Dynamic modeling of submerged nanoparticle pushing based on atomic force microscopy in liquid medium

This article introduces a theoretical analysis of submerged nanoparticle manipulation in liquid medium using the atomic force microscopy, and gives a review of the major differences between dry and submerged manipulation processes. In this regard, the manipulation is modeled by adding the influences of the hydrodynamic forces surface forces to the manipulation model in dry air. Then, the pushing of a gold nanoparticle of 50-nm radius on a silicon substrate at a velocity of 100 nm/s is simulated, and the dynamic behaviors of the tip and nanoparticle are investigated. The results show that, in water (as compared to air), the required manipulation force and time for nanoparticle sliding and rolling increase by 3.5 and 6.5%, for sliding and 2 and 4.3% for rolling, respectively. Also, in liquids with different viscosities, the critical values related to sliding and rolling have a maximum variation of 17 and 32% for the manipulation time, and 6 and 22% for the manipulation force, respectively, as compared to the critical values related to particle manipulation in air. Moreover, for various submerged lengths of the cantilever in water, the critical values related to sliding and rolling show a maximum time variation of 9 and 10.5%, and 7 and 7.2% (for the manipulation force), respectively. Qualitative comparisons between the obtained results and those of the existing experimental investigations show the advantages of the liquid medium for the manipulation purposes.