Acquisition of a Small Angle X-ray Scattering Facility at the University of Tennessee

该奖项来自主要研究仪器项目，支持购置田纳西大学的小角度x射线散射（SAXS）设备。该仪器将用于表征1-100纳米长度范围内的材料结构。目前和未来将受益于SAXS设施的研究范围从聚合物等“软材料”的结构研究到更传统的“硬材料”。软材料的研究包括(a)聚合物共混物和共聚物的形态研究，(b)聚合物结晶，(c)聚合物电解质，(d)聚合物复合材料和(e)加工聚合物（纤维，薄膜，模塑等）。“硬材料”的研究包括：(a)新型金属氧化物基材料的纳米结构，(b)蓝宝石中金属和化合物的纳米级分散，(d)通过脉冲激光烧蚀技术开发纳米颗粒，以及(e)碳纤维中的空洞形成。一个有趣的重叠涉及到使用微相分离的二嵌段和三嵌段共聚物作为模板来合成新的纳米结构，有序的碳纳米管和纳米级磁性线。此外，材料的x射线散射研究将为橡树岭国家实验室的中子散射研究提供背景，同时对HFIR反应堆进行升级，从长远来看，还将完成散裂中子源（SNS）的研究。此次收购将(1)促进纳米科学研究新领域的发展，并促进UT在科学和工程领域的教师之间的新合作，特别是在软材料领域；(2)发展UTK教师和学生与橡树岭国家实验室的科学家和工程师以及其他国际知名研究人员之间的新合作；(3)为邻近机构的研究人员提供SAXS测量的机会。尤其是那些传统上服务于代表性不足的少数民族的学校。***该奖项来自主要研究仪器项目，支持购置田纳西大学的小角度x射线散射（SAXS）设备。该仪器将用于表征1-100纳米长度范围内的材料结构。SAXS系统将为材料科学广泛分支学科的教师、博士后研究人员和学生提供服务，包括聚合物科学与工程、陶瓷、冶金和固态物理。研究领域的例子包括(a)聚合物共混物和共聚物的结构调查，(b)聚合物结晶，(c)聚合物电解质，(d)聚合物复合材料，(e)加工聚合物（纤维，薄膜，模塑等），(f)新型金属氧化物基材料，(g)蓝宝石中金属和化合物的纳米级分散，(h)通过脉冲激光烧蚀技术开发纳米颗粒，以及(i)碳纤维中的空洞形成。此次收购将(1)促进纳米科学研究新领域的发展，并促进UT在科学和工程领域的教师之间的新合作，特别是在软材料领域；(2)发展UTK教师和学生与橡树岭国家实验室的科学家和工程师以及其他国际知名研究人员之间的新合作；(3)为邻近机构的研究人员提供SAXS测量的机会。尤其是那些传统上服务于代表性不足的少数民族的学校。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation program supports the acquisition of a Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) Facility at the University of Tennessee. The instrument will be used to characterize the structure of materials on a length scale of 1-100 nm. Current and future research that will benefit from the SAXS facility ranges from studies of the structure of 'soft materials' such as polymers to the more traditional 'hard materials.' The studies of soft materials include investigation of the morphology of (a) polymer blends and copolymers, (b) polymer crystallization, (c) polymer electrolytes, (d) polymer composites and (e) processed polymers (fibers, films, moldings, etc.). Studies of 'hard materials' include investigations of (a) the nanostructure of new metal oxide based materials, (b) the nanometer-size dispersions of metals and compounds in sapphire, (d) development of nanoparticles through pulsed laser ablation techniques, and (e) void formation in carbon fibers. An interesting overlap involves the use of microphase separated diblock and triblock copolymers as templates to synthesize new nanostructures, well ordered carbon nanotubes, and nanoscale magnetic wires. In addition, studies of X-ray scattering of materials will provide background for neutron scattering studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with the HFIR reactor upgrade and, in the longer term, the completion of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). This acquisition will (1) foster the development of new areas of research in nanoscience and new collaborations among UT faculty in science and engineering, especially in the soft materials area, (2) develop new collaborations among UTK faculty and students with scientists and engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and with and other internationally prominent researchers, (3) provide opportunities for SAXS measurements to investigators from neighboring institutions, especially those that have traditionally served underrepresented minorities.***This award from the Major Research Instrumentation program supports the acquisition of a Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) Facility at the University of Tennessee. The instrument will be used to characterize the structure of materials on a length scale of 1-100 nm.The SAXS system will serve faculty, postdoctoral research fellows, and students in a wide range of sub-disciplines of Materials Science, including polymer science and engineering, ceramics, metallurgy, and solid state physics. Examples of areas of study include investigation of the structure of (a) polymer blends and copolymers, (b) polymer crystallization, (c) polymer electrolytes, (d) polymer composites (e) processed polymers (fibers, films, moldings, etc.), (f) new metal oxide based materials, (g) the nanometer-size dispersions of metals and compounds in sapphire, (h) development of nanoparticles through pulsed laser ablation techniques, and (i) void formation in carbon fibers. This acquisition will (1) foster the development of new areas of research in nanoscience and new collaborations among UT faculty in science and engineering, especially in the soft materials area, (2) develop new collaborations among UTK faculty and students with scientists and engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and with and other internationally prominent researchers, (3) provide opportunities for SAXS measurements to investigators from neighboring institutions, especially those that have traditionally served underrepresented minorities.