最新情報

How PLLA Spherulites Fragment or Disintegrate Under Deformation: Insights from AFMWed Nov 04 2026

What happens to the crystalline structures inside a semicrystalline polymer when the material is stretched? A study by Xabier Larrañaga and colleagues, published in Macromolecules, reveals two contrasting deformation pathways in poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA): fragmentation, in which crystalline order is locally retained, and mechanical disintegration, in which the structure becomes substantially less ordered. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), combined with Raman spectroscopy and polarized-light microscopy, helps explain these different responses.

Physical aging and the deformation of PLLA

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Tuning Room-Temperature Magnetism in 2D Materials Through Dielectric InterfacesWed Oct 28 2026

Can the dielectric layer beneath a two-dimensional magnet influence its magnetic response at room temperature?

Yiting Mo and colleagues investigated this question using Fe₃GeTe₂ nanosheets on silicon substrates with different SiOₓ dielectric thicknesses. They compared measurements in darkness and under ultraviolet illumination. The researchers observed that magnetic force microscopy (MFM) phase contrast varied with dielectric thickness. On the thinnest dielectric layer, the contrast decreased under UV illumination and recovered when the illumination was removed. Complementary Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) measurements revealed changes in contact-potential difference.

The study used NANOSENSORS PPP-LC-MFMR AFM probes for MFM and PPP-EFM AFM probes for KPFM. Our latest NANOSENSORS Scientific Spotlight explores how these complementary measurements help researchers investigate the influence of dielectric interfaces on two-dimensional magnetic materials.
Read the Spotlight:
https://www.nanosensors.com/blog/tuning-room-temperature-magnetism-in-2d-materials-through-dielectric-interfaces/

Watching Designed Proteins Assemble with High-Speed AFMFri Oct 23 2026

Why do identical protein building blocks form ordered structures on one surface but remain disordered on another?
In a study published in *Nature Communications*, researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to observe how designed protein nanorods assemble on two different mica surfaces.
-On muscovite mica, the nanorods gradually developed an ordered, layered structure.
-On fluorophlogopite mica, they formed dense but comparatively disordered assemblies.

The research highlights how surfaces and interfacial forces influence nanoscale self-assembly.
The study used two types of NanoWorld AFM probes: ARROW-UHFAuD and USC-F1.2-k0.15.
Discover the findings in our latest NanoWorld Research Highlight:
https://www.nanoworld.com/blog/watching-designed-proteins-assemble-with-high-speed-afm/

NanoAndMore Japan is at ACSIN-16 & ICSPM34 Himeji Japan from 19 to 23 OctoberTue Oct 20 2026

Visit NanoAndMore Japan at ACSIN-16 & ICSPM34 Himeji Japan from 19 to 23 October

Using AFM Nanomanipulation to Investigate Nanoparticle–Substrate AdhesionWed Oct 14 2026

At the nanoscale, the interaction between a particle and the surface beneath it can influence whether the particle remains in place or can be displaced. Quantifying this interaction for individual nanoparticles, however, requires more than observing where they are located. It requires a way to manipulate a selected particle while measuring its response.

Çiçek and colleagues explored this problem using copper (Cu) nanoparticles on silicon (Si). They investigated how particle size and deposition conditions relate to adhesion-related behaviour using AFM imaging, controlled nanoparticle manipulation and force measurement.

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Interplay between viscoelasticity and topography regulates fibroblast mechanoresponse and activationFri Sep 25 2026

Controllable Gliders in a Nanomagnetic Metamaterial: MFM Reveals Magnetic “Snakes”Thu Sep 24 2026

New Blog - https://www.nanoworld.com/…/controllable-gliders-in-a…/
In this article, Arthur Penty, Johannes H. Jensen, Ida Breivik, Anders Strømberg, Erik Folven, and Gunnar Tufte demonstrate how a mobile magnetic structure — a “snake” glider — can be created and precisely controlled within a nanomagnetic metamaterial.

Check it out!

