Avec l'intégration de circuits intégrés de plus en plus denses, le besoin d'outils de caractérisation adaptés à ces échelles se fait ressentir. Identifier et analyser les problèmes de fiabilité survenant dans ces structures à des dimensions inférieures à 100 nm demande la mise au point d'instruments innovants. Ce travail de thèse a consisté dans un premier temps à développer un appareil à champs proches sensible aux propriétés mécaniques de surface, et dans un second temps à analyser les résultats expérimentaux en s'appuyant sur des approches analytiques et/ou numériques. Désigné sous le nom de microscope à force atomique à résonance de contact (CR-AFM), cet appareil est sensible à la rigidité effective de films minces sur substrat, ce qui lui permet de cartographier la rigidité mécanique de films minces. Nous avons mené un important travail de développement instrumental afin d'obtenir des résultats expérimentaux répétables et fiables, condition indispensable à une analyse quantitative. Puis nous avons utilisé le CR-AFM sur divers échantillons : empilements modèles (films de silice sur silicium, avec épaisseurs variables de silice), films de silice avec porosité variable, structures damascènes d'interconnexion cuivre,… Des images traduisant les variations d'élasticité de surface ont ainsi pu être construites. Pour quantifier ces variations, nous avons analysé nos résultats à l'aide de différents modèles (approches analytiques et numériques). Des simulations par éléments finis ont été réalisées pour étayer ces résultats. / The reduction of feature size in integrated circuits has raised an increasing need for characterization tools displaying small-scale resolution. Reliability issues taking place in these structures with dimensions below 100 nm require the development of innovative instruments. This thesis has first focused on the development of near field apparatus displaying sensitivity to surface mechanical properties. Afterwards analytical and numerical modelings have been developed to analyze the obtained experimental data. Known as contact resonance atomic force microscope (CR-AFM), this apparatus is sensitive to the effective stiffness of thin film on substrate, allowing the mapping of the mechanical stiffness. A significant work on the apparatus setting-up and procedure has been done to obtain repeatable and reliable experimental data, which is a prerequisite for quantitative analysis. Then CR-AFM experiments have been done on various samples: model stacks (silica thin films on silicon with varying silica thickness), silica films with tuned porosity, Damascene copper interconnect structures,… The mapping of elastic stiffness of such samples has been built-up. In order to quantify these contrasts, our experimental results have been analyzed through different models (analytical and numerical). Finite element simulations were also performed to support these results.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-11-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:37:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nozaki_r_me_bauru.pdf: 1471745 bytes, checksum: 002a3fa9cff00fe97414905826f120e6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O sistema de microscopia de força atômica se tornou um instrumento popular e útil para medir as forças intermoleculares com resolução atômica que pode ser aplicado em eletrônica, análises biológicas, engenharia de materiais, semicondutores, etc. Este trabalho estuda o comportamento da dinâmica não-linear da ponta da sonda causada pelo tipo da amostra e os modos de funcionamento de um microscópio de força atômica. Utilizando-se de simulações numéricas, busca-se uma solução aproximada, através do método de perturbação de múltiplas escalas e teoria de controle linear ótimo consegue-se um bom entendimento do trabalho feito e explicado a seguir. Este trabalho está dividido em três partes, na primeira apresentou-se o problema, mostrando a necessidade de se controlar o comportamento caótico no sistema a ser estudado. Mostrou-se o funcionamento do microscópio atômico com todas suas variáveis de funcionamento. Foram geradas as equações de movimento e os resultados são obtidos através de integrações numéricas das equações de movimento, obteve-se oscilações regulares e irregulares (caóticos), os quais dependem da escolha dos parâmetros do sistema. Na segunda parte do trabalho, utilizou-se o método das múltiplas escalas, efetuou-se a busca de uma solução analítica aproximada para o movimento estacionário do sistema, que foi obtida através de técnicas de perturbações. Este método foi desenvolvido foi desenvolvido por [10] para controlar estes sistemas / The atomic force microscope system