Selected Papers from the 24th Annual Conference and 13th International Conference of Chinese Society of Micro-Nano Technology (CSMNT 2022)

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 37427

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Co-Guest Editor
High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
Interests: scanning probe microscope; high magnetic field; cryogenic technology; magnetic materials; magnetic structures
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will publish selected papers from the 24th Annual Conference and 13th International Conference of Chinese Society of Micro-Nano Technology (CSMNT 2022), 16th–19th September 2022, in Harbin, China.

We aim to collect high-quality research papers, short communications, and review articles from CSMNT2022, which focus on micro-nanoenergy and MEMS, nanosystems and nanomaterials, and related emerging multidisciplinary fields. The conference will cover the following main topics:

Topic 1: Micro-/Nanosensors and Actuators;

Topic 2: Nano Precision Manufacturing Technology;

Topic 3: Micro/Nanoelectromechanical System;

Topic 4: Micro/Nanobiomedicine;

Topic 5: Design and Manufacturing Technology of Micro-/Nanodevices;

Topic 6: Engineering Manufacturing and Characterization of Micro-/Nanostructures;

Topic 7: Micro-/Nanoenergy Technology;

Topic 8: Micro-/Nanomotor and Intelligent Robot;

Topic 9: Micro-/Nanorobot Technology and Application;

Topic 10: Micro-/Nanomeasurement and Instrument Technology;

Topic 11: Micro-/Nanomaterials and Devices;

Topic 12: Micro-/Nanostructures and Devices of Photoelectric Conversion Materials;

Topic 13: Micro-/Nanostructured Films and Coatings and Their Applications;

Topic 14: Micro-/Nanostructure and Signal;

Topic 15: Micro-/Nanobionic Manufacturing;

Topic 16: Micro-/Nanofluidic Technology and Its Application;

Topic 17: Micro/Nano Cell Biochip;

Topic 18: Application of Micro-/Nanotechnology;

Topic 19: Flexible Micro-/Nanomaterials and Devices;

Topic 20: Micro-/Nanomanipulation, Detection and Characterization Technologies for Cells.

