Lancaster University – TechConnect Briefs

Nanoscale SPM Characterisation of Nacre Argonite Plates and Synthetic Human Amyloid Fibres

Grishin I., Tinker C., Allsop D., Robson A., Kolosov O.V., Lancaster University, UK

Nacre exhibits structural robustness despite the brittle nature of its constituents. A detailed understanding of its fabrication principles developed in nature can lead to new ideas in material design and synthesis. But due to this [...]

Mapping nanomechanical phenomena of graphene nanostructures using force modulation and ultrasonic force microscopy

Kolosov O.V., Kay N.D., Robinson B.J., Rosamond M., Zeze D., Dinelli F., Lancaster University, UK

Whereas graphene electronic properties are extensively studied, mechanical properties of graphene nanostructures are much less experimentally explored even for simple graphene structures. We use a combination of force sensitive scanning probe microscopies that combines low [...]

Direct nanoscale imaging of ballistic and diffusive thermal transport in graphene nanostructures

Kolosov O.V., Pumarol M.E., Tovee P., Rosamond M.C., Petty M.C., Zeze D.A., Falko V., Lancaster University, UK

We report direct imaging of thermal transport in single and few-layer graphene with approximately 50 nm lateral resolution using high vacuum scanning thermal microscopy. Images reveal low thermal resistance of areas of suspended graphene where [...]

Characterisation of Graphene in Liquid and Gaseous Environment with Quartz Crystal Microbalance for Applications in Real-Life Energy Storage Devices

Mazzocco R., Robinson B., Kolosov O., Lancaster University, UK

Graphene is a flat monolayer of carbon atoms whose extraordinary properties are to revolutionize the performance of many technological applications. Unfortunately there is very little understanding of how the properties of graphene change in its [...]

Adhesion and dynamic nanotribology of graphene in polar and non-polar liquid environments studied with ultrasonic force microscopy

Robinson B.J., Kolosov O.V., Lancaster University, UK

We report the characterisation of exfoliated few layer graphene (FLG) flakes using a range of scanning probe techniques. We have examined the nanoscale mechanical and interfacial properties of FLG and its substrate material, SiO2, in [...]

Direct nanoscale 3D characterisation of Ge-Sb-Te and Ge-Te phase change films

Grishin I., Kolosov O.V., Lancaster University, UK

DC magnetron sputter-deposited Ge-Sb-Te and Ge-Te based phase change thin films were investigated via a variety of Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques. Micron and sub-micron crystalline and amorphous bit patterns were induced with laser heating and [...]

Seeing the invisible – ultrasonic force microscopy for true subsurface elastic imaging of semiconductor nanostructures with nanoscale resolution

Kolosov O.V., Dinelli F., Krier A., Henini M., Hayne M., Pinque P., Lancaster University, UK

Scanning probe microscopes (SPM’s) are indispensable in modern nanoscale science but ability of SPM’s to look below the surface is unavoidably limited. In spite of developments based on Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) a true subsurface [...]