Enhanced EFM subsurface imaging of 0.5% SWCNT (LA) polyimide nanocomposite film using an HAR probe. EFM bias voltage and lift height is 12 V and 50 nm, respectively. (a) SEM image of a conventional probe, (b) SEM image of an HAR probe. Inset: enlarged image of circled area near tip apex. (c) and (d) EFM phase image of subsurface CNTs using a conventional and HAR probe, respectively. (e) and (f) Cross-section analysis of segmented line at (c) and (d), respectively. EFM phase scale 20◦. The EFM phase signal at circled peak in (f) is both stronger and sharper than that in (e).

X-ray-diffraction pattern from needles grown on a thin film of Ag.Inset(SAD) selected area diffraction pattern from a single needle that shows that single needles are highly crystalline.

(a) SEM images of a NeedleProbe with simple cylindrical geometry.(b) Schematic o the AFM experimental setup for liquid probing using NeedleProbe. (c) Top: schematic of the meniscus formation between the NeedleProbe and the liquid surface. Bottom: Typical force vs. distance (F-D) curve of the NeedleProbe on a liquid surface. The red line is extension and the blue line is the retraction force curve.

(a) SEM images of a NeedleProbe with simple cylindrical geometry.(b) Schematic o the AFM experimental setup for liquid probing using NeedleProbe. (c) Top: schematic of the meniscus formation between the NeedleProbe and the liquid surface. Bottom: Typical force vs. distance (F-D) curve of the NeedleProbe on a liquid surface. The red line is extension and the blue line is the retraction force curve.

(a) A schematic diagram of the laser Doppler Vibrometer. (b) SEM image and (c) the measured displacement PSD of a thermally excited Ag₂Ga NanoCantilever (NCL) as it clearly reveals the 2^nd through 9^th eigenfrequencies. The colored tick marks above the spectral peaks indicate the expected theoretical location of each eigenfrequency. (c-inset) NCL displacement detected by scanning the laser beam along the NCL.

(a) The calculated local intensities as a 166 nm radius nanowire translates across the focus of a 632.8 nm wavelength Gaussian beam with a full width of 1044 nm, in air. (b) The profile of the simulated signal on the split photodiode as the Ag₂Ga NanoCantilever is translated across the beam, in normalized ordinate units. The spot-NanoCantilever separations shown in (a) are marked with Roman numerals. (c) Optical layout of the detection scheme. (d) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of a representative Ag₂Ga Nanocantilever, with a magnified inset of the tip. This nanowire is 59 um long, with a radius of 166 nm.

Sub-Angstrom-resolution sensing of NanoCantilevers is leading the way to a gentle physical probe for surfaces of materials such as living cells.(left) A conceptual drawing of the nanowire detection scheme. (right) Photo of a portion of the optics.

Deflections of a polymer fiber with the nanoneedle. (a) Nanoneedle approaching fiber. (b) Minimum and (c) maximum deflections of the needle. Computed geometries of the needle (dashed lines) are superimposed on top of SEM images of the needle.

(a) SEM images of an Ag₂Ga NanoCantilever. (b) Schematic of a perfectly circular NanoCantilever vs an asymmetry NanoCantilevers, when the thermal vibration is detected by Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV). (c) Experimental power spectral density (PSD) measurements using an LDV of a typical NanoCantilever at various rotation angles.