Award Abstract # 0817541
IMR: Development of Near-Field Nanophotonic Scanning Microscope for Biomaterials Research and Education

NSF Org: DMR
Division Of Materials Research
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Initial Amendment Date: August 6, 2008
Latest Amendment Date: August 6, 2008
Award Number: 0817541
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Charles E. Bouldin
DMR
 Division Of Materials Research
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: September 1, 2008
End Date: August 31, 2011 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $247,072.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $247,072.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2008 = $247,072.00
History of Investigator:
  • Xiaojing Zhang (Principal Investigator)
    john.zhang@dartmouth.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Texas at Austin
110 INNER CAMPUS DR
AUSTIN
TX  US  78712-1139
(512)471-6424
Sponsor Congressional District: 25
Primary Place of Performance: University of Texas at Austin
110 INNER CAMPUS DR
AUSTIN
TX  US  78712-1139
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
25
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): V6AFQPN18437
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): MPS DMR INSTRUMENTATION
Primary Program Source: 01000809DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 9161, AMPP
Program Element Code(s): 175000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049

ABSTRACT

Technical Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to build a novel near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM), integrating a scanning MEMS probe with a single-layer nanocrystals based light emitting diode (Nano-LED) fabricated on the probe tip, for molecular imaging and patterning of biological materials. The expected light source size is 5~10 nm, an order of magnitude reduction from that of a current advanced NSOM. The emission wavelength of the probe covers the spectrum from near-UV to the visible range, with imaging resolutions well beyond the diffraction limit. The ?Nano-Light source on chip? technology will open many exciting opportunities in biomedical and industrial applications including near-field microscopy of sub-cellular structures, direct material patterning, ultra high-density data storage, and compact light-on-chip biosensors and biochips.


Non-technical Abstract

The proposed near-field imaging instrument will be developed using a new class of scanning probes with nanoscale light emitting probe tip, where the emission is well confined in a single layer of nanoparticles (diameter: 5~10nm). Downsizing the integrated light source on the probe directly leads to improvement of the resolving power of the microscope.

The main benefits of the new instrument can be summarized as: (1) the silicon scanning probe is mass-producible; (2) no external light source is required; and (3) high optical resolution substantially beyond diffraction limit; The near-field scanning optical microscope has been used to explore nano-scale structures such as inorganic nanoparticles, organic thin films, and biomaterials. We expect that the novel probe based microscope with molecular resolution will be beneficial for significantly advancing these applications. In addition, direct integration of light source on probe is highly desirable to further extend the applications of the instrument into a compact assembly in biomedical applications such as biochips or portable devices for point-of-care technologies.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Blinka, E; Loeffler, K; Hu, Y; Gopal, A; Hoshino, K; Lin, K; Liu, XW; Ferrari, M; Zhang, JXJ "Enhanced microcontact printing of proteins on nanoporous silica surface" NANOTECHNOLOGY , v.21 , 2010 View record at Web of Science 10.1088/0957-4484/21/41/41530
Gopal, A; Hoshino, K; Zhang, XJ "Photolithographic patterning of subwavelength top emitting colloidal quantum dot based inorganic light emitting diodes on silicon" APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS , v.96 , 2010 View record at Web of Science 10.1063/1.337383
Hoshino, K; Rozanski, LJ; Bout, DAV; Zhang, XJ "Near-field scanning optical microscopy with monolithic silicon light emitting diode on probe tip" APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS , v.92 , 2008 View record at Web of Science 10.1063/1.290469
Hoshino, K; Turner, TC; Kim, S; Gopal, A; Zhang, XJ "Single Molecular Stamping of a Sub-10-nm Colloidal Quantum Dot Array" LANGMUIR , v.24 , 2008 , p.13804 View record at Web of Science 10.1021/la802936

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