Lateral Force Microscopy and Phase Imaging Presentation Slides

Following on from my previous post providing a presentation on atomic force microscopy, a further (very brief) presentation is posted here, based upon the SPM methods of 'lateral force microscopy' and 'phase imaging'. If anyone would like to receive an electronic copy of this (or the previous AFM) presentation in a different format (pdf, powerpoint, etc) please just contact my via my twitter account (@drscottwatson), or email me at drscottmdwatson@gmail.com.

 

Using catalytic AFM probes for nanoscale chemical patterning at surfaces

For those with an interest in scanning probe lithography methods, work has recently been reported in Chemical Science (RSC Publishing) by a researchers from Aix Marseille University into the use of an atomic force microscope equipped with a modified probe, to locally catalyse reactions at a functionalised surface.

Commercial AFM probes were modified with a homogenous catalyst (1,4,7-triazacyclononane manganese complex) and subsequently used to promote epoxidation of an alkene-terminated self-assembled monolayer on silicon, in the presence of H₂O₂ (oxidant), at spatially defined surface regions, i.e. patterned regions, bearing epoxide functionality within a alkene monolayer, are produced.  

Furthermore, the resulting epoxides formed within the monolayer were demonstrated to be able to act as anchoring sites for covalently grafting other molecules to the monolayer surface, here via a ring opening reaction of the epoxide with N-octylpiperazine. This strategy opens up the possibility for the attaching a variety of molecules (e.g. peptides, proteins/enzymes) at spatially defined regions upon a surface.



Source: Chemical Science | Chemistry World | RSC Publishing

The authors anticipate that the principles behind this AFM chemical lithography method can be extended to numerous other metal-catalysed reactions, meaning the technique could offer a viable route for carrying out a host of different organic reactions locally on a surface for the creation complex two-dimensional chemical patterns.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2013/06/nanoscale-surface-design-homogeneous-catalysis-epoxidation

For those with a subscription to Chemical Science (RSC Publishing), the publication can be found at:
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2013/SC/c3sc50979f

Scanning Probe Microscopy Tutorials

Two useful presentations about the principles of Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) from the 'Nanotechnology Applications and Careers Knowledge (NACK) Network', of The Pennsylvania State University.

                      

                       

Researchers in Berkeley, California, use AFM to monitor a chemical reaction

Researchers at UC-Berkeley have used some of the latest advancements in atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the intramolecular structural changes of a single molecule, following a thermally induced cyclisation process. The AFM images of the oligo-(phenylene-1,2-ethynylene) molecule, supported on a Ag(100) substrate, were acquired using an AFM probe modified with a single CO molecule adsorbed at the tip apex. The molecule was subsequently imaged following heating (≥ 90°C) in order to visualize the product structure.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2013/05/afm-reaction-products-reactants

Source: Science/AAAS | UC-Berkley | RSC Chemistry World 

For those with subscriptions to Science, the publication article can be found at:
D G de Oteyza et al, Science, 2013, DOI: 10.1126/science.1238187