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Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2016) | Viewed by 38301

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid Isaac Newton, 8, Tres Cantos, E-28760
Interests: nanotechnology; nanomechanics; molecular diagnostics; biosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IMM-CSIC Isaac Newton 8, PTM-28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
Interests: ultra high sensitivity biosensors; plasmonics; nanomechanics; cancer diagnostics; HIV diagnosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Detecting the presence of a given substance at the molecular level, down to a single molecule, remains a considerable challenge for many nanotechnology sensor applications that range from nanobiotechnology research to environmental monitoring. Fortunately, the advances in micro- and nanofabrication technologies enable the fabrication of increasingly smaller mechanical transducers with micro- and nanosized moving parts, of which deformation and vibration are sensitively modified upon molecular adsorption. Molecular adsorption decreases the free energy and change in energy in spatial domain is force; thus, at a fundamental level, all interactions in biology and chemistry involve nanomechanics.

This Special Issue of “Sensors” shall gather cutting-edge research concerning nanomechanics for sensing and the emerging field of single molecule mass spectrometry enabled by nanomechanical systems.

Dr. Priscila M. Kosaka
Dr. Montserrat Calleja
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomechanics
  • nanomechanical mass spectrometry
  • chemical sensors
  • biosensors
  • innovative nanomechanical resonators
  • optical readout systems

