CAREER: Atomic Force Microscopy Studies of Transition Metal Chalcogenide Deposition Using Translationally Hot Atoms

这个教师早期职业发展（CAREER）项目，在分析和表面化学计划的支持下，旨在了解通过背照激光诱导蒸发制备的薄膜的生长和成核。 西班牙教授和她在西方学院的本科生将在硅上制备过渡金属和过渡金属硫属化物的薄膜，并将有序的有机薄膜固定在基底上。 这些系统应该在这些无机相和有机相之间的界面处产生独特的和潜在有用的微结构。 这个职业研究项目的学生还将使用原子力显微镜来表征这些系统。 该项目的教育重点的另一个方面将是无机物理化学实验室课程的彻底重组，强调激光在科学中的应用。 制造可靠的半导体材料的每一个减少的尺寸需要改进的理解和控制的衬底上的薄膜的合成。 这个职业研究项目的重点是二氧化硅和有机基板上生长的薄膜的合成和表征。 这些薄膜将使用激光蒸发技术生长，并通过原子力显微镜进行表征。 西班牙教授的本科生将获得本研究的各个方面的直接经验，并接触到强调使用激光的讲座和实验室格式的新教学材料。 高中生也将有机会在这个新的激光实验室设施中工作。 建议和指导所有这些学生在科学方面的机会是这个职业建议的教育主旨的重要组成部分。

This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, aims to understand the growth and nucleation of thin films prepared by laser induced vaporization by back illumination. Professor Spain and her undergraduate students at Occidental College will prepare thin films of transition metal and transition metal chalcogenides on silicon and ordered organic films anchored to a substrate. These systems should yield unique and potentially useful microstructures at the interface between these inorganic and organic phases. Students in this CAREER research project will also use atomic force microscopy to characterize these systems. Another aspect of the educational thrust of this project will be the radical reorganization of a combined inorganic-physical chemistry laboratory course that emphasizes the uses of lasers in science. The fabrication of reliable semiconductor materials of every decreasing dimension requires improved understanding and control of the synthesis of thin films on substrates. This CAREER research project focusses on the synthesis and characterization of thin films grown on silica and organic substrates. These films will be grown using laser vaporization techniques and characterized by atomic force microscopy. Professor Spain's undergraduate students will gain direct experience in each of the aspects of this research as well as be exposed to new instructional materials in lecture and laboratory formats that emphasize the use of lasers. High school students will also be afforded opportunities to work in this new laser laboratory facility. Advising and mentoring of all of these students regarding opportunities in science are important parts of the educational thrusts of this CAREER proposal.