Scientific Highlights

Nanoscale reduction of graphene oxide thin films and its characterization

M. Lorenzoni et al.

In this paper, we report on a method to reduce thin films of graphene oxide (GO) to a spatial resolution better than 100 nm over several tens of micrometers by means of an electrochemical scanning probe based lithography.
Nanotechnology 26 (2015) 285301.

Functional and Consumption Analysis of Integrated Circuits Supplied by Inductive Power Transfer by Powering Modulation and Lock-in Infrared Imaging

J. León, et al.

The functionality and consumption of an RFID IC supplied by Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) has been non-invasively analyzed by IR thermography.The main aspects addressed in thiswork have been: the suitability study of the proposed modulation strategies, the characterization of the coupling between coils and its effects on the RFID blocks, the RFID IC functional analysis, and the dependence of the local energy consumption on the total power delivered to the die.
IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics

A microfluidic device for the automated electrical readout of low-density glass-slide microarrays

María Díaz-González, et al.

In this work an automated and reusable electrical readout system for low-cost glass slide microarrays is described. The system, which enabled the simultaneous conductimetric detection of up to 36 biorecognition events, comprises an array of interdigitated electrode transducers and a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic structure, aligned over it.
The impedimetric system shows similar sensitivity to that of fluorescence scanners.
Biosensors and Bioelectronics 74 (2015) 698–704.

Assessing the local nanomechanical properties of self-assembled block copolymer thin films by peak force tapping

M. Lorenzoni et al.

The mechanical properties of several types of block copolymer thin films have been investigated using PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping. The samples consisted of polystyrene/poly(methylmethacrylate) with thickness below 50 nm and features of less than 22 nm.
Langmuir, 31 (2015) 11630

Nanomechanical properties of solvent cast polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer blends and self-assembled block copolymers

M. Lorenzoni et al.

The nanomechanical properties of solvent-cast polymer thin films have been investigated using PeakForce™ Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping. The samples consisted of films of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate). Additionally, we have probed the mechanical properties of poly(styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymers (BCP) as randomly oriented thin films.
J. Micro/Nanolith. MEMS MOEMS 14 (2015) 033509.

Self-suspended vibration-driven energy harvesting chip for power density maximization

Gonzalo Murillo et al.

This work introduces a new concept to integrate energy-harvesting devices with the aim of improving their throughput, mainly in terms of scavenged energy density and frequency tunability. This concept, named energy harvester in package (EHiP), is focused on the heterogeneous integration of a MEMS die, dedicated to scavenging energy, with an auxiliary chip, which can include the control and power management circuitry, sensors and RF transmission capabilities. The main advantages are that the whole die can be used as an inertial mass and the chip area usage is optimized. An estimated maximum generated power of around 11 μW has been obtained for an input vibration acceleration of ∼10 m s−2 when the energy harvester operates in a constant-charge cycle for the best-case scenario.
Smart Mater. Struct. 24 (2015) 115027 (10pp).

Nanoparticles with tunable shape and composition fabricated by nanoimprint lithography

Nerea Alayo et al.

Cone-like and empty cup-shaped nanoparticles of noble metals provide extraordinary optical properties for optical nanoantennas or nanoresonators. However, their large-scale production is difficult. We present a fabrication approach to achieve arrays of nanoparticles with tunable shape and composition by a combination of nanoimprint lithography, hard-mask definition and metal deposition.
The paper has been highlighted as a Nanotechnology Lab Talk: Mass producing tunable nanoparticles
Nanotechnology 26 (2015) 445302.

Integrated Photonic Nanofences: Combining Subwavelength Waveguides with an Enhanced Evanescent Field for Sensing Applications

Victor J. Cadarso et al.

Photonic nanofences consisting of high aspect ratio polymeric optical subwavelength waveguides done by two-photon polymerization have shown extremely large evanescent field (70-90% of the total coupled light). This concept has been used for implementing an absorbance-based sensor for the determination of lead in water samples, obtaining a sensitivity of 0.102 AU/decade, and a linear range between 10-6 M and 10-2 M Pb(II) and a detection limit of 7.3 nM
ACS Nano, 2016, 10 (1), pp 778–785.

Monitoring of malolactic fermentation in wine using an electrochemical bienzymatic biosensor for L-lactate with long term stability

P. Giménez-Gómez et al.

The development of an amperometric biosensor for L-lactate determination showing long-term stability is reported in this work. The biosensor is based on a thin-film gold electrochemical transducer and a three-dimensional membrane of polypyrrole entrapping lactate oxidase and horseradish peroxidase enzymes. It was applied to monitor the malolactic fermentation of three red wines, showing a good agreement with the standard colorimetric method.
Anal. Chim. Acta 905 (2016) 126-133.

Implementing Thermometry on Silicon Surfaces Functionalized by Lanthanide-Doped Self-Assembled Polymer Monolayers

M. Rodrigues, et al.

Noncontact thermometric techniques with high-spatial resolution are essential for noninvasive off-chip characterization and heat management on Si surfaces. Here, the first ratiometric luminescent molecular thermometer implemented in a self-assembled polymer monolayer functionalized Si surface is reported.
Adv. Funct. Mater., 26: 200–209.