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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3452 KiB  
Article
Spatially Multiplexed Micro-Spectrophotometry in Bright Field Mode for Thin Film Characterization
by Valerio Pini, Priscila M. Kosaka, Jose J. Ruz, Oscar Malvar, Mario Encinar, Javier Tamayo and Montserrat Calleja
Sensors 2016, 16(6), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060926 - 21 Jun 2016
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5920
Abstract
Thickness characterization of thin films is of primary importance in a variety of nanotechnology applications, either in the semiconductor industry, quality control in nanofabrication processes or engineering of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) because small thickness variability can strongly compromise the device performance. Here, we [...] Read more.
Thickness characterization of thin films is of primary importance in a variety of nanotechnology applications, either in the semiconductor industry, quality control in nanofabrication processes or engineering of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) because small thickness variability can strongly compromise the device performance. Here, we present an alternative optical method in bright field mode called Spatially Multiplexed Micro-Spectrophotometry that allows rapid and non-destructive characterization of thin films over areas of mm2 and with 1 μm of lateral resolution. We demonstrate an accuracy of 0.1% in the thickness characterization through measurements performed on four microcantilevers that expand an area of 1.8 mm2 in one minute of analysis time. The measured thickness variation in the range of few tens of nm translates into a mechanical variability that produces an error of up to 2% in the response of the studied devices when they are used to measure surface stress variations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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3186 KiB  
Article
Toward Higher-Order Mass Detection: Influence of an Adsorbate’s Rotational Inertia and Eccentricity on the Resonant Response of a Bernoulli-Euler Cantilever Beam
by Stephen M. Heinrich and Isabelle Dufour
Sensors 2015, 15(11), 29209-29232; https://doi.org/10.3390/s151129209 - 19 Nov 2015
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6706
Abstract
In this paper a new theoretical model is derived, the results of which permit a detailed examination of how the resonant characteristics of a cantilever are influenced by a particle (adsorbate) attached at an arbitrary position along the beam’s length. Unlike most previous [...] Read more.
In this paper a new theoretical model is derived, the results of which permit a detailed examination of how the resonant characteristics of a cantilever are influenced by a particle (adsorbate) attached at an arbitrary position along the beam’s length. Unlike most previous work, the particle need not be small in mass or dimension relative to the beam, and the adsorbate’s geometric characteristics are incorporated into the model via its rotational inertia and eccentricity relative to the beam axis. For the special case in which the adsorbate’s (translational) mass is indeed small, an analytical solution is obtained for the particle-induced resonant frequency shift of an arbitrary flexural mode, including the effects of rotational inertia and eccentricity. This solution is shown to possess the exact first-order behavior in the normalized particle mass and represents a generalization of analytical solutions derived by others in earlier studies. The results suggest the potential for “higher-order” nanobeam-based mass detection methods by which the multi-mode frequency response reflects not only the adsorbate’s mass but also important geometric data related to its size, shape, or orientation (i.e., the mass distribution), thus resulting in more highly discriminatory techniques for discrete-mass sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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1044 KiB  
Article
Modelling the Size Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Micro/Nano Structures
by Amir Musa Abazari, Seyed Mohsen Safavi, Ghader Rezazadeh and Luis Guillermo Villanueva
Sensors 2015, 15(11), 28543-28562; https://doi.org/10.3390/s151128543 - 11 Nov 2015
Cited by 66 | Viewed by 8774 | Correction
Abstract
Experiments on micro- and nano-mechanical systems (M/NEMS) have shown that their behavior under bending loads departs in many cases from the classical predictions using Euler-Bernoulli theory and Hooke’s law. This anomalous response has usually been seen as a dependence of the material properties [...] Read more.
Experiments on micro- and nano-mechanical systems (M/NEMS) have shown that their behavior under bending loads departs in many cases from the classical predictions using Euler-Bernoulli theory and Hooke’s law. This anomalous response has usually been seen as a dependence of the material properties on the size of the structure, in particular thickness. A theoretical model that allows for quantitative understanding and prediction of this size effect is important for the design of M/NEMS. In this paper, we summarize and analyze the five theories that can be found in the literature: Grain Boundary Theory (GBT), Surface Stress Theory (SST), Residual Stress Theory (RST), Couple Stress Theory (CST) and Surface Elasticity Theory (SET). By comparing these theories with experimental data we propose a simplified model combination of CST and SET that properly fits all considered cases, therefore delivering a simple (two parameters) model that can be used to predict the mechanical properties at the nanoscale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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722 KiB  
Article
Lipid Multilayer Grating Arrays Integrated by Nanointaglio for Vapor Sensing by an Optical Nose
by Troy W. Lowry, Plengchart Prommapan, Quinn Rainer, David Van Winkle and Steven Lenhert
Sensors 2015, 15(8), 20863-20872; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150820863 - 21 Aug 2015
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6283
Abstract
Lipid multilayer gratings are recently invented nanomechanical sensor elements that are capable of transducing molecular binding to fluid lipid multilayers into optical signals in a label free manner due to shape changes in the lipid nanostructures. Here, we show that nanointaglio is suitable [...] Read more.
Lipid multilayer gratings are recently invented nanomechanical sensor elements that are capable of transducing molecular binding to fluid lipid multilayers into optical signals in a label free manner due to shape changes in the lipid nanostructures. Here, we show that nanointaglio is suitable for the integration of chemically different lipid multilayer gratings into a sensor array capable of distinguishing vapors by means of an optical nose. Sensor arrays composed of six different lipid formulations are integrated onto a surface and their optical response to three different vapors (water, ethanol and acetone) in air as well as pH under water is monitored as a function of time. Principal component analysis of the array response results in distinct clustering indicating the suitability of the arrays for distinguishing these analytes. Importantly, the nanointaglio process used here is capable of producing lipid gratings out of different materials with sufficiently uniform heights for the fabrication of an optical nose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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896 KiB  
Article
Diazonium Chemistry for the Bio-Functionalization of Glassy Nanostring Resonator Arrays
by Wei Zheng, Rongbing Du, Yong Cao, Mohammad A. Mohammad, Steven K. Dew, Mark T. McDermott and Stephane Evoy
Sensors 2015, 15(8), 18724-18741; https://doi.org/10.3390/s150818724 - 30 Jul 2015
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6158
Abstract
Resonant glassy nanostrings have been employed for the detection of biomolecules. These devices offer high sensitivity and amenability to large array integration and multiplexed assays. Such a concept has however been impaired by the lack of stable and biocompatible linker chemistries. Diazonium salt [...] Read more.
Resonant glassy nanostrings have been employed for the detection of biomolecules. These devices offer high sensitivity and amenability to large array integration and multiplexed assays. Such a concept has however been impaired by the lack of stable and biocompatible linker chemistries. Diazonium salt reduction-induced aryl grafting is an aqueous-based process providing strong chemical adhesion. In this work, diazonium-based linker chemistry was performed for the first time on glassy nanostrings, which enabled the bio-functionalization of such devices. Large arrays of nanostrings with ultra-narrow widths down to 10 nm were fabricated employing electron beam lithography. Diazonium modification was first developed on SiCN surfaces and validated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Similarly modified nanostrings were then covalently functionalized with anti-rabbit IgG as a molecular probe. Specific enumeration of rabbit IgG was successfully performed through observation of downshifts of resonant frequencies. The specificity of this enumeration was confirmed through proper negative control experiments. Helium ion microscopy further verified the successful functionalization of nanostrings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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146 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Abazari, A.M., et al. Modelling the Size Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Micro/Nano Structures. Sensors 2015, 15, 28543–28562
by Amir Musa Abazari, Seyed Mohsen Safavi, Ghader Rezazadeh and Luis Guillermo Villanueva
Sensors 2016, 16(6), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060781 - 27 May 2016
Viewed by 3781
Abstract
The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [1]: The article type should be changed from “Review” into “Article”.[...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomechanics for Sensing and Spectrometry)
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