AVS 45th International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Division Thursday Sessions
       Session NS-ThA

Paper NS-ThA3
Monitored Mechanical Nano-Manipulation

Thursday, November 5, 1998, 2:40 pm, Room 321/322/323

Session: Nanoscale Manipulation and Chemical Modification
Presenter: B.E. Koel, University of Southern California
Authors: B.E. Koel, University of Southern California
C. Baur, University of Southern California
A. Bugacov, University of Southern California
A. Madhukar, University of Southern California
N. Montoya, University of Southern California
T.R. Ramachandran, University of Southern California
A.A.G. Requicha, University of Southern California
R. Resch, University of Southern California
P. Will, University of Southern California
Correspondent: Click to Email
We have investigated the mechanical positioning of colloid particles deposited on a flat substrate. The positioning is achieved by pushing the particles with the tip of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). We gained fundamental insight into this manipulation process by monitoring the tip deflection and other signals during the pushing event. We also developed a procedure that allows the operator to compensate for instrument errors such as creep, hysteresis and thermal drift, especially important for operation in ambient air and at room temperature. This has lead to manipulation with high spatial certainty and increased the reliability considerably. We demonstrate precise positioning of arrays of colloidal particles and building and manipulating 3-D and linked 2-D structures of nanoparticles. It is possible to adapt this generic type of manipulation to a variety of environments and materials promising a high potential for fabrication of nano-scale devices such as those required in applications ranging from high-density data storage to single-electron electronics and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) prototyping and fabrication.