The papers that attract the most interest in the conference or that provide novel contributions will be selected for publication in Micromachines. These papers will be peer-reviewed for validation of research results, developments, and applications. In addition, submissions from others that are not associated with this conference but with themes focusing on related topics from members of the Chinese Society of Micro-Nano Technology are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Qingyou Lu
Dr. Qiyuan Feng
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Published Papers (20 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1820 KiB  
Article
Fluorescence Properties of ZnOQDs-GO-g-C3N4 Nanocomposites
by Tianze Liu, Lei Wang, Ruxue Jiang, Yashi Tang, Yuxin He, Changze Sun, Yuguang Lv and Shuang Liu
Micromachines 2023, 14(4), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14040711 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1375
Abstract
In this paper, the fluorescence properties of ZnOQD-GO-g-C3N4 composite materials (ZCGQDs) were studied. Firstly, the addition of a silane coupling agent (APTES) in the synthesis process was explored, and it was found that the addition of 0.04 g·mL−1 APTES [...] Read more.
In this paper, the fluorescence properties of ZnOQD-GO-g-C3N4 composite materials (ZCGQDs) were studied. Firstly, the addition of a silane coupling agent (APTES) in the synthesis process was explored, and it was found that the addition of 0.04 g·mL−1 APTES had the largest relative fluorescence intensity and the highest quenching efficiency. The selectivity of ZCGQDs for metal ions was also investigated, and it was found that ZCGQDs showed good selectivity for Cu2+. ZCGQDs were optimally mixed with Cu2+ for 15 min. ZCGQDs also had good anti-interference capability toward Cu2+. There was a linear relationship between the concentration of Cu2+ and the fluorescence intensity of ZCGQDs in the range of 1~100 µM. The regression equation was found to be F0/F = 0.9687 + 0.12343C. The detection limit of Cu2+ was about 1.74 μM. The quenching mechanism was also analyzed. Full article
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12 pages, 4466 KiB  
Article
Study on g-C3N4/BiVO4 Binary Composite Photocatalytic Materials
by Pengfei Li, Yanqiu Hu, Di Lu, Jiang Wu and Yuguang Lv
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030639 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the composite of semiconductor photocatalytic materials and g-C3N4 can effectively inhibit photocatalytic carrier recombination and enhance the adsorption performance of the composite photocatalytic materials, so that the composite photocatalyst has stronger photocatalytic activity. In this [...] Read more.
Recent studies have shown that the composite of semiconductor photocatalytic materials and g-C3N4 can effectively inhibit photocatalytic carrier recombination and enhance the adsorption performance of the composite photocatalytic materials, so that the composite photocatalyst has stronger photocatalytic activity. In this paper, three kinds of graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst g-C3N4 with different morphologies were prepared using the same precursor system by the chemical cracking method. After characterization and application, the sample with the most significant photocatalytic activity was selected and the g-C3N4/BiVO4 heterostructure was synthesized by the simple solvent evaporation method, then the photocatalytic experiment was carried out. The results show that, when the content of BiVO4 in the composite sample is 1%, the photocatalytic activity of RhB was the highest, and the degradation rate could reach 90.4%. The kinetic results showed that the degradation of RhB was consistent with the quasi-primary degradation kinetic model. The results of the photocatalytic cycle experiment show that the photocatalytic performance remains unchanged and stable after four photocatalytic cycles. The existence of a g-C3N4/BiVO4 binary heterojunction was confirmed by UV/Visible diffuse reflection (UV-DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) experiments. Owing to the Z-type charge process between BiVO4 and g-C3N4, efficient carrier separation was achieved, thus enhancing the photocatalytic capacity. This work provides a new idea for the study of heterojunction photocatalytic materials based on g-C3N4. Full article
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10 pages, 5753 KiB  
Article
A Novel Atomically Resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscope Capable of Working in Cryogen-Free Superconducting Magnet
by Tao Geng, Jihao Wang, Wenjie Meng, Jing Zhang, Qiyuan Feng, Yubin Hou and Qingyou Lu
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030637 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2282
Abstract
We present a novel homebuilt scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with atomic resolution integrated into a cryogen-free superconducting magnet system with a variable temperature insert. The STM head is designed as a nested structure of double piezoelectric tubes (PTs), which are connected coaxially through [...] Read more.
