title: Detection of femtomolar concentrations of HF Using an SiO(2) microcantilever.
abstract: Femtomolar concentrations of hydrogen fluoride, a decomposition component of nerve agents, were detected using a SiO(2) microcantilever. The microcantilever underwent bending due to the reaction of HF with SiO(2). The microcantilever deflection increased as the concentration of HF increased. Other acids, such as HCl, had no effect on the deflection of the cantilever. The mechanism of reaction-induced bending and the correlation of microcantilever deflection with the HF concentration are discussed. The deflection in response to HF of a commercially available silicon cantilever was also studied, and its response was compared with that of the SiO(2) cantilever. Much less bending amplitude and sensitivity were observed for the silicon cantilever.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana 71270, USA.
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xiaohe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Gilbert M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thundat
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006858:Hydrofluoric Acid; D012825:Silicon