Engineering Research Equipment: A Modified STM/AFM for Complex Fluid Investigations

该提案要求升级扫描设备 隧道和原子力显微镜的能力， PI的实验室 PI目前拥有Nanoscope II AFM/STM。 他建议建造一个密封的房间来容纳 该仪器将允许恒温控制， 并且将允许在低真空下进行实验， 在清洁气体如氮气下或在固定湿度下。 他 还建议将Nanoscope II AFM/STM升级为 Nanoscope III;升级仪器将允许更大的 扫描场，同时仍保持良好的分子 分辨率，并将允许测量 悬臂上的摩擦力和法向力 tip. PI还要求资金购买图像 独立于Nanoscope软件的分析系统， 将增强图像的视觉检查，并将使 更好地量化结构特征， 周期性 PI使用AFM/STM设备主要是为了成像自我 两亲分子的组装单层和双层. 纳米尺度的流-流和流-固界面 分辨率 PI在该领域的研究活动是 最高质量的，他已经产生了几个显着的 取得的成就，如识别涟漪相位， 生物表面活性剂DMPC。 基本成像 双层和单层的研究将导致更好的 了解化学物质之间的关系 两亲体的结构及其自身形成的结构 组装件. 这一信息在细胞膜中具有重要意义。 研究，并在技术研究 LB膜的应用 程序的升级 现有设备将大大提高质量， PI研究的可重复性。 与环境 控制升级，清洁大气中的实验可以 这将消除毛细管力的影响， 从悬臂尖端形成的摆动桥。

The proposal requests equipment to upgrade the scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopic capabilities in the PI's laboratory. The PI currently possesses a Nanoscope II AFM/STM. He proposes to construct a sealed chamber to contain the instrument that will allow constant temperature control, and will permit experiments to be undertaken at low vacuum and under a clean gas such as nitrogen or at a fixed humidity. He also proposes to upgrade the Nanoscope II AFM/STM to a Nanoscope III; the upgrade instrument will allow for a larger scanning field while still maintaining excellent molecular resolution, and will also allow for the measurement of frictional forces as well as normal forces at the cantilever tip. The PI also requests funds for the purchase of a image analysis system independent of the Nanoscope software which will enhance the visual inspection of images, and will enable better quantification of structure characteristics such as periodicity. The PI uses the AFM/STM apparatus primarily to image self assembled monolayer and bilayers of amphiphillic molecules at fluid-fluid and fluid-solid interfaces with nanometer scale resolution. The research activity of the PI in this area is of the highest quality, he has produced several notable achievements such as the identification of a ripple phase for the biological surfactant DMPC. The fundamental imaging studies of bilayers and monolayers will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure of an amphophil and the structures it forms in self assembly. This information is of importance in cell membrane research, and in the research on the technological applications of Langmuir-Blodgett films. The upgrade for the existing equipment will significantly improve the quality and reproducability of the PI's studies. With the environmental control upgrade, experiments in clean atmospheres can be undertaken which will remove capillary force effects arising from pendular bridges which can form at the cantilever tip.