Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

This article reviews the progress of atomic force microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum, starting with its invention and covering most of the recent developments. Today, dynamic force microscopy allows us to image surfaces of conductors and insulators in vacuum with atomic resolution. The most widely used technique for atomic-resolution force microscopy in vacuum is frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). This technique, as well as other dynamic methods, is explained in detail in this article. In the last few years many groups have expanded the empirical knowledge and deepened our theoretical understanding of frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. Consequently spatial resolution and ease of use have been increased dramatically. Vacuum atomic force microscopy opens up new classes of experiments, ranging from imaging of insulators with true atomic resolution to the measurement of forces between individual atoms.

https://hep.physics.utoronto.ca/WilliamTrischuk/courses/phy189/AFM_revmodphys.pdf

Advances in atomic force microscopy

Dynamic atomic force microscopy methods

We report the specific transduction, via surface stress changes, of DNA hybridization and receptor-ligand binding into a direct nanomechanical response of microfabricated cantilevers. Cantilevers in an array were functionalized with a selection of biomolecules. The differential deflection of the cantilevers was found to provide a true molecular recognition signal despite large nonspecific responses of individual cantilevers. Hybridization of complementary oligonucleotides shows that a single base mismatch between two 12-mer oligonucleotides is clearly detectable. Similar experiments on protein A-immunoglobulin interactions demonstrate the wide-ranging applicability of nanomechanical transduction to detect biomolecular recognition.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/288/5464/316.full.pdf

Translating biomolecular recognition into nanomechanics.

Kelvin probe force microscopy and its application

We present a chemical sensor based on a microfabricated array of eight silicon cantilevers actuated at their resonance-frequency and functionalized by polymer coatings. The operating principle relies on transduction of chemical or physical processes into a mechanical response. After exposure to analyte vapor, analyte molecules diffuse into the cantilever coating, which begins to swell. Jointly with the mass increase, a change of interfacial stress between coating and cantilever occurs, resulting in a bending of the cantilevers. Our setup allows the simultaneous detection of cantilever oscillation and bending of eight cantilevers by time-multiplexed optical beam deflection readout. The ac component of the cantilever response is demodulated, and the cantilever resonance-frequency is tracked by a custom-built phase-locked loop. By filtering out the ac component (oscillation), the dc signal (bending) is extracted, yielding information on mass as well as surface stress changes simultaneously. Detection results of water, primary alcohols, alkanes and perfumes are presented.

A chemical sensor based on a microfabricated cantilever array with simultaneous resonance-frequency and bending readout

https://media.mit.edu/nanoscale/courses/readings/NOSEultra.pdf

A cantilever array-based artificial nose

An artificial nose based on a micromechanical cantilever array

We have built and operated a novel setup for the characterization and identification of gases or vapors based on sequential position readout via a beam-deflection technique from a microfabricated array of eight cantilever-type sensors. Each of the cantilevers can be coated on one side with a dif- ferent sensor material to detect specific chemical interactions. We demonstrate that disturbances from vibrations and turbu- lent gas flow can be effectively removed in array sensors by taking difference signals with reference cantilevers. For ex- ample, H2 can be detected by its adsorption on a Pt-coated sensor because a change in surface stress causes a static bending of the sensor. The diffusion of various alcohols into polymethylmethacrylate induces resonance frequency shifts in a dynamic measuring mode and bending in the static mode, which allows one to distinguish between the various alcohols. Sensor devices for detection of gases and vapors via spe- cific coatings are gradually gaining importance in chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry owing to the increas- ing demand for detection of analytes at monolayer coverage. A field of increasing interest is the construction of so-called "electronic noses" capable of discerning different odors via a typical response pattern of the receptor layers to an analyte. Most devices currently applied involve square centimeter- sized detection areas and comparatively large gas volumes (typically 50- 1000 cm 3 ) resulting in relatively long response

A chemical sensor based on a micromechanical cantilever array for the identification of gases and vapors

One way to improve imaging in dynamic force mi- croscopy is to increase the cantilever resonance frequency. Higher frequencies require faster electronics. This work presents fast new digital electronics based on the principle of phase-locked loop techniques. First results show very high frequency resolution and very stable imaging.

F.M. Battiston

Papers

A chemical sensor based on a microfabricated cantilever array with simultaneous resonance-frequency and bending readout

A cantilever array-based artificial nose

An artificial nose based on a micromechanical cantilever array

A chemical sensor based on a micromechanical cantilever array for the identification of gases and vapors

Fast digital electronics for application in dynamic force microscopy using high-Q cantilevers