PeakForce TUNA and NanoMechanics Lab AFM Upgrade

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This application requests an upgrade to an atomic force microscope (AFM) that enables ultra-high-resolution mapping of both conductivity and mechanical properties of nano-scale structures, such as polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, polymeric assemblies, hydrogels, and nano-structured surfaces. The requested instrument includes a PeakForce Tunneling AFM (TUNA) Application Module and the Nanochechanics nDMA accessory for our Dimension ICON AFM. With this upgrade, the ICON AFM will gain a unique set of capabilities for advanced nanoscale materials characterization that is unavailable anywhere else in Canada. In particular, it will be useful for a number of projects involving carbon nanotube purification using conjugated polymers, where the polymers are used to selectively wrap semiconducting and metallic structures. Within these projects, it is imperative to prove that carbon nanotubes are exfoliated into individual semiconducting or metallic structures, which can best be done through measurement of conductivity at the nano-scale using PeakForce TUNA measurements in the AFM. In addition, the nDMA accessory will allow us to measure viscoelastic properties (storage and loss modulus), adhesion, and friction on numerous samples, including hydrogels for biomaterials and drug delivery applications, as well as scaffolds for cell growth. This data is critical to the advances being made in our research labs, without which it is impossible to submit our papers to high-impact journals. This upgrade will not only provide access to the most advanced features and measurements that atomic force microscopy can offer, but will also significantly improve the research capabilities and international competitiveness of many research groups at McMaster. It will also enable cutting-edge research that is not currently possible anywhere in Canada, and will lead to the discovery of new phenomena in application areas such as nano-scale electronics for future point-of-care diagnostics, roadside detection of illicit drugs, new sensory equipment to maintain safe environments, new drug delivery constructs that will help treat and eradicate disease, and new biomaterials that will improve the health and longevity of Canadians. This equipment will have a profound impact on the types of problems and challenges that McMaster researchers will be able to address in the future.