Using liquid crystal elastomer arc fibers as appendages for soft robotsFri Sep 18 2026

Plant-Growth Synchronized, Acid Phosphatase-Responsive Lignin-Based Controlled Release Phosphorus NanofertilizersMon Aug 31 2026

sQube AFM Probes - Model Name quick GuideWed Aug 26 2026

What’s in a name? That which we call a CP-NCH-SiO-C by any other name would indent just as reliably, accurately and affordably.
While the paraphrase above is absolutely true, it is important to refer to AFM probes used in a methods section correctly. This helps other researchers (and especially AFM newcomers) reproduce your work and compare results!

Correlations in Magnetic Sub-Domains as an Unconventional Phase Diagram for van der Waals FerromagnetsTue Aug 11 2026

Two-dimensional van der Waals ferromagnets continue to reveal unexpected magnetic phenomena that challenge the traditional understanding of magnetic ordering. In this article, Sergey Y. Grebenchuk, Magdalena Grzeszczyk, Zhaolong Chen, Makars Šiškins, Vladislav Borisov, Manuel Pereiro, Mikhail I. Katsnelson, Olle Eriksson, Kostya S. Novoselov, and Maciej Koperski investigate the origin of correlated magnetic sub-domains in mechanically exfoliated CrBr₃ and demonstrate how these nanoscale magnetic structures define an unconventional magnetic phase diagram.

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Nanostructured Surfaces Enhance Calcium Carbonate NucleationFri Jul 31 2026

Swiss National Day is an opportunity to celebrate the ingenuity, precision and commitment to quality that have become closely associated with Switzerland. While these qualities are often recognised in fields such as watchmaking, engineering and advanced manufacturing, they are equally evident in Swiss scientific research.

In work carried out at ETH Zürich and Empa, Tobias Armstrong and colleagues investigated how nanoscale surface structures influence the nucleation of calcium carbonate crystals, addressing a fundamental question in materials science.

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Revisiting Contact Potential Difference in Electrostatic Force MicroscopyThu Jul 23 2026

Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM) is an important atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for investigating electrical properties and electrostatic interactions at the nanoscale. Achieving quantitative EFM measurements requires a precise understanding of the contact potential difference (VCPD) between the AFM probe and the sample surface. In this article, Lukas Lehnert, Ronald Thoelen, and Hildegard Möbius investigate the influence of AFM probe geometry on contact potential difference measurements and propose an improved model for interpreting Electrostatic Force Microscopy data.

The authors combine experimental measurements with theoretical analysis to examine the individual contributions of the AFM probe apex and cantilever cone to electrostatic interactions. While conventional EFM models generally assume an equipotential AFM probe and treat the contact potential difference as an additional applied voltage, the study demonstrates that this simplified approach cannot fully explain experimentally observed voltage parabolas. By separating the electrostatic contributions of the probe apex and cantilever cone, the proposed model provides a more accurate description of tip–sample interactions during EFM measurements.

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Traceable stiffness calibration of colloidal AFM probes for biomechanical measurementsMon Jul 06 2026

In their recent report Li et al. look at frictional effects in AFM indentation measurements. The paper employs FEA studies, in addition to AFM indentation. Capturing this effect is vital for accurate and traceable calibration of AFM probes. CP-CONT-BSG-C is among the models used!

Read Here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-38158-7#Sec2

Dynamics of Compartment-Specific Proteomic Landscapes of Hepatotoxic and Cholestatic Models of Liver FibrosisThu May 21 2026

Liver fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation and remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, leading to altered tissue mechanics and progressive impairment of liver function. In this article, Marketa Jirouskova, Karel Harant, Pavel Cejnar, Srikant Ojha, Katerina Korelova, Lenka Sarnova, Eva Sticova, Christoph H. Mayr, Herbert B. Schiller, and Martin Gregor investigate compartment-specific proteomic remodeling during fibrosis progression and spontaneous healing in experimental mouse models of hepatotoxic and cholestatic liver injury.

Using detergent-based tissue extraction combined with mass spectrometry, the authors identified dynamic and etiology-specific changes in the hepatic proteome with particular focus on extracellular matrix composition and protein solubility. Distinct molecular signatures associated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced and DDC-induced fibrosis were observed, including signaling pathways linked to impaired healing and carcinogenesis in cholestatic injury. The extracellular chaperone clusterin was additionally identified as a potential contributor to fibrosis resolution.

