Acquisition of Scanning Probe Microscopy and Nanoindentation Instrumentation for Nanomaterials and Biomaterials Research and Education

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This grant is for acquisition of a scanning probe microscope (SPM) and nano-indentation equipment. The principal investigators have several research projects in the areas of nanomaterials, biomaterials, nanocomposites and multiscale modeling that will benefit from the equipment. For example, the five PIs have formed a collaborative team for biomaterials research in collaboration with Mayo Clinic researchers to pursue tissue engineering applications using patented rapid prototyping technology and the acquisition of the SPM and nanoindentation system will be useful in this research effort. Acquisition of SPM capabilities will also enhance the educational experience of undergraduate and graduate students. The instrument will be used for demonstrative purposes in several courses taught by the PIs and as a hands-on learning tool in the "Fundamentals of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials" course and in the "Biomaterials: Materials for Biomedical Applications" course. It will be extremely beneficial for students in introducing novel and cutting edge research into the educational experience. This instrument will also be used in several graduate courses including "Composites, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering" taught by the co-PIs. In addition the team is actively working to establish a program in biomedical engineering at NDSU. Use of the instruments for materials characterization and nanomechanical testing will be made available to industry in the region. The PIs institution has provided a dedicated laboratory space where the instrumentation will be housed.