We present a novel homebuilt scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with atomic resolution integrated into a cryogen-free superconducting magnet system with a variable temperature insert. The STM head is designed as a nested structure of double piezoelectric tubes (PTs), which are connected coaxially through a sapphire frame whose top has a sample stage. A single shaft made of tantalum, with the STM tip on top, is held firmly by a spring strip inside the internal PT. The external PT drives the shaft to the tip–sample junction based on the SpiderDrive principle, and the internal PT completes the subsequent scanning and imaging work. The STM head is simple, compact, and easy to assemble. The excellent performance of the device was demonstrated by obtaining atomic-resolution images of graphite and low drift rates of 30.2 pm/min and 41.4 pm/min in the X–Y plane and Z direction, respectively, at 300K. In addition, we cooled the sample to 1.6 K and took atomic-resolution images of graphite and NbSe2. Finally, we performed a magnetic field sweep test from 0 T to 9 T at 70 K, obtaining distinct graphite images with atomic resolution under varying magnetic fields. These experiments show our newly developed STM’s high stability, vibration resistance, and immunity to high magnetic fields. Full article
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15 pages, 5665 KiB  
Article
Research on the Output Characteristics of Energy Conversion Elements under External Excitation
by Yun Zhang, Zonglin Xiao, Lan Liu, Wei Ren, Wei Liu, Yanjie Gou and Xiaoming Ren
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030549 - 26 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1267
Abstract
Initiating explosive (IE) devices are widely used in the aerospace, resource mining, and basic industries and other fields. With the improvement in processing technology, IE devices are developing towards miniaturization and intelligence. As an important component of the energy conversion of IE devices, [...] Read more.
Initiating explosive (IE) devices are widely used in the aerospace, resource mining, and basic industries and other fields. With the improvement in processing technology, IE devices are developing towards miniaturization and intelligence. As an important component of the energy conversion of IE devices, the output characteristics of micro energy conversion (EC) elements directly affect the ignition performance of IE devices. Hence, this paper researches the output characteristics of EC elements under external excitation. Firstly, the fabrication process of the EC element is introduced, and the finite element analysis model of the temperature field is deduced. Secondly, the simulation model of the output characteristics of the EC element is constructed, the validity of the model is verified through experiments, and the basic characteristic parameters of the EC element are determined. Finally, four shapes of EC element structures are designed, the corresponding output characteristics under constant current excitation are analyzed, and the temperature and current field distributions of the EC elements with different shapes are given. The experimental and simulation results show the effectiveness of the analysis results in this paper, and the influence of different shapes on the insensitivity of EC elements is given through comparative analysis, which provides support for the design of micro structure EC elements. Full article
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14 pages, 6009 KiB  
Article
Research on Vibration Energy Harvester Based on Two-Dimensional Acoustic Black Hole
by Chunlai Yang, Yikai Yuan, Hai Wang, Ye Tang and Jingsong Gui
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030538 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1548
Abstract
The wave energy focus effect of an acoustic black hole (ABH) is used for broadband vibration energy harvesting and boosts the harvested power. A vibration energy harvester based on two-dimensional ABH is proposed in this study, which consists of a rectangle plate with [...] Read more.
The wave energy focus effect of an acoustic black hole (ABH) is used for broadband vibration energy harvesting and boosts the harvested power. A vibration energy harvester based on two-dimensional ABH is proposed in this study, which consists of a rectangle plate with 2-D ABH and PZT film attached. The structure of ABH was designed and analyzed based on numerical simulation. The optimal parameters of the ABH were obtained, such as the power index, truncation thickness, cross-sectional length, and round table diameter, which were 3, 0.4 mm, 40 mm, and 24 mm, respectively. The quadratic velocity of the plate surface with ABH is up to 22.33 times that of a flat plate, and PZT film adheres to the corresponding positions of the ABH structure and plate structure, respectively. In the same condition, the average output power of a PZT with an ABH structure is higher than that of a flat plate under the same excitation-vibration condition. Full article
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8 pages, 2063 KiB  
Article
State Recognition of Multi-Nozzle Electrospinning Based on Image Processing
by Weiqi Gao, Jiaxin Jiang, Xiang Wang, Wenwang Li and Gaofeng Zheng
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030529 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
The online monitoring of a multi-jet electrospinning process is critical to the achievement of stable mass electrospinning for industrial applications. In this study, the construction of an ejection state recognition system of a multi-jet electrospinning process based on image processing is reported. The [...] Read more.
The online monitoring of a multi-jet electrospinning process is critical to the achievement of stable mass electrospinning for industrial applications. In this study, the construction of an ejection state recognition system of a multi-jet electrospinning process based on image processing is reported. The ejection behaviors regarding multi-nozzle electrospinning were recorded by CMOS industrial cameras in real time. The characteristic information regarding the multi-jet cone tip was obtained by processing the images regarding Roberts operator edge detection, Hough transform line detection, and mask histogram analysis. The jet anomalies of the hanging droplets in the nozzle outlet area could be obtained and identified by the vision. The identification accuracy towards the target hanging droplets was more than 85%. This work reports the intelligent control of large-scale multi-nozzle electrospinning equipment. Full article
