The ability to manipulate and probe biomolecules at the single-molecule level has become an essential approach for understanding molecular interactions, conformational dynamics, and nanoscale transport phenomena. Advances in experimental techniques have enabled precise control of individual molecules with high spatial resolution and piconewton-level force sensitivity. These developments have significantly expanded the capability of studying biomolecular mechanics and dynamics beyond conventional ensemble measurements. A variety of physical strategies have been developed for single-molecule manipulation, including mechanical-force-based approaches, electric-field-driven methods, and nanoscale structural confinement techniques. Mechanical-force-based methods, such as optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, and atomic force microscopy, enable direct measurement of molecular mechanical responses. Electric-field-based manipulation, represented by dielectrophoresis, allows noncontact control of particles and biomolecules through polarization effects in non-uniform electric fields. In addition, nanopore-based systems employ nanoscale confinement to regulate molecular transport and residence behavior. This review provides an overview of representative single-molecule manipulation techniques based on mechanical, electrical, and structural control and discusses their fundamental principles and implementation strategies.
In this study, we fabricated single grain YBCO bulk superconductors with control of the distance between the seed and the upper surface of the YBCO compacts. The magnetic levitation force of the YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting bulk, which corresponds to the energy amount of the superconducting bulk, was measured to be 32.634 N at the center of the bulk where the seed was placed. Under field cooling conditions, a capture magnetic force of 2.17 kG was observed at the center of the bulk. The trapped magnetic force curve corresponding to the stability of the superconducting bulk means that the superconducting specimens were well grown in the form of single grains.
To improve superconductor properties, the size of the crystal grains of the superconductor should be adjusted, the amount of electricity flowing through the superconductor should be increased, and the superconductor should be designed to withstand external magnetic fields. It is necessary to control the microstructure so that many flux pinning centers are developed inside the superconductor so that defects are generated physically or chemically, and the micro secondary phase for trapped magnetic flux must be dispersed inside the superconductor. In order to measure the superconducting magnetic force of the superconducting bulk in a simplified manner, the superconducting magnetic force was analyzed using an Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet of 3.80 kG. In particular, by delaying the growth of partially melted Y2BaCuO5 particles, we devised a plan to refine Y2BaCuO5 particles to effectively improve superconducting magnetic force, and analyzed superconducting magnetic force in a single crystal YBa2Cu3O7-y superconducting bulk using a gauss meter. The melted superconducting bulk traps 80% or more of the applied magnetic field, and can be used as a bulk magnet of high magnetic field magnetization applicable to electric power equipment.
In this work, we fabricated oxide on an n-type silicon substrate through local anodic oxidation (LAO) using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The resulting oxide thickness was measured and its correlation with load force, scan speed and applied voltage was analyzed. The surface oxide layer was stripped using a buffered oxide etch. Ohmic contacts were created by applying silver paste on the silicon substrate back face. LAO was performed at approximately 70% humidity. The oxide thickness increased with increasing the load force, the voltage, and reducing the scan speed. We confirmed that LAO/AFM can be used to create both lateral and, to some extent, vertical shapes and patterns, as previously shown in the literature.
In this study, a TiO2/TiO2-x-based resistance variable memory was fabricated using a DC/RF magnetron sputtering system and ALD. In order to analyze the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the performance of resistance random access memory (ReRAM), the TiO2/TiO2-x-based ReRAM was evaluated by applying RF power to the TiO2-x oxygen-holding layer at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 W, respectively. The ReRAM was fabricated, and the electrical and surface area performances were compared and analyzed. In the case of ReRAM without oxygen plasma treatment, the I-V curve had a hysteresis curve shape, but the width was very small, with a relatively high surface roughness of the oxygen-retaining layer. However, in the case of oxygen plasma treatment, the HRS/LRS ratio for the I-V curve improved as the applied RF power increased; stable improvement was also noted in the surface roughness of the oxygen-retaining layer. It was confirmed that the low voltage drive was not smooth due to charge trapping in the oxygen diffusion barrier layer owing to the high intensity ReRAM applied with an RF power of approximately 150 W.
P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) (Poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene)), which exhibits a high electrostriction of about 7%, can transmit tactile output as vibration or displacement. In this study, we investigated the applicability of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) to wearable piezoelectric actuators. The P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) layers were deposited through spin-coating, and interspaced with patterned Ag electrodes to fabricate a two-layer 3.5 mm × 3.5 mm device. This layered structure was designed and fabricated to increase the output and displacement of the actuator at low driving voltages. In addition, a laser vibrometer and piezoelectric force microscope were used to analyze the device’s vibration characteristics over the range of ~200~4,200 Hz. The on-off characteristics were confirmed at a frequency of 40 Hz.
