Researchers at the University of South Florida have invented a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) oscillator surface profiling device.
This invention consists of an outer stationary nanotube and an inner oscillating nanotube. It works on the principle that the frequency of oscillations of the inner tube depends strongly on the distance between the CNT and the surface being profiled. Additionally, the frequency of oscillations is determined by a small region located around the diameter of the oscillating nanotube. This geometry results in high resolution measurements of very small surface regions.
The device is operated in a non-contact mode, thus it is a non-fatigue, non-wear system with higher in-plane resolution compared to traditional atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. A laser is used to measure the oscillation frequency.
This device can be used in cell biology research, nanomeasurements in medicine, microelectronics, microcomposites, other biotechnology, and general materials analysis.
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