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8 pages, 3387 KiB  
Article
Design and Test of a Spatial Nanopositioner for Evaluating the Out-of-Focus-Plane Performance of Micro-Vision
by Ruizhou Wang and Heng Wu
Micromachines 2023, 14(3), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14030513 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1136
Abstract
Micro-vision possesses high in-focus-plane motion tracking accuracy. Unfortunately, out-of-focus-plane displacements cannot be avoided, decreasing the in-focus-plane tracking accuracy of micro-vision. In this paper, a spatial nanopositioner is proposed to evaluate the out-of-focus-plane performance of a micro-vision system. A piezoelectric-actuated spatial multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) nanopositioner [...] Read more.
Micro-vision possesses high in-focus-plane motion tracking accuracy. Unfortunately, out-of-focus-plane displacements cannot be avoided, decreasing the in-focus-plane tracking accuracy of micro-vision. In this paper, a spatial nanopositioner is proposed to evaluate the out-of-focus-plane performance of a micro-vision system. A piezoelectric-actuated spatial multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) nanopositioner is introduced. Three in-plane Revolute-Revolute-Revolute-Revolute (RRRR) compliant parallel branched chains produce in-focus-plane motions. Three out-of-plane RRRR chains generate out-of-focus-plane motions. A typical micro-vision motion tracking algorithm is presented. A general grayscale template matching (GTM) approach is combined with the region of interest (ROI) method. The in-focus-plane motion tracking accuracy of the micro-vision system is tested. Different out-of-focus-plane displacements are generated using the proposed nanopositioner. The accuracy degradation of the in-focus-plane motion tracking is evaluated. The experimental results verify the evaluation ability of the proposed nanopositioner. Full article
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9 pages, 3230 KiB  
Article
Predictions of the Wettable Parameters of an Axisymmetric Large-Volume Droplet on a Microstructured Surface in Gravity
by Jian Dong, Jianliang Hu, Zihao Zhang, Mengying Gong and Zhixin Li
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020484 - 19 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1467
Abstract
In this study, a numerical model was developed to predict the wettable parameters of an axisymmetric large-volume droplet on a microstructured surface in gravity. We defined a droplet with the Bond number Bo>0.1 as a large-volume droplet. Bo was [...] Read more.
In this study, a numerical model was developed to predict the wettable parameters of an axisymmetric large-volume droplet on a microstructured surface in gravity. We defined a droplet with the Bond number Bo>0.1 as a large-volume droplet. Bo was calculated by using the equation Bo=ρlgγlv3V4π23 where ρl is the density of liquid, γlv is the liquid-vapor interfacial tension, g is the gravity acceleration and V is the droplet volume. The volume of a large-volume water droplet was larger than 2.7 μL. By using the total energy minimization and the arc differential method of the Bashforth–Adams equation, we got the profile, the apparent contact angle and the contact circle diameter of an axisymmetric large-volume droplet in gravity on a microstructured horizontal plane and the external spherical surface. The predictions of our model have a less than 3% error rate when compared to experiments. Our model is much more accurate than previous ellipsoidal models. In addition, our model calculates much more quickly than previous models because of the use of the arc differential method of the Bashforth–Adams equation. It shows promise for use in the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices. Full article
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10 pages, 3313 KiB  
Article
Effects of Electronic Irradiation on the Characteristics of the Silicon Magnetic Sensitive Transistor
by Zhipeng Yu, Xiaofeng Zhao, Weiwei Liu, Susu Li, Zijiang Yang, Dianzhong Wen and Hongquan Zhang
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020430 - 11 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1258
Abstract
This work researched the effects of irradiation on the current-voltage characteristics and voltage magnetic sensitivity of the silicon magnetic sensitive transistor (SMST). The 1-MeV electron irradiation source was used to irradiate the SMST. The irradiation fluences were 1 × 1012 e/cm2 [...] Read more.
This work researched the effects of irradiation on the current-voltage characteristics and voltage magnetic sensitivity of the silicon magnetic sensitive transistor (SMST). The 1-MeV electron irradiation source was used to irradiate the SMST. The irradiation fluences were 1 × 1012 e/cm2, 1 × 1013 e/cm2 and 1 × 1014 e/cm2, respectively (the irradiation flux was 1 × 1010 cm−2·s−1). The experimental results demonstrate that the collector current (IC) of the SMST occurs attenuation after irradiation under the same collector voltage (VCE) and the base current (IB). The attenuated rate of the IC increases obviously with the enhance of electron irradiation fluence when the IB is the same. Moreover, the attenuated rate of the IC increases slight with the rise of the IB when the electron irradiation fluence is the same. When the supply voltage is 5.0 V (RL = 1.5 kΩ) and the IB is 4.0 mA, the voltage magnetic sensitivity (SV) of the SMST occurs attenuate after irradiation. The attenuated rate of the SV increases with the enhance of electron irradiation fluence. Full article
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10 pages, 4449 KiB  