Ferroelectric material properties are strongly governed by domain structures and their evolution processes, but the evolution processes of complex domain patterns during a macroscopic electrical poling process are still elusive. In the present work, domain-evolution processes in a PZT ceramic near the morphotropic phase-boundary composition were studied during a step-wise electrical poling using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Electron backscatter diffraction was used with the PFM data to identify the grain boundaries in the region of interest. In response to an externally the applied electric field, growth and retreat of non-180° domain boundaries wasere observed. The results indicate that ferroelectric polarization-switching nucleates and evolves in concordance with the pattern of the pre-existing domains.
In this study, we prepared 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 wt% content composites filled in epoxy matrix for two micro silica and three micro alumina types for use as a GIS heavy electric machine. As a filler type of epoxy composite, micro silica composites showed excellent AC breakdown strength properties compared to micro alumina composites in the case of electrical properties of micro silica and alumina. The electrical breakdown properties of micro silica composites increased with increasing filler content, whereas those of micro alumina decreased with increasing filler content. In the case of mechanical properties, the micro silica composite showed improved tensile strength and flexural strength compared with the micro alumina composite. In addition, mechanical properties such as tensile strength and flexural strength of micro silica and alumina composites decreased with increasing filler content. This is probably because O-H groups are present on the surface of silica in the case of micro silica but are not present on the surface of alumina in the case of micro alumina.
This aim of this study was to develop a process for creating bulk single-crystal YBaCuO superconductors in a high magnetic field. To support the bulk unidirectional growth of YBa2Cu3O7-y, SmBa2Cu3O7-y seeds were planted inside YBaCuO composites and samples were produced by melting, enabling the growth of two YBaCuO superconductors. Due to the magnetism generated inside the superconductor of the upper sample, the magnetization inside the superconducting single crystals was evenly distributed, the sharpness of the induced magnetic force was improved, and the superconducting magnetization were significantly improved. This approach is widely applicable for the production of superconducting wires and current leads used for DC power breakers.
We investigated the structure of an ultra-thin insulating board with low thermal conductivity along z-axis, which was based on the idea of void layers created during the glass infiltration process for the zero-shrinkage low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. An alumina and four glass powders were chosen and prepared as green sheets by the tape casting method. After comparison of the four glass powders, bismuth glass was selected for the experiment. Since there is no notable reactivity between alumina and bismuth glass, alumina was selected as the supporting additive in glass layers. With 2.5 vol% of alumina powder, glass green sheets were prepared and stacked alternately with alumina green sheet to form the ‘alumina/glass (including alumina additive)/alumina’ structure. The stacked green sheets were sintered into an insulating substrate. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the additive alumina formed supporting bridges in void layers. The depth and number of the stacking layers were varied to examine the insulating property. The lowest thermal conductivity obtained was 0.23 W/mK with a 500-㎛-thick substrate.
Ferroelectric properties are governed by domain structures and domain wall motions, so it is of significance to understand domain evolution processes under mechanical stress. In the present study, in situ piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) observation under compressive stress was carried out for a near-morphotropic PZT. Both 180° and non-180° domain structures were observed from PFM images, and their habit planes were identified using electron backscatter diffraction in conjunction with PFM data. By externally applied mechanical stress, needle-like non-180° domain patterns were broadened via domain wall motions. This was interpreted via phenomenological approach such that the total energy minimization can be achieved by domain wall motion rather than domain nucleation mainly due to the local gradient energy. Meanwhile, no motion was observed from curvy 180° domain walls under the mechanical stress, validating that 180° domain walls are not directly influenced by mechanical stress.
In this paper, we prepared a metal alloy resistor with stable thermal electro motive force (thermal EMF) as well as a low temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) by adjusting the manganese proportion from 3 to 12 wt% in the Cu-Mn-Ni alloy. Composition of the fabricated metal alloy was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The TCR of each sample was measured as 44.56, 40.54, 35.60, and 31.56 ppm for Cu-3Mn-2Ni, Cu-5Mn-2Ni, Cu-10Mn-2Ni, and Cu-12Mn-2Ni, respectively. All the resistor samples were available for the F grade (±1% of the allowable error of resistance) high-precision resistor. All the samples satisfied the baseline of high thermal EMF (under 3 mV at 60℃); however, Cu-3Mn-2Ni and Cu-5Mn-2Ni satisfied the baseline of low thermal EMF (under 0.3 mV at 25℃). We were thus able to design and fabricate the metal alloy resistor of Cu-3Mn-2Ni and Cu-5Mn-2Ni to have low TCR and stable thermal EMF at the same time.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV``s) provide an important means for collecting detailed scientific information from the ocean depths. The hull resistance of an AUV is an important factor in determining the power requirements and range of the vehicle. This paper describes a design method that uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to determine the hull resistance of an AUV under development. The CFD results reveal the distribution of the hydrodynamic values (velocity, pressure, etc.) of an AUV with a ducted propeller. This paper also discusses the optimization of the AUV hull profile to reduce the total resistance. This paper demonstrates that shape optimization in a conceptual design is possible by using a commercial CFD package. Optimum design work to minimize the drag force of an AUV was carried out, for a given object function and constraints.
