Development of Nanotools for Applications in (sub-)Femtofluidics and Graphene Technologies

Development of Nanotools for Applications in (sub-)Femtofluidics and Graphene Technologies

Perez Garza, H.H.

Staufer, U. (promotor)

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Precision and Microsystems Engineering

2015-01-12

Properties of matter at the nano-scale may be very different from the ones observed at the macro-scale. The continuous variation of characteristics with diminishing size results in relevant changes in behavior. Similarly, these changes are caused by the rise of completely new phenomena (i.e. quantum confinement). Nanoscience can offer an unprecedented understanding about materials and nanotechnology can be used to exploit that understanding in order to generate devices that are likely to impact many fields. By using structure at nanoscale as a tunable physical parameter, we can greatly increase the range of performance of existing materials. Overall, nanoengineering could impact the production of virtually every object for all types of applications – from electronics to optical devices, advanced diagnostics, surgery, genetics, energy conservation and hydrogen separation. However, to achieve the intended applications we first have to understand how to manipulate diverse matter at such scale. This goal requires new knowledge and new approaches. Consequently, designed and controlled fabrication and integration of nanotools and nanodevices is likely to be revolutionary for science and technology. Currently, having the proper micro-instruments and nano-tools is the bottleneck for the full industrialization of the nanotechnology. Therefore, this thesis aims at developing new tools that would represent a step forward towards novel applications. In particular, our efforts were allocated to the design, fabrication and characterization of two different nanotools: the atomic force microscope-femtopipette and the MEMS-based in-plane tensile device. On one side, the femtopipette consists of a transparent hollow microfluidic cantilever with a nanometer scale aperture on the wall of the hollow tip. It is a multifunctional device that can weigh, image and locally dispense/aspirate liquids in the (sub)femtoliter regime. We envisage this tool will find applications to locally functionalize nanoscale devices, trafficking molecules across a living cell and micro/nano droplet arrays for diagnostics. Furthermore, we show that the femtopipette can be used to enable local dispensing and controlled synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, which could represent the pioneering results for eventual 3D nanomanufacturing. On the other side, theoretical calculations have predicted that extreme strains (>10%) in graphene would result in novel applications. However, before this work the highest reported strain reached 1.3%. Here, we demonstrate uniaxial strains >10% by pulling graphene using a MEMS-based in-plane tensile device. To prevent the graphene from slipping away during stretching, it was locally clamped with epoxy glue applied by the femtopipette. The results were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and optical tracking. Furthermore, analysis proved the process to be reversible and nondestructive for the graphene.

Nanotechnology
MEMS
Femtopipette
AFM
Hollow Cantilever
Nanopipette
Microfluidics
Micropumps
Dispensing
Aspirating
Piezoresistive
Nanomanipulator
In-plane Tensile Device
Extreme Strain
Thermal Microactuator
Graphene
Clamping

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:ca9e559b-ec04-4d4f-ac52-bf94b2e901e4

9789461864024

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2015 Perez Garza, H.H.