New atomic force microscope

Veeco Instruments Inc. has released the Dimension Edge atomic force microscope (AFM) system for physical and life sciences investigation. The mid-priced system has a proprietary closed-loop and drift-compensated stage that allows the productivity, accuracy, and sample versatility of a large-sample, closed-loop system combined with the high-resolution images traditionally only achieved by small-sample, open-loop systems. The system’s lower noise levels allows collection of the fine details critical to material identification, while protecting fragile tips and samples, and diminishing tip artifacts. The microscope has a 5-megapixel digital camera and an180 to 1465 μm viewing area. It can be used for applications such as characterizing solar and semiconductor devices, mapping of heterogeneous polymer-based materials, and in situ imaging of life science samples from single molecules to whole cells.

More information here.

Grant winners announced and 'SPM in Energy' grant solicitation underway

Congratulations to the winners of "HarmoniX Innovation," phase I of Veeco Labs Research Grant Program. The best proposals for research in nano- and biomaterial development using the HarmoniX were chosen to receive the full-spectrum HarmoniX microscopy package.

HarmoniX is an atomic force microscopy mode that offsets the probe tip from the cantilever. This enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of the cantilever harmonics in TappingMode by coupling the normal forces of the tip with the torsional cantilever motion.

And the winners are . . . 

• Liz Adams and Kirk Czymmek (University of Delaware, USA) – “Characterization of the Fungal Cell Wall Structure Using HarmoniX AFM”
  
• Zbigniew Celinski and Anatoliy Glushchenko (University of Colorado, USA) – “Mapping the Aligning Forces Acting on Liquid Crystals on an Inorganic Substrate”
  
• Sidney Cohen and David Cahen (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) – “Molecular-Level Mechanics of Self-Assembled Monolayer Films Containing the Azo-Benzene Group and Their Applications in Molecular Motors”
  
• S. De Beer, Dirk van den Ende, Frieder Mugele, Bram Borkent and Detlef Lohse (University of Twente, Netherlands) – “HarmoniX for Nanofluidics”
  
• Philippe LeClere (University of Mons-Hainaut, Belgium) – “Biomimetic Surfaces: Adhesives for the Future”
  
• George Schitter (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands) – “Optimizing the Speed of TappingMode AFM by HarmoniX-Based Feedback”
  
• Igor Sokolov (Clarkson University, USA) – “Study of Local Rigidity Distributions on Human Cells: ‘Sick’ versus Normal Cells”
  
• Andreea Trache (Texas A&M University, USA) – “Measurements of Cytoskeletal Stiffness Dynamics in Live Cells Using HarmoniX Mapping Module”
  
• G. Julius Vancso and Holger Schönherr (University of Twente, Netherlands) – “Chemically Sensitive Probing with HarmoniX”

If you missed out on Phase I, take a look at Phase II - "SPM in Energy." Proposals are currently sought for concept development and validation using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to speed the characterization of, facilitate the development of, improve the yield/efficiency of, or enhance fundamental understanding of, energy generation, storage, or conservation. These grant winners will receive an equipment stipend for nano-electronic application modules for their Veeco Dimension, MultiMode, or Innova SPMs. More information at http://tinyurl.com/cna3xu.