Metrology and nano-mechanical tests for nano-manufacturing and nano-bio interface: challenges & future perspectives

Nanometrology refers to measurement techniques that assess materials properties at the nanoscale. Laboratorybased characterisation of nanomaterials has been the key enabler in the growth of nanotechnology and nanoenabled products. Due to the small size involved, dimensional measurements has dominated such characterisation underpinned by a tremendous development in stand-alone electron/ion microscopes and scanning probe microscopes. However, the scope of nanometrology extends far beyond off-site, laboratory-based measurements of dimensions only, and is expected to have a tremendous impact on design of nano-enabled materials and devices. In this article, we discuss some of the available techniques for laboratory-based characterisation of mechanical and interfacial properties for nanometrology. We also provide a deep insight into the emerging techniques in measuring these properties, keeping in view the need in advanced manufacturing and nanobio-interactions to developmultifunctional instrumentation, traceable and standardizedmethods, andmodelling tools for unambiguous data interpretation. We also discuss the evaluation of nanomechanical properties and surface/interface response of materials, within the purview of manufacturing processes and standardization.