Search Results
Imaging of buried 3D magnetic rolled-up nanomembranes
2014, Streubel, R., Han, L., Kronast, F., Ünal, A.A., Schmidt, O.G., Makarov, D.
Increasing performance and enabling novel functionalities of microelectronic devices, such as three-dimensional (3D) on-chip architectures in optics, electronics, and magnetics, calls for new approaches in both fabrication and characterization. Up to now, 3D magnetic architectures had mainly been studied by integral means without providing insight into local magnetic microstructures that determine the device performance. We prove a concept that allows for imaging magnetic domain patterns in buried 3D objects, for example, magnetic tubular architectures with multiple windings. The approach is based on utilizing the shadow contrast in transmission X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) photoemission electron microscopy and correlating the observed 2D projection of the 3D magnetic domains with simulated XMCD patterns. That way, we are not only able to assess magnetic states but also monitor the field-driven evolution of the magnetic domain patterns in individual windings of buried magnetic rolled-up nanomembranes.
Rolled-up tubes and cantilevers by releasing SrRuO 3-Pr 0.7Ca 0.3MnO 3 nanomembranes
2011, Deneke, C., Wild, E., Boldyreva, K., Baunack, S., Cendula, P., Mönch, I., Simon, M., Malachias, A., Dörr, K., Schmidt, O.G.
Three-dimensional micro-objects are fabricated by the controlled release of inherently strained SrRuO 3/Pr 0.7Ca 0.3MnO 3/SrRuO 3 nanometer-sized trilayers from SrTiO 3 (001) substrates. Freestanding cantilevers and rolled-up microtubes with a diameter of 6 to 8 μm are demonstrated. The etching behavior of the SrRuO3 film is investigated, and a selectivity of 1:9,100 with respect to the SrTiO3 substrate is found. The initial and final strain states of the rolled-up oxide layers are studied by X-ray diffraction on an ensemble of tubes. Relaxation of the sandwiched Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 layer towards its bulk lattice parameter is observed as the major driving force for the roll-up of the trilayers. Finally, μ-diffraction experiments reveal that a single object can represent the ensemble proving a good homogeneity of the rolled-up tubes.
Spin-orbit coupling of light in asymmetric microcavities
2016, Ma, L.B., Li, S.L., Fomin, V.M., Hentschel, M., Götte, J.B., Yin, Y., Jorgensen, M.R., Schmidt, O.G.
When spinning particles, such as electrons and photons, undergo spin–orbit coupling, they can acquire an extra phase in addition to the well-known dynamical phase. This extra phase is called the geometric phase (also known as the Berry phase), which plays an important role in a startling variety of physical contexts such as in photonics, condensed matter, high-energy and space physics. The geometric phase was originally discussed for a cyclically evolving physical system with an Abelian evolution, and was later generalized to non-cyclic and non-Abelian cases, which are the most interesting fundamental subjects in this area and indicate promising applications in various fields. Here, we enable optical spin–orbit coupling in asymmetric microcavities and experimentally observe a non-cyclic optical geometric phase acquired in a non-Abelian evolution. Our work is relevant to fundamental studies and implies promising applications by manipulating photons in on-chip quantum devices.
Rolled-up functionalized nanomembranes as three-dimensional cavities for single cell studies
2014, Xi, W., Schmidt, C.K., Sanchez, S., Gracias, D.H., Carazo-Salas, R.E., Jackson, S.P., Schmidt, O.G.
We use micropatterning and strain engineering to encapsulate single living mammalian cells into transparent tubular architectures consisting of three-dimensional (3D) rolled-up nanomembranes. By using optical microscopy, we demonstrate that these structures are suitable for the scrutiny of cellular dynamics within confined 3D-microenvironments. We show that spatial confinement of mitotic mammalian cells inside tubular architectures can perturb metaphase plate formation, delay mitotic progression, and cause chromosomal instability in both a transformed and nontransformed human cell line. These findings could provide important clues into how spatial constraints dictate cellular behavior and function.
Ultracompact three-dimensional tubular conductivity microsensors for ionic and biosensing applications
2014, Martinez-Cisneros, C.S., Sanchez, S., Xi, W., Schmidt, O.G.
We present ultracompact three-dimensional tubular structures integrating Au-based electrodes as impedimetric microsensors for the in-flow determination of mono- and divalent ionic species and HeLa cells. The microsensors show an improved performance of 2 orders of magnitude (limit of detection = 0.1 nM for KCl) compared to conventional planar conductivity detection systems integrated in microfluidic platforms and the capability to detect single HeLa cells in flowing phosphate buffered saline. These highly integrated conductivity tubular sensors thus open new possibilities for lab-in-a-tube devices for bioapplications such as biosensing and bioelectronics.
Integrated sensitive on-chip ion field effect transistors based on wrinkled ingaas nanomembranes
2011, Harazim, S.M., Feng, P., Sanchez, S., Deneke, C., Mei, Y., Schmidt, O.G.
