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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Peter Cumpson, Dr John Hedley
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Calibration of atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers is necessary for the measurement of nano-newton and pico-newton forces, which are critical to analytical application of AFM in the analysis of polymer surfaces, biological structures and organic molecules. Previously we have described microfabricated array of reference spring (MARS) devices for AFM cantilever spring-constant calibration. Hitherto, these have been limited to the calibration of AFM cantilevers above 0.03 N/m, although they can be used to calibrate cantilevers of lower stiffness with reduced accuracy. Below this limit MARS devices similar to the designs hitherto described would be fragile and difficult to manufacture with reasonable yield, In this work we describe a device we call torsional MARS. This is a large-area torsional mechanical resonator, manufactured by bulk micromachining of a "silicon-on-insulator" wafer. By measuring its torsional oscillation accurately in vacuum we can deduce its torsional spring constant. The torsional reference spring spans the range of spring constant (from 4 down to 0.01 N/m) that is important in biological AFM, allowing even the most compliant AFM cantilever to be calibrated easily and rapidly. (C) 2004 American Vacuum Society.
Author(s): Cumpson PJ, Hedley J, Clifford CA, Chen XY, Allen S
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: 50th AVS International Symposium
Year of Conference: 2004
Pages: 1444-1449
ISSN: 1553-1813
Publisher: American Institute of Physics
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/1.1763898
DOI: 10.1116/1.1763898
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 10718028
