Abstract
MEMS based microcantilevers have been employed as sensors in both liquid and ambient conditions. One scheme for detection is based upon monitoring the change in microcantilever resonant frequency as a function of the adsorbed analyte concentration. However, the sensitivity is limited by the accuracy of the frequency measurements, which is a function of the Q-factor of the vibrating element and the measurement bandwidth. In this paper, we present a feedback scheme for self-locking amplification of the small-amplitude thermal oscillations of the microcantilever. Using this approach, we demonstrate an improvement in the Q-factor by two to three orders of magnitude as compared to that of the undriven microcantilever. Use of this technique eliminates the need for lock-in detection and results in improved response times for sensor applications. Experiments using the proposed feedback amplification technique show improved sensitivity for the detection of biological molecules in liquids, and for adsorbed vapors under ambient conditions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen, G. Y., Thundat, T., Wachter, E. A. and Warmack, R. J. Journal Of Applied Physics. 77, 3618–3622 (1995)
Thundat, T., Warmack, R. J., Chen, G. Y. and Allison, D. P. Applied Physics Letters. 64, 2894–2896 (1994)
Fritz, J., Baller, M. K., Lang, H. P., Rothuizen, H., Vettiger, P., Meyer, E., Guntherodt, H. J., Gerber, C., and Gimzewski, J. K. Science. 288, 316–318 (2000)
Raiteri, R., Nelles, G., Butt, H. J., Knoll, W., and Skladal, P., Sensors and Actuators BChemical. 61, 213–217 (1999)
Thundat, T., Wachter, E. A., Sharp, S. L. and Warmack, R. J. Applied Physics Letters. 66, 1695–1697 (1995)
Butt, H. J. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 180, 251–260 (1996)
Tamayo, J., Humphris, A. D. L., Malloy, A. M. and Miles, M. J. Ultramicroscopy. 86, 167–173 (2001)
Mehta, A., Cherian, S., Hedden, D., and Thundat, T., Applied Physics Letters. 78, 1637–1639 (2001)
Sarid, D, Oxford Series on Optical Sciences, (1991)
Vig, J. R. and Kim, Y., Ieee Transactions On Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics And Frequency Control. 46, 1558–1565 (1999)
Durig, U., Steinauer, H. R. and Blanc, N., Journal of Applied Physics. 82, 3641–3651 (1997)
Albrecht, T. R., Grutter, P., Horne, D., and Rugar, D., Journal of Applied Physics. 69, 668–673 (1991)
Tamayo, J., Humphris, AD L., and Miles, M. J. Applied Physics Letters. 77, 582–584 (2000)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mehta, A., Muralidharan, G., Passian, A. et al. A Self-Locking Technique With Fast Response and High Sensitivity for Micro-Cantilever Based Sensing of Analytes. MRS Online Proceedings Library 723, 67 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-723-O6.7
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-723-O6.7