Aquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Materials Research and Education

这笔赠款支持购买扫描电子显微镜(SEM)，以支持对材料基本现象的研究。它还将被用作本科生的培训中心，在那里他们将学习在物理、生物、材料科学和化学领域进行研究时使用的技术和过程。波多黎各大学凯伊分校(UPR，凯伊)是一个非博士学位。授予机构位于美国波多黎各联邦的山区中心。将使用扫描电子显微镜能力的两个有代表性的项目是：(1)利用物理气相沉积合成立方氮化硼薄膜；(2)金属-绝缘体-半导体(MIS)结构的表征和优化。物理系将提供一门关于扫描电子显微镜技术的课程，其中将介绍与软硬物质研究相关的原理和技术。学生们将亲身体验制作样品和制作高分辨率的三维图像。还将准备一个短期课程，以认证将使用该仪器作为他们研究的一部分的学生。《物理实验方法》课程将使用扫描电子显微镜作为学生开展实验的站点之一。植物学等生物课程的学生也有望成为参与者。10%的仪器时间将分配给关于扫描电子显微镜的使用和应用的演示和研讨会，特别是针对注册的学生，如物理科学和分析化学课程的学生，来自社区的预科学生，以及其他感兴趣的人。计划为初中生和高中生举办一次特别的研讨会，以激励她们追求科学事业。

This grant supports the acquisition of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to support research on fundamental phenomena in materials. It will also be used as a training center for undergraduate students, where they will learn techniques and processes employed in doing research in areas of Physics, Biology, Materials Science and Chemistry. The University of Puerto Rico, Cayey (UPR, Cayey) is a non-PhD. granting institution located in the mountainous center of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Two representative projects that will use the SEM capabilities are: (1) The synthesis of cubic boron nitride thin films using physical vapor deposition; and (2) Characterization and optimization of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structures.The Department of Physics will offer a course on SEM techniques in which the principles and techniques associated with the study of soft and hard matter will be introduced. The students will have hands-on experience preparing samples and producing three-dimensional images at high resolution. A short course will also be prepared to certify students who will use the instrument as part of their research. The course of Experimental Methods of Physics will use the SEM as one of its stations where the students will develop experiments. Students from biology courses, such as Botany, are also expected to be participants. Ten percent of the instrument time will be assigned to demonstrations and workshops on the use and applications of SEM, particularly aimed at students registered in courses such as Physical Sciences and Analytical Chemistry, pre-college students from the community, and others who are interested. A special workshop is planned for middle and high school female students to stimulate them to pursue careers in sciences.