Article
Highly Sensitive Magnetoelastic Biosensor for Alpha2-Macroglobulin Detection Based on MnFe2O4@chitosan/MWCNTs/PDMS Composite
by Xing Guo, Jianru Hou, Yang Ge, Dong Zhao, Shengbo Sang and Jianlong Ji
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020401 - 7 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1722
Abstract
The need for Alpha2-Macroglobulin (α2-M) detection has increased because it plays an important role in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, few sensors can realize the high-sensitive detection for α2-M with characteristics of being fast, flexible, wearable and portable. Herein, a biosensor [...] Read more.
The need for Alpha2-Macroglobulin (α2-M) detection has increased because it plays an important role in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, few sensors can realize the high-sensitive detection for α2-M with characteristics of being fast, flexible, wearable and portable. Herein, a biosensor based on a MnFe2O4@chitosan/MWCNTs/PDMS composite film was developed for α2-M detection. Due to the excellent magnetoelastic effect of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles, the stress signal of the biosensor surface induced by the specific antibody–antigen binding was transformed into the electrical and magnetic signal. Chitosan-coated MnFe2O4 particles were used to provide biological modification sites for the α2-M antibody, which simplified the conventional biological functionalization modification process. The MnFe2O4@chitosan particles were successfully prepared by a chemical coprecipitation method and the property was studied by TEM, FT-IR and XRD. MWCNTs were employed to enhance electrical conductivity and the sensitivity of the biosensor. The detection limit (LOD) was reduced to 0.1299 ng·mL−1 in the linear range from 10 ng∙mL−1 to 100 µg·mL−1, which was significantly lower than the limit of health diagnostics. The biosensor is fabricated by a simple method, with advantages of being rapid and highly-sensitive, and having selective detection of α2-M, which provides a novel method for the early diagnosis of DN, and it has potential in the point of care (PoC) field. Full article
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11 pages, 3460 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Motion and Distribution Characteristics for Electrospray Droplets
by Jiaxin Jiang, Zunxu Qian, Xiang Wang, Huatan Chen, Guoyi Kang, Yifang Liu, Gaofeng Zheng and Wenwang Li
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020396 - 5 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1743
Abstract
Electrospray is a typical technology to prepare large amounts of droplets at micro/nano scale. Establishing the relationship between the processing parameters and the motion and distribution characteristics for electrospray droplets is an effective approach to guide the uniform deposition of the electrospray membrane. [...] Read more.
Electrospray is a typical technology to prepare large amounts of droplets at micro/nano scale. Establishing the relationship between the processing parameters and the motion and distribution characteristics for electrospray droplets is an effective approach to guide the uniform deposition of the electrospray membrane. In this paper, a dynamic model of electrospray droplets based on the fully resolved direct numerical simulation (FR-DNS) method was constructed, and the spatial motion behaviors of charged droplets were simulated. The coupling effect of electric field force, the charge repulsive force, and the gravity on the motion and distribution of electrospray droplets was studied, and the relationship between processing parameters including the applied voltage and distance from the nozzle to the collecting plate and the spatial distribution of charged droplets was clarified in a direct way. The simulation model provided a good approach for the quantitative description of the motion and distribution behaviors for electrospray droplets, which would help to guide the control of the electrospray jet ejection process. Full article
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13 pages, 5558 KiB  
Article
A Cryostat Applicable to Long-Wavelength Light-Driven Scanning Probe Microscopy
by Kui Xiang, Caihong Xie, Qiyuan Feng, Ze Wang, Guangbin Dai, Jihao Wang, Jing Zhang, Wenjie Meng, Yubin Hou, Qingyou Lu and Yalin Lu
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020378 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2027
Abstract
Recently, there has been growing interest in using lightwave-driven scanning probe microscopy (LD-SPM) to break through the Abbe diffraction limit of focusing, yielding insight into various energy couplings and conversion processes and revealing the internal information of matter. We describe a compact and [...] Read more.
Recently, there has been growing interest in using lightwave-driven scanning probe microscopy (LD-SPM) to break through the Abbe diffraction limit of focusing, yielding insight into various energy couplings and conversion processes and revealing the internal information of matter. We describe a compact and efficient optical cryostat designed for LD-SPM testing under magnetic fields. The exceptional multilayer radiation shielding insert (MRSI) forms an excellent temperature gradient when filled with heat conducting gas, which removes the requirement to install an optical window in the liquid helium cooling shell. This not only critically avoids the vibration and thermal drift caused by solid heat conduction but also minimizes light transmission loss. The application of gate valves and bellows allows a simpler and more effective replacement of the sample and working cell in the test cavity. ANSYS software is used for steady-state thermal analysis of the MRSI to obtain the temperature distribution and heat transfer rate, and the necessity of the flexible copper shielding strips is illustrated by the simulations. The topography and magnetic domain images of 45 nm-thick La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 thin films on NdGaO3(001) substrates under a magnetic field were obtained by a self-made lightwave-driven magnetic force microscope in this cryostat. The resolution and noise spectra during imaging reveal temperature stability and low vibration throughout the cryostat. The experience acquired during the development of this cryostat will help to establish cryostats of similar types for a variety of optic applications requiring the use of cryogenic temperatures. Full article