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Fabrication of Thin-Film Composite Nanofiltration Membrane Employing Polyelectrolyte and Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) via Spin-Spray-Assisted Layer-by-Layer AssemblyMon Apr 27 2026

Spin‑spray‑assisted layer‑by‑layer (LbL) assembly is an innovative technique for producing nanostructured thin films due to its rapid deposition and excellent substrate coverage. In this article, Farid Fadhillah fabricated a nanofiltration (NF) membrane composed of multilayers of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(sodium‑4‑styrene sulfonate) (PSS) on a polysulfone (PSF) support. The resulting membrane was subsequently coated with a metal–organic framework (MOF303).
The fabricated (PEI/PSS)₅–MOF303 membrane demonstrated a rejection rate of 18.94 ± 1.58% and a permeability of 0.91 ± 0.13 L/(h·bar·m²), while also exhibiting improved antifouling performance. These findings highlight the potential of spin‑spray‑assisted LbL assembly as a promising route for thin‑film composite membrane fabrication.
Surface characterization was performed using a commercially available AFM system equipped with a NanoWorld Arrow‑CONTR AFM probe, a silicon cantilever with a force constant of 0.2 N/m, operated in contact mode. Lateral images were used to visualize surface inhomogeneities across the scanned region. The NanoWorld AFM probe ensured stable tip–sample interaction, enabling high‑quality topographical and lateral force mapping. This article emphasizes the importance of selecting a reliable AFM probe for nanoscale membrane characterization.

Negative Differential Piezoresponse in Relaxor FerroelectricsThu Apr 23 2026

Relaxor ferroelectrics exhibit complex electromechanical responses that are critical for advanced functional materials. In this article, C. Saguy, B. Kowalski, A. Sehirlioglu, and Y. Ivry report non-ergodic-induced negative differential piezoresponse behavior.

Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) was used to investigate domain switching and nanoscale electromechanical properties. The study reveals unconventional polarization responses associated with non-ergodic states. Measurements were carried out using a NanoSensors PtSi-FM AFM probe with a force constant of 2.5 N/m and a resonance frequency of 70 kHz. The AFM probe enabled high-resolution imaging, domain writing, and switching spectroscopy under controlled bias conditions.

This work highlights the role of NanoSensors AFM probes in enabling precise characterization of complex ferroelectric phenomena at the nanoscale.

Structural Elucidation of Citric Acid Cross-Linked Pectin and Its Impact on the Properties of Nanocellulose-Reinforced Packaging FilmsWed Apr 15 2026

Citric acid cross-linking is an effective strategy for modifying citrus pectin to enhance its performance in sustainable packaging applications. In this article, Chandra Mohan Chandrasekar, Daniele Carullo, Francesco Saitta, Tommaso Bellesia, Elena Caneva, Chiara Baschieri, Marco Signorelli, Dimitrios Fessas, Stefano Farris and Davide Romano, investigated the structural changes induced by citric acid cross-linking and their influence on the properties of nanocellulose-reinforced packaging films..

The authors demonstrated that cross-linking significantly alters the structure–property relationship of the biopolymer matrix, leading to improved film integrity and modified surface morphology. These results provide valuable insight into biopolymer modification strategies for the development of environmentally friendly packaging materials.

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Did you know, OPUS by MikroMasch® product line features the 55AC AFM probes?Wed Apr 15 2026

Nonlinear Optical Response in Layer-Stacked Gallenene with Ferroelectric PolarizationMon Mar 30 2026

Layer-stacked gallenene is an emerging two-dimensional material with unique structural and electronic propertiesIn this article, M.Yunusa, A. K.Schulz, T.Parker, et al. investigated the nonlinear optical response of layer-stacked gallenene exhibiting ferroelectric polarization. The material was produced using a liquid metal-based synthesis approach and showed a phase transition associated with its stacked structure.

The authors demonstrated strong second harmonic generation (SHG) signals, revealing the nonlinear optical activity of gallenene and confirming its ferroelectric nature. These findings highlight the potential of gallenene as a novel functional 2D material for advanced optoelectronic and photonic applications.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize transparent lamellar films and helical filaments. Measurements were performed using a commercially available AFM instrument operated in contact mode. A NanoWorld Arrow-CONTR AFM probe with a nominal force constant of 0.2 N/m and a resonance frequency of 14 kHz was used to obtain high-resolution surface morphology data.