Diagnostic tests were performed on two high voltage (HV) motor stator windings. These tests included the measurement of insulation resistance, polarization index, AC current, dissipation factor (tanδ) and partial discharge (PD) magnitude. Surface contamination of HV motor stator windings has an effect on the AC current and tanδ. When the stator windings were finished cleaning and insulation reinforcement, the increase rate of AC current (ΔI) and dissipation factor (Δtanδ) were very small compared to those before cleaning. However, the PD magnitude remained the same. These tests show that cleaning and insulation reinforcement of HV motor stator windings can reduce the insulation failure.
We analyzed various forces affective to the charged particles in closed space, to explain the image degradation and lifetime-shortening phenomena because of particle lumping which is one of the serious problems in reflective displays. It is possible to predict the quantity of q/m which is the most important parameter in determining the optical and electrical characteristics, by calculating the image force and kinetic energy. For stable driving, the quantity of q/m must be in the defined range but it changes during the fabrication process, so we added the filtering process to solve this problem and obtained the well-defined nonlinear driving voltage coinciding with the threshold voltage. And we obtained the fully-driving property which prevents the particle lumping and decides the image quality and lifetime of panel from the optical characteristics and occupation surface of moving particles.
Piezoelectric materials can be used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this study, we investigated the possibility of harvesting from mechanical vibration force using a high efficient piezoelectric material-polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). A piezoelectric energy harvesting system consists of rectifier, filter capacitor, resistance. The experiments were carried out with impacting force to PVDF film with the thickness of 1 ㎛. The output power was measured with change in the load resistance value from 100 Ω to 2.2 MΩ. The highest power was obtained under optimization by selection of suitable resistive load and capacitance. A power of 0.3082 μW/mm2 was generated at the external vibration force of 5 N (10 Hz) across a 1 MΩ optimal resistor. Also, the maximum power of 0.345 μW/mm2 was generated at 22 μF and 1 MΩ. The developed system was expected at a solution to overcome the critical problem of making up small size energy harvester.
In this study, we investigated the optical, electrical, and structural properties of the IGZO(In2O3:Ga2O3:ZnO=1:9:90 wt.%) thin films prepared by RF-magnetron sputtering system under various substrate temperatures. All of the IGZO thin films shows an average transmittance of over the 80% in visible range. Most of all, deposited IGZO thin film at 100 ˚C substrate temperature have ZnO (002) of main growth peak and 17.02 nm of increased grains. And also IGZO thin film have low resistivity(1.35×10(-3) Ω·cm), high carrier concentration(6.62X10(20) cm-3) and mobility(80.1 cm2/Vsec). IGZO thin film have 2.08 mV at surface potential of electric force microscopy(EFM). We suggest that pre-annealing at 100 ˚C can be applied for improving optical, electrical and structural properties.
In the study, the characteristics of the etched Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films surface, the etch rate of ZnO thin film in Cl2/BCl3/Ar plasma was investigated. The maximum ZnO etch rate of 53 nm/min was obtained for Cl2/BCl3/Ar=3:16:4 sccm gas mixture. According to the x-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), the etched ZnO thin film was investigated to the chemical reaction of the ZnO surface in Cl2/BCl3/Ar plasma. The field emission auger electron spectroscopy (FE-AES) analysis showed an elemental analysis from the etched surfaces. According to the etching time, the ZnO thin film of etched was obtained to The AES depth-profile analysis. We used to atomic force microscopy to determine the roughness of the surface. So, the root mean square of ZnO thin film was 17.02 in Cl2/BCl3/Ar plasma. Based on these data, the ion-assisted chemical reaction was proposed as the main etch mechanism for the plasmas.
Forest fire can cause a serious damage to overhead conductors. Therefore, detailed investigation on the changes of mechanical and electrical properties of damaged conductors should be carried out to understand the effect of forest fires on conductors. This is of critical importance in maintaining transmission line safely. This paper examines the changes of mechanical and electrical properties of flame exposed conductor. Tensile strength (TS) decreased according to increase of forest fire temperature and conductivity changed according to forest fire temperature. Specimens were aluminum conductors of aluminium conductor steel reinforced (ACSR) 410, 240, 480 ㎟. In this paper, the electrical and mechanical characteristics of forest fires exposed overhead conductors depending on the diameter of aluminum conductors are presented. It was possible to estimate the degree of deterioration caused by forest fires. The detailed results are given in the paper.
First
Prev