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9 pages, 2571 KiB  
Article
Atomic-Resolution Imaging of Micron-Sized Samples Realized by High Magnetic Field Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
by Weixuan Li, Jihao Wang, Jing Zhang, Wenjie Meng, Caihong Xie, Yubin Hou, Zhigang Xia and Qingyou Lu
Micromachines 2023, 14(2), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020287 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) can image material surfaces with atomic resolution, making it a useful tool in the areas of physics and materials. Many materials are synthesized at micron size, especially few-layer materials. Limited by their complex structure, very few STMs are capable [...] Read more.
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) can image material surfaces with atomic resolution, making it a useful tool in the areas of physics and materials. Many materials are synthesized at micron size, especially few-layer materials. Limited by their complex structure, very few STMs are capable of directly positioning and imaging a micron-sized sample with atomic resolution. Traditional STMs are designed to study the material behavior induced by temperature variation, while the physical properties induced by magnetic fields are rarely studied. In this paper, we present the design and construction of an atomic-resolution STM that can operate in a 9 T high magnetic field. More importantly, the homebuilt STM is capable of imaging micron-sized samples. The performance of the STM is demonstrated by high-quality atomic images obtained on a graphite surface, with low drift rates in the X–Y plane and Z direction. The atomic-resolution image obtained on a 32-μm graphite flake illustrates the new STM’s ability of positioning and imaging micron-sized samples. Finally, we present atomic resolution images at a magnetic field range from 0 T to 9 T. The above advantages make our STM a promising tool for investigating the quantum hall effect of micron-sized layered materials. Full article
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11 pages, 2635 KiB  
Article
Input–Output-Improved Reservoir Computing Based on Duffing Resonator Processing Dynamic Temperature Compensation for MEMS Resonant Accelerometer
by Xiaowei Guo, Wuhao Yang, Tianyi Zheng, Jie Sun, Xingyin Xiong, Zheng Wang and Xudong Zou
Micromachines 2023, 14(1), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010161 - 8 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2204
Abstract
An MEMS resonant accelerometer is a temperature-sensitive device because temperature change affects the intrinsic resonant frequency of the inner silicon beam. Most classic temperature compensation methods, such as algorithm modeling and structure design, have large errors under rapid temperature changing due to the [...] Read more.
An MEMS resonant accelerometer is a temperature-sensitive device because temperature change affects the intrinsic resonant frequency of the inner silicon beam. Most classic temperature compensation methods, such as algorithm modeling and structure design, have large errors under rapid temperature changing due to the hysteresis of the temperature response of the accelerometer. To address this issue, we propose a novel reservoir computing (RC) structure based on a nonlinear silicon resonator, which is specifically improved for predicting dynamic information that is referred to as the input–output-improved reservoir computing (IOI-RC) algorithm. It combines the polynomial fitting with the RC on the input data mapping ensuring that the system always resides in the rich nonlinear state. Meanwhile, the output layer is also optimized by vector concatenation operation for higher memory capacity. Therefore, the new system has better performance in dynamic temperature compensation. In addition, the method is real-time, with easy hardware implementation that can be integrated with MEMS sensors. The experiment’s result showed a 93% improvement in IOI-RC compared to raw data in a temperature range of −20–60 °C. The study confirmed the feasibility of RC in realizing dynamic temperature compensation precisely, which provides a potential real-time online temperature compensation method and a sensor system with edge computing. Full article
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10 pages, 4095 KiB  
Article
A Readout Circuit for MEMS Gas Sensor
by Shengle Ren, Mingyuan Ren and Honghai Xu
Micromachines 2023, 14(1), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010150 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2413
Abstract
In recent years, the application of gas sensors is becoming more and more extensive. Driven by potential applications such as the Internet of Things, its technology development direction begins with miniaturization, integration, modularization, and intelligence. However, there is a bottleneck in the research [...] Read more.
