G Singh et al 2009 Nanotechnology 20 095701 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/20/9/095701
G Singh1,2, P Rice1, R L Mahajan2,3,4 and J R McIntosh5
Show affiliationsWe demonstrate the fabrication and testing of a prototype microtome knife based on a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) for cutting ~100 nm thick slices of frozen–hydrated biological samples. A piezoelectric-based 3D manipulator was used inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to select and position individual MWCNTs, which were subsequently welded in place using electron beam-induced deposition. The knife is built on a pair of tungsten needles with provision to adjust the distance between the needle tips, accommodating various lengths of MWCNTs. We performed experiments to test the mechanical strength of a MWCNT in the completed device using an atomic force microscope tip. An increasing force was applied at the mid-point of the nanotube until failure occurred, which was observed in situ in the SEM. The maximum breaking force was approximately (8 × 10−7) N which corresponds well with the typical microtome cutting forces reported in the literature. In situ cutting experiments were performed on a cell biological embedding plastic (epoxy) by pushing it against the nanotube. Initial experiments show indentation marks on the epoxy surface. Quantitative analysis is currently limited by the surface asperities, which have the same dimensions as the nanotube.
68.37.Hk Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (including EBIC)
Surfaces, interfaces and thin films
Issue 9 (4 March 2009)
Received 15 October 2008, in final form 16 January 2009
Published 11 February 2009
G Singh et al 2009 Nanotechnology 20 095701
G Tiana et al 2007 Phys. Biol. 4 R1
A. Kilcik et al. 2009 ApJ 693 1173
Benjamin Aylott et al 2009 Class. Quantum Grav. 26 165008
Xin Zhao et al 2009 Nanotechnology 20 065605
Young Wook Chun et al 2009 Nanotechnology 20 085104
Zhongmin Yang et al 2005 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 38 1629
G Gramse et al 2009 Nanotechnology 20 395702
Cosimo Del Gratta et al 2001 Rep. Prog. Phys. 64 1759
Chang Liu et al. 2007 ApJ 669 1372