Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100011471 | BAND EXCITATION METHOD APPLICABLE TO SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY - Methods and apparatus are described for scanning probe microscopy. A method includes generating a band excitation (BE) signal having finite and predefined amplitude and phase spectrum in at least a first predefined frequency band; exciting a probe using the band excitation signal; obtaining data by measuring a response of the probe in at least a second predefined frequency band; and extracting at least one relevant dynamic parameter of the response of the probe in a predefined range including analyzing the obtained data. The BE signal can be synthesized prior to imaging (static band excitation), or adjusted at each pixel or spectroscopy step to accommodate changes in sample properties (adaptive band excitation). An apparatus includes a band excitation signal generator; a probe coupled to the band excitation signal generator; a detector coupled to the probe; and a relevant dynamic parameter extractor component coupled to the detector, the relevant dynamic parameter extractor including a processor that performs a mathematical transform selected from the group consisting of an integral transform and a discrete transform. | 01-14-2010 |
20110004967 | BAND EXCITATION METHOD APPLICABLE TO SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY - Methods and apparatus are described for scanning probe microscopy. A method includes generating a band excitation (BE) signal having finite and predefined amplitude and phase spectrum in at least a first predefined frequency band; exciting a probe using the band excitation signal; obtaining data by measuring a response of the probe in at least a second predefined frequency band; and extracting at least one relevant dynamic parameter of the response of the probe in a predefined range including analyzing the obtained data. The BE signal can be synthesized prior to imaging (static band excitation), or adjusted at each pixel or spectroscopy step to accommodate changes in sample properties (adaptive band excitation). An apparatus includes a band excitation signal generator; a probe coupled to the band excitation signal generator; a detector coupled to the probe; and a relevant dynamic parameter extractor component coupled to the detector, the relevant dynamic parameter extractor including a processor that performs a mathematical transform selected from the group consisting of an integral transform and a discrete transform. | 01-06-2011 |
20110041223 | SPATIALLY RESOLVED QUANTITATIVE MAPPING OF THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND PHASE TRANSITION TEMPERATURES USING SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY - An approach for the thermomechanical characterization of phase transitions in polymeric materials (polyethyleneterephthalate) by band excitation acoustic force microscopy is developed. This methodology allows the independent measurement of resonance frequency, Q factor, and oscillation amplitude of a tip-surface contact area as a function of tip temperature, from which the thermal evolution of tip-surface spring constant and mechanical dissipation can be extracted. A heating protocol maintained a constant tip-surface contact area and constant contact force, thereby allowing for reproducible measurements and quantitative extraction of material properties including temperature dependence of indentation-based elastic and loss moduli. | 02-17-2011 |
20110212554 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE NANO-COMPOSITES - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of forming an organic electric device that includes providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures; and dispersing the plurality of carbon nanostructures in a polymeric matrix to provide a polymeric composite, wherein when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a first concentration an interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix is characterized by charge transport when an external energy is applied, and when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a second concentration the interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix are characterized by exciton dissociation when an external energy is applied, wherein the first concentration is less than the second concentration. | 09-01-2011 |
20120074306 | SPATIALLY RESOLVED THERMAL DESORPTION/IONIZATION COUPLED WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY - A system and method for sub-micron analysis of a chemical composition of a specimen are described. The method includes providing a specimen for evaluation and a thermal desorption probe, thermally desorbing an analyte from a target site of said specimen using the thermally active tip to form a gaseous analyte, ionizing the gaseous analyte to form an ionized analyte, and analyzing a chemical composition of the ionized analyte. The thermally desorbing step can include heating said thermally active tip to above 200° C., and positioning the target site and the thermally active tip such that the heating step forms the gaseous analyte. The thermal desorption probe can include a thermally active tip extending from a cantilever body and an apex of the thermally active tip can have a radius of 250 nm or less; | 03-29-2012 |
20120125783 | REAL SPACE MAPPING OF IONIC DIFFUSION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL ACTIVITY IN ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION MATERIALS - A method and system for probing mobile ion diffusivity and electrochemical reactivity on a nanometer length scale of a free electrochemically active surface includes a control module that biases the surface of the material. An electrical excitation signal is applied to the material and induces the movement of mobile ions. An SPM probe in contact with the surface of the material detects the displacement of mobile ions at the surface of the material. A detector measures an electromechanical strain response at the surface of the material based on the movement and reactions of the mobile ions. The use of an SPM tip to detect local deformations allows highly reproducible measurements in an ambient environment without visible changes in surface structure. The measurements illustrate effective spatial resolution comparable with defect spacing and well below characteristic grain sizes of the material. | 05-24-2012 |
20130111636 | NON-LINEAR INTERACTION IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY | 05-02-2013 |
20130340125 | BAND EXCITATION METHOD APPLICABLE TO SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY - Scanning probe microscopy may include a method for generating a band excitation (BE) signal and simultaneously exciting a probe at a plurality of frequencies within a predetermined frequency band based on the excitation signal. A response of the probe is measured across a subset of frequencies of the predetermined frequency band and the excitation signal is adjusted based on the measured response. | 12-19-2013 |
20140041085 | REAL SPACE MAPPING OF OXYGEN VACANCY DIFFUSION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL TRANSFORMATIONS BY HYSTERETIC CURRENT REVERSAL CURVE MEASUREMENTS - An excitation voltage biases an ionic conducting material sample over a nanoscale grid. The bias sweeps a modulated voltage with increasing maximal amplitudes. A current response is measured at grid locations. Current response reversal curves are mapped over maximal amplitudes of the bias cycles. Reversal curves are averaged over the grid for each bias cycle and mapped over maximal bias amplitudes for each bias cycle. Average reversal curve areas are mapped over maximal amplitudes of the bias cycles. Thresholds are determined for onset and ending of electrochemical activity. A predetermined number of bias sweeps may vary in frequency where each sweep has a constant number of cycles and reversal response curves may indicate ionic diffusion kinetics. | 02-06-2014 |
20140042373 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE NANO-COMPOSITES - The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of forming an organic electric device that includes providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures; and dispersing the plurality of carbon nanostructures in a polymeric matrix to provide a polymeric composite, wherein when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a first concentration an interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix is characterized by charge transport when an external energy is applied, and when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a second concentration the interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix are characterized by exciton dissociation when an external energy is applied, wherein the first concentration is less than the second concentration. | 02-13-2014 |
20150089693 | MULTI-RESONANT DETECTION SYSTEM FOR ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY - A multi-resonant detection system (MRD) chip comprises an AFM tip, a cantilever, and resonator members separately positioned relative to the cantilever and tip. The chip may be fabricated from a silicon wafer. Frequency of tip motion is detected or actuated by displacement of resonator members. A rigid member, which is coupled to the chip by flexible members, coupled to the resonator members and rigidly coupled to the cantilever, enables tip motion. Resonator members include an array of discrete resonator bars, a single resonator bar or a continuous membrane which resonates at a continuous range of frequency. Tip motion is detected by measuring displacement of the resonator members using angle of light reflection, capacitance, piezo-resistive or piezo-strain techniques. Tip motion is actuated using displacement of the resonator members and capacitive, piezo-strain or piezo-resistive techniques. Resonator members may be encased by cover plates and/or hermetically sealed for measurements in a liquid medium. | 03-26-2015 |