Image of the Day: New Nano-Probe Works Like a Microphone

Researchers have created a new type of nano-sized probe that works like a microphone. The device can film molecules in action and measure the physical and chemical properties of a material with just one poke.

Called FIRAT (Force sensing Integrated Readout and Active Tip), the device is a new type of atomic force microscope (AFM) that is 100 times faster than other models. It can be used to observe fast biological interactions on the molecular scale and film molecular interactions in real time--two things that other AFM devices can't do.

The speed bump and increase in capabilities comes from a new type of microphone-inspired probe.

Current AFM scans surfaces with a thin cantilever with a sharp tip at the end. An optical beam is bounced off the cantilever tip to measure the deflection of the tip as it moves over the surface of an object and interacts with the material being analyzed.

In the FIRAT probe, by contrast, the membrane with a sharp tip moves toward the sample and just before it touches, it is pulled by attractive forces. Much like a microphone diaphragm picks up sound vibrations, the FIRAT membrane starts taking sensory readings well before it touches the sample.

When the tip hits the surface, the elasticity and stiffness of the surface determines how hard the material pushes back against the tip. So rather than just capturing the surface details of a sample, FIRAT can pick up a wide variety of other information as well.

 "From just one scan, we can get topography, adhesion, stiffness, elasticity, viscosity -- pretty much everything," said Levent Degertekin of Georgia Tech who headed the development of the device.

--Ker Than

·       Amazing Images: Science & Nature Photos from Our Readers

Credit:  Levent Degertekin/Georgia Tech

--Ker Than

Amazing Images: Science & Nature Photos from Our Readers

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