In recent years, the application of gas sensors is becoming more and more extensive. Driven by potential applications such as the Internet of Things, its technology development direction begins with miniaturization, integration, modularization, and intelligence. However, there is a bottleneck in the research of interface circuits, which restricts the development of gas sensors in volume, power consumption, and intelligence. To solve this problem, a MEMS gas sensor interface circuit based on ADC technology is proposed in this paper. Under the condition of the Huahong 110 nm process, the working voltage is 3.3 V, the resistance change of 100 Ω~1 MΩ can be detected, the conversion error is in the range of 0.5~1%, and the maximum power consumption is 986 μW. The overall layout area is 0.49 × 0.77 mm2. Finally, the correctness of the circuit function is verified by post-layout simulation. Full article
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8 pages, 2842 KiB  
Article
A Novel Intelligent Rebound Hammer System Based on Internet of Things
by Zongqiang Pang, Qing Wang, Yong Wang and Zhiyin Gong
Micromachines 2023, 14(1), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010148 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1818
Abstract
In order to improve the test efficiency of concrete strength and ensure measured data reliability, we present a novel intelligent rebound hammer system which is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and speech recognition technology. The system uses a STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller as [...] Read more.
In order to improve the test efficiency of concrete strength and ensure measured data reliability, we present a novel intelligent rebound hammer system which is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and speech recognition technology. The system uses a STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller as the Main Control Unit (MCU), and one BC26 module as the communication unit, combined with a LD3320 voice recognition module and TOF050H laser ranging sensor to achieve the function of phonetic transcription and laser ranging. Without the need for traditional multi-person collaboration and burdensome data transfer, the system can collect the data of rebound value and location information and send them to the remote cloud information management system automatically in real time. The test results show that the system has high measuring accuracy, good data transmission stability and convenient operation, which could provide guidance for other types of non-destructive testing equipment designs. Full article
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9 pages, 3007 KiB  
Article
Two-Terminal Nonvolatile Write-Once-Read-Many-Times Memory Based on All-Inorganic Halide Perovskite
by Zhipeng Yu, Xiaofeng Zhao, Chunpeng Ai, Xin Fang, Xiaohan Zhao, Yanchao Wang and Hongquan Zhang
Micromachines 2023, 14(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010093 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
Write-once-read-many-times (WORM) memory belonging to an important non-volatile memory type achieves the read-only state after the write operation and is used in the fields of data security storage widely. WORM memory has been developed based on a variety of materials. In recent years, [...] Read more.
Write-once-read-many-times (WORM) memory belonging to an important non-volatile memory type achieves the read-only state after the write operation and is used in the fields of data security storage widely. WORM memory has been developed based on a variety of materials. In recent years, halide perovskites have become the research hotspot material for this memory due to its excellent properties. Here, the all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite thin film was prepared on a FTO substrate by using a two-step method. The prepared CsPbBr3 thin films have the characteristics of densely packed crystal grains and smooth surface. The device, having the FTO/CsPbBr3/Al sandwich structure by evaporating the Al electrode onto the CsPbBr3 thin film, represents the typical WORM behavior, with long data retention time (104 s), a low operation voltage (2.1 V) and a low reading voltage (0.1 V). Additionally, the resistance transition mechanism of the resulting WORM devices was analyzed. Full article
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16 pages, 6242 KiB  
Article
Study on the Manipulation Strategy of Metallic Microstructures Based on Electrochemical-Assisted Method
by Dongjie Li, Mingrui Wang, Weibin Rong, Liu Yang, Donghao Xu and Yu Zhang
Micromachines 2022, 13(12), 2151; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13122151 - 5 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1518
Abstract
Microcomponent manipulation (MCM) technology plays a decisive role in assembling complex systems at the micro- and nanoscale. However, the existing micromanipulation methods are difficult to widely apply in the manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) due to the limited manipulation space and complex application [...] Read more.
Microcomponent manipulation (MCM) technology plays a decisive role in assembling complex systems at the micro- and nanoscale. However, the existing micromanipulation methods are difficult to widely apply in the manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) due to the limited manipulation space and complex application objects, and the manipulation efficiency is relatively low, which makes it difficult to industrialize these micromanipulating systems. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes an efficient metal MCM strategy based on the electrochemical method. To verify the feasibility and repeatability of the strategy, the finite element model (FEM) incorporating the hydrodynamic and electrochemical theories is used to calculate the local stress distribution of the contact position during the dynamic pick-up process. Based on the simulation results, we defined the relationship between the parameters, such as the optimal manipulating position and angle for picking, transferring and releasing. The failure behaviors of pick-up are built to realize the efficient three-dimensional manipulation of microcopper wire of 300 μm. By establishing a theoretical model and experimental verification, it was concluded that the middle point was the best manipulating position when picking up the microcopper wire, the most efficient picking angle was between 45 and 60 degrees for the pipette, and the average time was 480 s in three sets of picking–release manipulation experiments. This paper provides an achievable idea for different types of micro-object manipulations and promotes the rapid application of micromanipulation techniques in MEMSs. Full article
