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The diversity of functional applications of atomic force microscopes is the key to the development of nanotechnology. However, the single probe configuration of the traditional atomic force microscope restricts the realization of different application requirements for the same target area of a single sample, and the replacement of the working probe will lead to the loss of the target area. Here, the design, simulation, fabrication, and application of a unique atomic force microscope dual-probe are presented, which consists of a pair of parallel cantilevers with a narrow gap and a U-shaped hinged probe base. The Integrated Hinged Dual-Probe (IHDP) is developed specifically for fast switching of probes working in limited space and independent and precise manipulation of each probe. The deflection signal sensing of two cantilevers is achieved simultaneously by a single laser beam, and the decoupled independent cantilever deflection signals do not interfere with each other. The switching of the working probe is achieved by a piezoelectric ceramic with a 2 µm stroke and U-shaped hinge structure, which is fast and does not require tedious and repetitive spatial position calibration. By measuring standard grid samples, IHDP exhibits excellent measurement and characterization capabilities. Finally, a working probe switching imaging experiment was conducted on solidified rat cardiomyocytes, and the experimental process and imaging results demonstrated the superiority of IHDP in switching probe scanning imaging of the same target area of a single sample. The two probes of IHDP can undergo arbitrary functionalization modifications, which helps achieve multidimensional information acquisition for a single target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After eons of evolution, biological systems have developed excellent actuating methodology in micro-nano scale, which inspired the design and development of advanced microrobots. Cardiomyocytes have received extensive attention following the development of bio-syncretic robots in terms of its spontaneous contraction and high energy efficiency. However, the multipoint, high-precision synchronized, and comprehensive acquisition of the axial motion parameters of cardiomyocytes still constitutes the major factor hindering the development of quantitative control methods for bio-syncretic robots. Herein, off-focus imaging method was proposed to quantify the axial beating of cardiomyocyte. The spontaneously beating of cardiomyocytes were quantitative analyzed based on the combination of cross-correlation and off-focusing imaging. We also validated the use of the proposed SiO2 microspheres in cardiotoxicity test. Following the administration of isoproterenol, cardiomyocytes exhibited positive inotropic and chronotropic effects. Finally, we analyzed the beating responses of individual cardiomyocytes at different locations, and we validated the feasibility of multipoint, synchronized measurements. In the future, this study can also be extended to the analysis of the motion coupling relationship between individual cardiomyocytes and cardiomyocyte clusters, thus providing a data acquisition platform for the dynamic analysis and modeling of bio-syncretic robot actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has recently gained tremendous research interest due to its distinctive properties. A comprehensive understanding of the performance of MoS2 across a complete range of pressures is significant from the perspective of practical application. While extensive research has been conducted to explore the potential of MoS2 under extremely high pressures, there is still a lack of deep insights into how it performs under vacuum to normal pressures. In this experimental study, we examine the electrical behavior of MoS2 as the pressure varies from vacuum pressure to standard atmospheric pressure in N2 and O2, respectively. The I–V measurements show that higher pressures induce faster oxygen adsorption of MoS2. In addition, the investigation into the effect of humidity reveals that humidity has a greater influence on the electrical behavior of MoS2 than oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]