has become a popular and useful instrument to measure the intermolecular forces with atomic-resolution that can be applied in electronics, biological analysis, materials, semiconductors etc. This work studies the complex nonlinear dynamic behavior of the probe tip between the sample and cantilever of an atomic force microscope using numeral simulations, method of multiple scales, and optimal linear control. This work concerns of three parts, in the first we will make the presentation of the AFM, showing various models of AFM. In second part, regular and irregular (chaotic) behaviors depend of the physical parameters and can be observed when a numerical integration is performed. When the dynamic system of the AFM becomes a chaotic oscillator a computational and analytical study of the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the AFM oscillator is proposed and it is obtained by perturbations method. The third part is dedicated to the application and performance of the linear feedback control for the suppressing of the chaotic motion of a non ideal system, theses systems are numerically studied. We use the method developed by [10] to control both the non-ideal system. This method seeks to find an optimal linear feedback control where they find - if conditions for the application of linear control in non-linear, ensuring the stability of the problem

A Restauração de Imagens é uma técnica que possui aplicações em várias áreas, por exemplo, medicina, biologia, eletrônica, e outras, onde um dos objetivos da restauração de imagens é melhorar o aspecto final de imagens de amostras que por algum motivo apresentam imperfeições ou borramentos. As imagens obtidas pelo Microscópio de Força Atômica apresentam borramentos causados pela interação de forças entre a ponteira do microscópio e a amostra em estudo. Além disso apresentam ruídos aditivos causados pelo ambiente. Neste trabalho é proposta uma forma de paralelização em GPU de um algoritmo de natureza serial que tem por fim a Restauração de Imagens de Microscopia de Força Atômica baseado na Regularização de Tikhonov. / Image Restoration is a technique which has applications in several areas, e.g., medicine, biology, electronics, and others, where one of the goals is to improve the final appearance of the images of samples, that have for some reason, imperfections or blurring. The images obtained by Atomic Force Microscope have blurring caused by the interaction forces between the tip of the microscope and the sample under study. Moreover exhibit additive noise caused by the environment. This thesis proposes a way to make a parallelization on a GPU of a serial algorithm of which is a Image Restoration of Images from Atomic Force Microscopy using Tikhonov Regularization.

O tratamento clareador pode resultar em alterações na rugosidade superficial do esmalte dental, as quais podem ser vistas a olho nu como alterações de cor, opacidade e perda de brilho. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar in vitro a alteração de rugosidade, cor e brilho de superfícies de esmalte dental humano após clareamento com um produto a base de peróxido de hidrogênio (PH) 38% e após polimento com fluoreto de sódio 2% neutro (FS2%) ou pasta dentifrícia contendo partículas de nano-hidroxiapatita. Para isso, coroas de incisivos centrais humanos foram preparadas e tiveram suas faces vestibulares analisadas em microscópio de força atômica (MFA), o qual determinou os valores de rugosidade [Ra, RMS, Z range e Power Spectral Density (PSD)] iniciais. A cor e o brilho destas amostras foram determinados por um espectrofotômetro. Todas as amostras foram clareadas com PH 38% por 135 minutos. Os valores de Ra, RMS, Z range e PSD foram estabelecidos pelo MFA e a cor e o brilho determinados pelo espectrofotômetro. As amostras foram divididas em dois grupos: Flúor, que recebeu um polimento com gel de FS2%; e nHA, que recebeu um polimento com pasta dentifrícia contendo partículas de nano-hidroxiapatita. Os valores de Ra, RMS, Z range, PSD, cor e brilho pós-polimento foram determinados pelo MFA e espectrofotômetro. Após o clareamento, os valores de Ra, RMS, Z range e PSD não apresentaram alteração estatisticamente significante, os valores de L* aumentaram e C* diminuiu significativamente em todas as amostras. O brilho superficial não apresentou alteração significativa após o clareamento. O grupo Flúor não apresentou alteração de rugosidade significativa para Ra, RMS, Z range e PSD após o polimento. Os valores de L*, C* e brilho superficial também não apresentaram alterações significativas após o polimento das superfícies clareadas. No grupo nHA, os valores de Ra e RMS não apresentaram alteração significativa