Thie following is a Purdue University study and was a
winning submission in Minus K 's Educational Giveaway.

Imaging molecules, materials and interfaces at nanometer lengths presents a challenge for nanoscience. Precisely controlling and characterizing interfacial structures at these length scales can be difficult. Organic and inorganic interfaces are a key determinant of nanomaterial optoelectronic properties and nanoscale device performance. They are also a determinant of structures of transmembrane proteins. Further, layered materials typically require noncovalent functionalization strategies that further complicate detailed chemical characterization of the interface

Claridge Research Group It has been the challenge of Purdue University's Department of Chemistry, Claridge Research Group, to research and develop new integrated imaging strategies that probe the limits of interfacial ordering complexity and structural analysis at nanometer levels, addressing challenges ranging from optimizing the performance of nanoscopic materials to understanding membrane protein structure.

The group utilizes a wide variety of nanoscale analysis techniques, both within the laboratory and at the department's Analytical Instrumentation Center and Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center. These include scanning probe microscopies (such as atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy), advanced surface analysis methods (such as polarization-modulated IR reflection absorption spectroscopy), and large-scale molecular modeling.

Employing these instrumentation techniques, the group's research has been addressing critical nanoscopic structures, including:

a) Patterning surface chemistry on the 5 -10 nm scale - to enable precisely controlled interactions with cell membranes, efficient exciton separation in organic photovoltaic devices, and molecular circuits mirroring the functional complexity observed in biology.

b) Development of custom nanoscale surface analysis instrumentation - to enable molecular-scale chemical imaging and characterization of dynamic processes at hydrophilic-hydrophobic interfaces relevant to nanoscopic materials and biology.

c) Unconventional applications of bioanalytical techniques - including characterization of nanoscale anisotropic wetting phenomena similar to those occurring in biological water and ion transport.

d) Integrating molecular modeling and advanced interfacial characterization - developing detailed predictive understanding of noncovalently assembled interfaces with technologically important layered materials, such as graphene.

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"Cosmic Tarantula" Salute to the JWST James Webb Space Telescope Monthly Image Share

Minus K's custom vibration isolators were used for the Ground Testing of the James Webb Space Telescope

Developed by the National Physical Laboratory for the European Space Agency, the micro-vibration platform is used to measure internal vibrations and test satellite components under a range of controlled vibration conditions. This ensures they can operate correctly in a satellite environment without affecting other sensitive systems. The platform is so sensitive it can measure the force of a single dropped feather and reduce the effects of vibrations coming from waves of the nearby North Sea.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has added a micro-vibration test instrument, developed by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), to its satellite testing facilities. NPL is the UK’s National Measurement Institute, developing and maintaining the national primary measurement standards. The instrument measures vibrations generated by satellite subsystems to quantify their effects on images and measurements made from space. This facility is the result of five years of collaboration between NPL and ESA.

Vibrations onboard a satellite can be caused by common instruments and mechanisms, such as spinning reaction wheels, solar array drives, and rotating cryocoolers. ESA needed to be able to measure and correct for these jitters and vibrations to improve the accuracy of its Earth observations. This required the simulation of satellite components under a range of controlled vibration conditions.

The NPL won a tender to design a system for the European Space Agency, which required a very high level of performance, said Dan Veal, Senior Research Scientist with the National Physical Laboratory in the United Kingdom. The system was required to measure very low frequency related to very low force. ESA needed a better way to check satellite components for these micro-vibrations, and to what effect they might disrupt a spacecraft.

Measurement Platform Supported by a Vibration Isolation Platform
NPL developed a platform which can characterize any force produced by a satellite component weighing up to 150 pounds, added Veal.

The micro-vibration platform can measure vibrations to an unprecedented degree of accuracy. It is so sensitive it can measure the force of a single dropped feather. Sometimes housed in a vacuum chamber to simulate space conditions, when used in air, the system is enclosed in a tent to limit perturbations caused by airflow.

The platform is built as a structure of two main levels: 1) a lower vibration isolation platform to cancel disturbances coming from the ground, and 2) an upper measurement platform.

Lower Vibration Isolation Platform
The lower vibration isolation platform uses a passive Negative-Stiffness vibration isolator, coupled with three highly sensitive active seismometers that control actuators, to sense ground vibrations coming into the system. The seismometers are designed to measure up to 0.3 hertz. Coupled with the Negative-Stiffness isolators, the passive/active system enables vibration isolation down to 0.1 Hz. This system significantly reduces the effects of the vibration coming from sources, such as footsteps even waves from the nearby North Sea, ensuring a quiet environment for the measurement platform that is mated on top.

We developed the lower vibration isolation platform around Minus K’s Negative-Stiffness isolators because they are capable of passively isolating vibrations down to 0.5 Hz, explained Veal. This was very important for our low-frequency application. But we also selected Negative-Stiffness because it is vacuum compatible.

Essentially, we stripped the Negative-Stiffness isolators down to their core systems, then augmented them with active seismometers connected with a custom interface, explained Veal. This enabled us to get down to 0.1 Hz isolation.

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Congratuations 2023-2024 Winners: Minus K Technology's Vibration Isolator Educational Giveaway to U.S. Colleges and Universities

Wabash College - Physics Department
The vibration isolator will be used with their Zeiss 508 Microscope to conduct experiments utilizing high magnification to image Brownian motion in time-lapse imaging of chemical precipitation material formation.

Kent University - Physics Department
The vibration isolator will be used for a magnetic tweezer instrument to be built on it. Fast video imaging (several hundred images per second) is used to measure the changes in the depth of glass beads (of a few micrometer diameter).

Texas Christian University – Physics & Astronomy Department
The vibration isolator to be used with their 6-digit RADWAG XA 21.4Y.M microscale to improve precision of small mass measurements down to 1 microgram.

Indiana University – Physics Department
The vibration isolator will be used to for dynamic micro-optical coherence tomography of the heterogeneous intracellular motion present in living cells and tissues.

Next Giveaway to be Announced August 2024l Stay tuned to these newsletters.
Questions can be addressed to giveaway@minusk.com