction in the degree of hydrodynamic damping.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3569765DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

tuning fork
12
atomic force
8
force microscopy
8
tfp
5
angled long
4
long tuning
4
fork probes
4
probes atomic
4
microscopy environments
4
environments expand
4

Similar Publications

Development of a novel latent deoxyribonucleic acid detection technique for crime scene investigation using quartz tuning fork-based biosensor technology.

Forensic Sci Int

December 2024

Biological and Environmental Sensing Research Unit, King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

The forensic Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) fingerprinting is a tool for investigating crime scenes by identifying/tracing criminals and linking crime scenes. However, in cases where experts are unable to detect and identify any biological traces or human-derived cells at the crime scene or while testing the samples in the laboratories, all the advantages offered by forensic laboratories lose their significance. It becomes a waste of time, effort, and resources allocated to these laboratories.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Traditional beat frequency quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (BF-QEPAS) are limited by short energy accumulation times and the necessity of a decay period, leading to weaker signals and longer measurement cycles. Herein, we present a novel optomechanical energy-enhanced (OEE-) BF-QEPAS technique for fast and sensitive gas sensing. Our approach employs periodic pulse-width modulation (PWM) of the laser signal with an optimized duty cycle, maintaining the quartz tuning fork's (QTF) output at a stable steady-state level by applying stimulus signals at each half-period and allowing free vibration in alternate half-periods to minimize energy dissipation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Improved T-shaped quartz tuning fork with isosceles-trapezoidal grooves optimized for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy.

Photoacoustics

February 2025

Key Laboratory of Micro-Inertial Instrument and Advanced Navigation Technology Ministry of Education, School of Instrument Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.

The quartz tuning fork (QTF) being the acoustic-electrical conversion element for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) system directly affects the detection sensitivity. However, the low electromechanical conversion efficiency characteristic of standard QTF limits the further enhancement of the system. Therefore, the optimized design for QTF is becoming an important approach to improve the performance of QEPAS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Open-closed single-tube on-beam tuning-fork-enhanced fiber-optic photoacoustic spectroscopy.

Photoacoustics

October 2024

Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO) and National Engineering Research Center of Next Generation Internet Access-system, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.

A proof-of-concept on-beam tuning-fork-enhanced photoacoustic sensor based on an open-closed single-tube acoustic-microresonator (AmR) was proposed and investigated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Due to the high acoustic amplification effect, the open-closed AmR improved the detection sensitivity by 54 times with respect to the bare tuning fork (TF). Compared to traditional dual-tube/single-tube on-beam spectrophone configuration, the developed approach significantly facilitates the laser beam alignment and reduces the sensor size and gas consumption.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this paper, a highly sensitive methane (CH) sensor based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) and a T-shaped quartz tuning fork (QTF) with hydrogen (H) and helium (He) enhancement techniques are reported for the first time. The low resonant frequency self-designed T-shaped QTF was exploited for improving the energy accumulation time. H and He were utilized as surrounding gases for the T-shaped QTF to minimize energy loss, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the LITES sensor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!