Abstract: An electrochemical sensor allows even extremely small quantities or concentrations of a target chemical substance to be detected or quantified with a high precision in a particularly reliable manner. The novel sensor has a detector zone formed by nanoparticles which are embedded in a matrix and have a higher electric conductivity than the matrix material. The electric conductivity of the zone is determined by electron tunneling, ionization or hopping processes among the nanoparticles and by the electrochemical interaction thereof with a target substance to be detected.

Abstract: A miniaturized spring element is intended to be particularly suitable for use as a beam probe or cantilever for detecting atomic or molecular forces, in particular in an atomic force microscope, and, to this end, is intended to make it possible to detect its deflection in a particularly reliable manner and with high resolution. For this purpose, the spring element contains a basic body which is formed from a matrix containing embedded nanoparticles or defects. The spring element is produced using the principle of local deposition with focused energetic particles or electromagnetic waves or by pyrolytically induced deposition.

Abstract: A miniaturized spring element is intended to be particularly suitable for use as a beam probe or cantilever for detecting atomic or molecular forces, in particular in an atomic force microscope, and, to this end, is intended to make it possible to detect its deflection in a particularly reliable manner and with high resolution. For this purpose, the spring element contains a basic body which is formed from a matrix containing embedded nanoparticles or defects. The spring element is produced using the principle of local deposition with focused energetic particles or electromagnetic waves or by pyrolytically induced deposition.