Scientists from China have developed a novel method for significantly enhancing the resolution of electrometers, paving the way for new devices for various applications, including mass spectrometry, surface charge analysis, and aerosol science. Owing to their low cost, high accuracy, and ability to be batch manufactured, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based resonators have been used to design electrometers with excellent sensitivity and resolution. However, their complicated mechanical structure, low environmental temperature, and inability to detect in real-time have limited their applications. A team of Chinese researchers led by Ronghua Huan from Zhejiang University and Xueyong Wei from Xi’an Jiaotong University demonstrated an electrometer that uses two coupled nonlinear MEMS resonators, significantly enhancing its charge detection resolution and sensitivity. The electrometer is capable of measuring single-electron charges extremely accurately at room temperature and with ultrahigh resolution in real-time.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41378-020-00192-4