Self-organized wrinkling of pre-strained nanomembranes into nanochannels is used to fabricate a fully integrated nanofluidic device for the development of ion field effect transistors (IFETs). Constrained by the structure and shape of the membrane, the deterministic wrinkling process leads to a versatile variation of channel types such as straight two-way channels, three-way branched channels, or even four-way intersection channels. The fabrication of straight channels is well controllable and offers the opportunity to integrate multiple IFET devices into a single chip. Thus, several IFETs are fabricated on a single chip using a III-V semiconductor substrate to control the ion separation and to measure the ion current of a diluted potassium chloride electrolyte solution.
Wireless magnetic-based closed-loop control of self-propelled microjets
2014, Khalil, I.S.M., Magdanz, V., Sanchez, S., Schmidt, O.G., Misra, S.
In this study, we demonstrate closed-loop motion control of self-propelled microjets under the influence of external magnetic fields. We control the orientation of the microjets using external magnetic torque, whereas the linear motion towards a reference position is accomplished by the thrust and pulling magnetic forces generated by the ejecting oxygen bubbles and field gradients, respectively. The magnetic dipole moment of the microjets is characterized using the U-turn technique, and its average is calculated to be 1.3x10-10 A.m2 at magnetic field and linear velocity of 2 mT and 100 μm/s, respectively. The characterized magnetic dipole moment is used in the realization of the magnetic force-current map of the microjets. This map in turn is used for the design of a closed-loop control system that does not depend on the exact dynamical model of the microjets and the accurate knowledge of the parameters of the magnetic system. The motion control characteristics in the transient- and steady-states depend on the concentration of the surrounding fluid (hydrogen peroxide solution) and the strength of the applied magnetic field. Our control system allows us to position microjets at an average velocity of 115 μm/s, and within an average region-of-convergence of 365 μm.
A highly flexible and compact magnetoresistive analytic device
2014, Lin, G., Makarov, D., Melzer, M., Si, W., Yan, C., Schmidt, O.G.
A grand vision of realization of smart and compact multifunctional microfluidic devices for wearable health monitoring, environment sensing and point-of-care tests emerged with the fast development of flexible electronics. As a vital component towards this vision, magnetic functionality in flexible fluidics is still missing although demanded by the broad utility of magnetic nanoparticles in medicine and biology. Here, we demonstrate the first flexible microfluidic analytic device with integrated high-performance giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. This device can be bent to a radius of 2 mm while still retaining its full performance. Various dimensions of magnetic emulsion droplets can be probed with high precision using a limit of detection of 0.5 pl, providing broad applicability in high-throughput droplet screening, flow cytometry and drug development. The flexible feature of this analytic device holds great promise in the realization of wearable, implantable multifunctional platforms for biomedical, pharmaceutical and chemical applications.
Tunable charge transfer properties in metal-phthalocyanine heterojunctions
2016, Siles, P.F., Hahn, T., Salvan, G., Knupfer, M., Zhu, F., Zahn, D.R.T., Schmidt, O.G.
Organic materials such as phthalocyanine-based systems present a great potential for organic device applications due to the possibility of integrating films of different organic materials to create organic heterostructures which combine the electrical capabilities of each material. This opens the possibility to precisely engineer and tune new electrical properties. In particular, similar transition metal phthalocyanines demonstrate hybridization and charge transfer properties which could lead to interesting physical phenomena. Although, when considering device dimensions, a better understanding and control of the tuning of the transport properties still remain in the focus of research. Here, by employing conductive atomic force microscopy techniques, we provide an insight about the nanoscale electrical properties and transport mechanisms of MnPc and fluorinated phthalocyanines such as F16CuPc and F16CoPc. We report a transition from typical diode-like transport mechanisms for pure MnPc thin films to space-charge-limited current transport regime (SCLC) for Pc-based heterostructures. The controlled addition of fluorinated phthalocyanine also provides highly uniform and symmetric-polarized transport characteristics with conductance enhancements up to two orders of magnitude depending on the polarization. We present a method to spatially map the mobility of the MnPc/F16CuPc structures with a nanoscale resolution and provide theoretical calculations to support our experimental findings. This well-controlled nanoscale tuning of the electrical properties for metal transition phthalocyanine junctions stands as key step for future phthalocyanine-based electronic devices, where the low dimension charge transfer, mediated by transition metal atoms could be intrinsically linked to a transfer of magnetic moment or spin.
Transport in ZnCoO thin films with stable bound magnetic polarons
2014, Kaspar, T., Fiedler, J., Skorupa, I., Bürger, D., Schmidt, O.G., Schmidt, H.
Diluted magnetic ZnCoO films with 5 at.% Co have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition on c-plane sapphire substrates and Schottky and Ohmic contacts have been prepared in top-top configuration. The diode current is significantly reduced after the diode has been subjected to an external magnetic field. In the reverse bias range the corresponding positive magnetoresistance is persistent and amounts to more than 1800% (50 K), 240% (30 K), and 50% (5 K). This huge magnetoresistance can be attributed to the large internal magnetic field in depleted ZnCoO with ferromagnetic exchange between stable bound magnetic polarons.