após o polimento das superfícies clareadas, porém os valores de Z range e PSD apresentaram alteração estatisticamente significante. Em comparação à superfície clareada, L* e C* não apresentaram alteração significante após o polimento, porém o brilho superficial foi significativamente maior. O tratamento clareador de consultório mostrou ser eficiente quanto à alteração de cor e não gerou aumento na rugosidade superficial do esmalte dental. Um polimento com pasta dentifrícia contendo partículas de nano-hidroxiapatita realizado após o clareamento é capaz de aumentar o brilho e diminuir a rugosidade superficial do esmalte dental. / Bleaching treatment may result in dental enamel surface roughness alterations, which might be seen as color alterations, opacity and gloss loss. The aim of this research was to in vitro investigate roughness, color and gloss alterations of human dental enamel surfaces after bleaching treatment with 38% hydrogen peroxide (HP) and after polishing with neutral 2% sodium fluoride or dental tooth paste containing nano-hydroxiapatite particles. Human central incisors were prepared and buccal surfaces were analyzed by an atomic force microscope (AFM), which determined roughness values [Ra, RMS, Z range and Power Spectral Density (PSD)]. Surface color and gloss were determined by a spectrophotometer. All samples were bleached with 38% HP for 135 minutes. AFM determined Ra, RMS, Z range and PSD after bleaching. Color and gloss were determined by the spectrophotometer. Samples were distributed in two different groups: Fluor, which was polished with neutral 2% sodium fluoride, and nHA, which was polished with dental tooth paste containing nano-hydroxyapatite particles. Ra, RMS, Z range, PSD, color and gloss values were determined by AFM and spectrophotometer after polishing. After bleaching, Ra, RMS, Z range and PSD didnt show any statistical difference. L* increased and C* decreased significantly in all samples after bleaching. Surface gloss didnt show significant alteration after bleaching. Fluor group didnt show surface roughness alteration considering Ra, RMS, Z range and PSD after polishing. L*, C* and gloss didnt change after bleached surfaces are polished with neutral 2% sodium fluoride. Ra and RMS of nHA group didnt change significantly after polishing, but Z range and PSD showed significant alteration. Despite L* and C* didnt change, gloss increased significantly after polishing with dental tooth paste containing nano-hydroxyapatite. In-office bleaching treatment showed to be efficient as for color enhancement and didnt cause roughness alteration in dental enamel surface. An after-bleaching polishing with dental tooth paste containing nano-hydroxyapatite particles may increase gloss and decrease surface roughness of dental enamel.

[pt] Nesta dissertação de mestrado, nós desenvolvemos um processo de litografia baseado na técnica de microscopia de força atômica. O estudo do processo de litografia aqui utilizado inicia-se com a deposição e caracterização de filmes finos de sulfeto de arsênio amorfo (a-As2S3) em substratos de silício e a deposição de uma camada metálica de alumínio, utilizada como máscara, sobre a superfície do a-As2S3. O microscópio de força atômica é utilizado para escrever os padrões de forma controlada na camada metálica, e para tal, a influencia dos parâmetros de controle do microscópio na realização da litografia foi analisada. Para a transferência do padrão litografado realiza-se um posterior processo de fotossensibilização e dissolução química do a-As2S3 com uma solução de K2CO3. Após a dissolução, uma camada de ouro foi depositada por erosão catódica DC, seguido de uma nova dissolução, desta vez com NaOH resultando na transferência de nanoestruturas de Au para o substrato de silício. / [en] In this dissertation, we have developed a lithography process based on the atomic force microscopy of technique. The study of the lithography process starts with the deposition and characterization of amorphous arsenic sulfide thin films (a-As2S3) in silicon substrates and the deposition of a metallic aluminum layer, used as mask, on the surface of the a-As2S3. An atomic force microscope was used to write patterns in a controlled way on the metallic layer. Therefore, the influence of microscope feedback system on the accomplishment of the lithography was analyzed. In order to transfer the lithographed pattern to a silicon substrate, the a- As2S3 was exposed to a UV light source and was dissolved with a K2CO3 solution. Then, a thin gold layer was deposited by sputtering DC, and a new dissolution, now with NaOH was performed, leading to the deposition of Au nanostructures onto the silicon substrate.