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8 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
Compact Magnetic Force Microscope (MFM) System in a 12 T Cryogen-Free Superconducting Magnet
by Asim Abas, Tao Geng, Wenjie Meng, Jihao Wang, Qiyuan Feng, Jing Zhang, Ze Wang, Yubin Hou and Qingyou Lu
Micromachines 2022, 13(11), 1922; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111922 - 7 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860
Abstract
Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) is among the best techniques for examining and assessing local magnetic characteristics in surface structures at scales and sizes. It may be viewed as a unique way to operate atomic force microscopy with a ferromagnetic tip. The enhancement of [...] Read more.
Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) is among the best techniques for examining and assessing local magnetic characteristics in surface structures at scales and sizes. It may be viewed as a unique way to operate atomic force microscopy with a ferromagnetic tip. The enhancement of magnetic signal resolution, the utilization of external fields during measurement, and quantitative data analysis are now the main areas of MFM development. We describe a new structure of MFM design based on a cryogen-free superconducting magnet. The piezoelectric tube (PZT) was implemented with a tip-sample coarse approach called SpiderDrive. The technique uses a magnetic tip on the free end of a piezo-resistive cantilever which oscillates at its resonant frequency. We obtained a high-quality image structure of the magnetic domain of commercial videotape under extreme conditions at 5 K, and a high magnetic field up to 11 T. When such a magnetic field was gradually increased, the domain structure of the videotape did not change much, allowing us to maintain the images in the specific regions to exhibit the performance. In addition, it enabled us to locate the sample region in the order of several hundred nanometers. This system has an extensive range of applications in the exploration of anisotropic magnetic phenomena in topological materials and superconductors. Full article
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17 pages, 5338 KiB  
Article
Deep-Eutectic-Solvent-Assisted Synthesis of a Z-Scheme BiVO4/BiOCl/S,N-GQDS Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation Activity under Visible-Light Irradiation
by Hengxin Ren, Kuilin Lv, Wenbin Liu, Pengfei Li, Yu Zhang and Yuguang Lv
Micromachines 2022, 13(10), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13101604 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2271
Abstract
Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic nanomaterial designs have attracted attention due to their high catalytic performance. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been used as green, sustainable media, acting as solvents and structure inducers in the synthesis of nanomaterials. In this work, a novel visible-light-absorption-enhanced bismuth [...] Read more.
Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic nanomaterial designs have attracted attention due to their high catalytic performance. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been used as green, sustainable media, acting as solvents and structure inducers in the synthesis of nanomaterials. In this work, a novel visible-light-absorption-enhanced bismuth vanadate/bismuth oxychloride/sulfur, nitrogen co-doped graphene quantum dot (BiVO4/BiOCl/S,N-GQDS) heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared in a deep eutectic solvent. The photosynthetic activity of the BiVO4/BiOCl/S,N-GQDS composite was determined by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The results showed that the highest photocatalytic activity of BiVO4/BiOCl/S,N-GQDS was achieved when the doping amount of S,N-GQDS was 3%, and the degradation rate of RhB reached 70% within 5 h. The kinetic and photocatalytic cycles showed that the degradation of Rhb was in accordance with the quasi-primary degradation kinetic model, and the photocatalytic performance remained stable after four photocatalytic cycles. Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance (UV-DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) experiments confirmed that BiVO4/BiOCl/S,N-GQDS ternary heterojunctions have a narrow band gap energy (2.35 eV), which can effectively improve the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs and suppress their complexation. This is due to the construction of a Z-scheme charge process between the BiVO4/BiOCl binary heterojunction and S,N-GQDS, which achieves effective carrier separation and thus a strong photocatalytic capability. This work not only provides new insights into the design of catalysts using a green solvent approach but also provides a reference for the study of heterojunction photocatalytic materials based on bismuth vanadate, as well as new ideas for other photocatalytic materials. Full article
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