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. 2006 Apr;7(4):304-9.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.2006.B0304.

A novel colloid probe preparation method based on chemical etching technique

Hui Xu  1 , Guo-hua Xu, Yue An
Affiliations

A novel colloid probe preparation method based on chemical etching technique

Hui Xu et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2006 Apr.

Abstract

Several fundamental problems in hydrophobic force measurements using atomic force microscope (AFM) are discussed in this paper. A novel method for colloid probe preparation based on chemical etching technology is proposed, which is specially fit for the unique demands of hydrophobic force measurements by AFM. The features of three different approaches for determining spring constants of rectangular cantilevers, including geometric dimension, Cleveland and Sader methods are compared. The influences of the sizes of the colloids on the measurements of the hydrophobic force curves are investigated. Our experimental results showed that by selecting colloid probe with proper spring constant and tip size, the hydrophobic force and the complete hydrophobic interaction force curve can be measured by using AFM.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Colloid probes prepared by (a) the traditional process and (b) chemical etching technique
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Colloid probes prepared by (a) the traditional process and (b) chemical etching technique
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The etching process under the operation of the micromanipulator
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SEM image of a commercial rectangular silicon cantilever from MikroMash Co.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Retracting force curves measured by two different colloid probes (a) By the 27 μm glass bead probe, k=40.7 N/m; (b) By the chemical etching probe with a diameter of 1.15 μm, k=62.9 N/m
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Retracting force curves measured by two different colloid probes (a) By the 27 μm glass bead probe, k=40.7 N/m; (b) By the chemical etching probe with a diameter of 1.15 μm, k=62.9 N/m
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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