Because cells are machines, their structure determines their function (health). But their structure also determines cells’ mechanical properties. So if we can understand how cells’ mechanical properties are influenced by specific structures, then we can observe what’s happening inside of cells via mechanical measurements. The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has become a standard tool for investigating the mechanical properties of cells. In many experiments, an AFM is used to ‘poke’ adherent cells with nanonewton forces, and the resulting deformation observed via, e.g. Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy. Results of such experiments are often interpreted in terms of continuum mechanical models which characterize the cell as a linear viscoelastic solid. This “top-down” approach of poking an intact cell —complete with cytoskeleton, organelles etc.— can be problematic when trying to measure the mechanical properties and response of a single cell component. Moreover, how are we to know the sensitivity of the cell’s mechanical properties to partial modification of a single component (e.g. reducing the degree of cross- linking in the actin cortex)? In contrast, the approach taken here —studying the deformation and relaxation of lipid bilayer vesicles— might be called a “bottom-up” approach to cell mechanics. Using Coarse- Grained Molecular Dynamics simulations, we study the deformation and relaxation of bilayer vesicles, when poked with constant force. The relaxation time, equilibrium area expansion, and surface tension of the vesicle membrane are studied over a range of applied forces. Interestingly, the relaxation time exhibits a strong force-dependence. Force-compression curves for our simulated vesicle show a strong similarity to recent experiments where giant unilamellar vesicles were compressed in a manner nearly identical to that of our simulations.

La peau est une interface essentielle entre le corps humain et son environnement externe. Au-delà du rôle de couche protectrice contre les agressions externes (mécaniques, thermiques, chimiques…), elle dispose de multiples fonctions de régulation comme l’absorption, la thermorégulation ou la synthèse d’hormones. L’étude de cette interface cutanée est importante, non seulement pour les spécialistes cliniques, mais également pour les chercheurs travaillant dans la compréhension des mécanismes des processus de transfert transcutanés. Longtemps considéré comme une simple couche de cellules mortes, le stratum corneum (SC, couche de la peau la plus externe) était considéré alors comme un acteur secondaire dans ces processus. Des études récentes montrent au contraire que cette couche cutanée, d’une épaisseur pouvant aller de 10 à 40 µm, joue un rôle primordial et déterminant. Ces études révèlent une architecture complexe, qui peut être représentée schématiquement par un empilement de cellules protéiniques (les cornéocytes) situées dans une matrice extracellulaire riche en lipides. Cette couche compacte est loin d’être complètement imperméable aux substances chimiques directement appliquées sur la peau. Nous proposons ici une approche physico-chimique visant à mettre en évidence les mécanismes d’interactions acide-base agissant à l’extrême surface du SC (i.e. une dizaine d’Angströms). En utilisant : i) les réactions de transfert de protons comme “sonde” et ii) une démarche multi-échelles basée sur des titrations de surface par angles de contact et par forces chimiques, nous déterminons quantitativement le rôle de chacune des composantes du SC (i.e. cornéocytes et lipides) dans ce type d’interactions. / Stratum corneum (SC) is a heterogeneous tissue composed of lipid-depleted corneocytes embedded in a lipid-enriched extracellular matrix. It comes from the epidermal differentiation of the skin. The wetting properties of this upper layer are of major interest in the understanding of interfacial phenomena, such as adhesion of microorganisms or proliferation of resident flora. Until now, the wettability behaviour has been characterized through different parameters such as surface energy, critical surface tension, or hydrophilia, via macroscopic contact angle measurements. But this method does not allow to discriminate the effect of the corneocytes with the one of the extracellular matrix on the final surface properties, because of the size of the liquid drop. This work, performed in vitro on human skin explants provided by Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetics, consists in understanding the wetting properties of the SC from macroscopic and nanoscopic points of view. Initially, it is compulsory to thoroughly describe at different scales the physical chemistry of our material, i.e. in vitro SC. Then, knowing that macroscopic contact angles are sensitive to the pH of the liquid probe, the first aim of this work is to determine the “macroscopic pKa values” of the SC, both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, dynamic contact angles are measured between test-liquid drops (aqueous solutions ranging from pH 1 to pH 13) and the SC in order to obtain the contact angle titration curve of the SC. The same procedure is applied in vivo on SC suffering from skin dryness (xerosis), the results being compared to those obtained previously on safe skin. The second purpose of this study is to reach the pKa values of the different functional groups located on the complex-cornified envelope. This consists in measuring adhesion forces between an AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) tip (functionalized with specific groups, such as amine, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, methyl or amide groups) and single-isolated corneocytes through buffered liquid media (ranging from pH 1 to pH 13). As previously, such titration curves are realised on corneocytes coming from safe skin, but also from dry skin. The variations observed in the contact angle titration and chemical force titration curves will be discussed in terms of acid-base, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bondings. The comprehension of the pH-dependent properties of the SC shall provide a better understanding of the role of individual corneocytes in the final surface properties of the SC.

Nanofibres are found in a broad variety of hierarchical biological systems as fundamental structural units, and nanofibrillar components are playing an increasing role in the development of advanced functional materials. Accurate determination of the mechanical properties of single nanofibres is thus of great interest, yet measurement of these properties is challenging due to the intricate specimen handling and the exceptional force and deformation resolution that is required. The atomic force microscope (AFM) has emerged as an effective, reliable tool in the investigation of nanofibrillar mechanics, with the three most popular approaches—AFM-based tensile testing, three-point deformation testing, and nanoindentation—proving preferable to conventional tensile testing in many (but not all) cases. Here, we review the capabilities and limitations of each of these methods and give a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in this field.

Relatively little is known about the folding and stability of membrane proteins. Conventional thermal or chemical unfolding techniques probe the average behavior of large numbers of molecules and thus cannot resolve co-existing minor and major unfolding pathways and intermediates. Here, I applied single-molecule force measurements based on an atomic force microscope (AFM) to characterize the stability of the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin (BR). In these mechanical unfolding experiments, an external pulling force played the role of the denaturant and lead to unfolding of the three-dimensional structure of individual proteins. It was found that single BRs unfold step-wise in a well-defined sequence of stable intermediates and in different unfolding pathways. Although single [alpha]-helices were sufficiently stable to unfold in individual steps they also exhibited certain probabilities to unfold in pairs. These observations support the "two-stage" and the "helical-hairpin" model of membrane protein folding. Dynamic force measurements showed that [alpha]-helices and helical hairpins are relatively rigid structures, which are stabilized by narrow energy barriers and have stabilities between 100-10?000 seconds. These forced unfolding experiments were complemented with the development of new force measurement techniques. It is demonstrated that hydrodynamic effects need to be considered to obtain more complete kinetic pictures of single molecules. In addition, two force spectroscopy approaches to measure the complex visco-elastic response of single molecules are presented and applied to BR. These experiments revealed that the unfolding patterns of single proteins are dominated by purely elastic polypeptide extension and determined the dissipative interactions associated with the unfolding of single [alpha]-helices. In addition, it was found that kinks result in a reduced unfolding cooperativity of [alpha]-helices.

Adhesion between different objects is happening everywhere. Without it, simple procedures like walking or holding something in a hand or attaching a postage stamp would be impossible. The life itself depends on adhesion on all levels, starting from the interactions between the living cells. Adhesion between two substrates is a complex phenomenon, which at present is still not well understood. There are several factors determining the strength of adhesion: (i) molecular interactions at interface, (ii) mechanical properties of adhesive, and (iii) area of contact between adhesive and probing surface. Two surfaces are tacky when they possess the right balance between these factors. Controlling the adhesion of materials is important in many fields ranging from industrial purposes to biomedical applications and everyday usage. There is a demand for “smart” materials with integrated functionalities that make them responsive, switchable, biocompatible, anti-bacterial, more energy efficient, or autonomous. In particular, materials for such cutting-edge applications like cell culture, drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensors, anti/biofouling, microfluidics, climbing robots, sport equipment and many others require adjustable/tuneable adhesive properties. Many efforts were directed towards fabrication of materials with either weak or strong adhesion depending on the field of application. However, design of “smart” surfaces with reversibly switchable/controllable adhesion is still a highly challenging task. Therefore, the thesis aims on design of smart polymeric materials with responsive / adaptive adhesion properties. For this, fabrication and investigation of two types of switchable polymer layers based on stimuli-responsive polymer brushes will be performed. The first group is dealing with thermoresponsive polymer brushes: poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide) and two types of biocompatible polyethylene glycol-based systems. These polymer layers undergo phase transition below and above LCST between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states. The second part of the work is related to solvent-responsive comb-like and block copolymer brushes consisted of hydrophilic PEG and hydrophobic PDMS biocompatible and biodegradable polymers.