MRI/RUI: Acquisition of a Scanning Probe Microscope for Undergraduate Research

有了这笔资金，我们将购买一台扫描探针显微镜（Quesant Instruments Model 350），用于原子力显微镜对各种材料系统的表征。该仪器将包括附件，使我们能够在液体环境中对系统成像。两个具体项目将立即受益于收购：(1)铅磷灰石溶解的现场测量和(2)半导体薄膜的表征。前者的动机是通过将铅固定在稳定的铅磷灰石中来回收铅污染土壤的常见做法。我们建议研究这种矿物在酸性环境中发生的微观结构变化，因为已知酸性环境会增加铅磷灰石的溶解度。后一个项目涉及与犹他大学的合作，在那里原子力显微镜将为该机构进行的非均质半导体材料的电子和光学表征提供补充信息。这种系统的一个例子是微晶硅，其中晶体颗粒的大小可以极大地影响电子性能和器件特性。这次收购也将有利于我们机构的教育使命，因为该仪器可以在几个班级中用于课堂演示或教学练习。利用这笔拨款，我们将获得一台原子力显微镜，这是一种能够在亚微米尺度上成像材料的仪器，用于物理学和地球科学的本科生研究。这次收购本身将大大提高我们机构的研究能力。韦伯州立大学的两名教员和几名本科生将使用该设备研究诸如铅污染土壤的回收以及用于半导体器件（如太阳能电池）的材料结构等问题。该仪器还将用于韦伯州立大学地球科学和物理系的几个教学实验室和课堂演示，每年都会影响到我们几门课程的数十名学生。本科生的研究结果和与本仪器相关的材料将发布在我们的网站上，这些网站将覆盖我们系内外的大量学生。

With this grant, we will purchase a scanning probe microscope (Quesant Instruments Model 350) for the characterization of various material systems by atomic force microscopy. The instrument will include accessories to allow us to image systems in liquid environments. Two specific projects will benefit immediately from the acquisition: (1) in-situ measurements of the dissolution of lead apatite and (2) characterization of semiconductor thin films. The former is motivated by the common practice of reclaiming lead-contaminated soils by immobilizing the lead in the stable lead apatite. We propose to study the microstructural changes that occur in this mineral in acidic environments, as acidic environments are known to increase the solubility of lead apatite. The latter project involves a collaboration with the University of Utah where the atomic force microscope will provide complementary information to the electronic and optical characterization of heterogeneous semiconducting materials conducted at that institution. An example of such a system is microcrystalline silicon, where the size of crystalline grains can dramatically affect the electronic properties and device characteristics. This acquisition will also benefit the educational mission of our institution, as the instrument can be used in several classes either for classroom demonstrations or instructional exercises.With this grant, we will acquire an atomic force microscope, an instrument capable of imaging materials on the sub-micrometer scale, for undergraduate research in physics and geosciences. This acquisition will, by itself, significantly enhance the research capabilities of our institution. Two faculty members at Weber State University and several undergraduate students will use this equipment to study such problems as the reclamation of lead-contaminated soils and the structure of materials used for semiconducting devices, such as solar cells. The instrument will also be used for several instructional laboratories and class demonstrations for the geoscience and physics departments at Weber State, affecting dozens of students in several of our courses every year. Results of undergraduate research and materials related to this instrumentation relevant to our classes will be posted on our websites, which reach a large number of students inside and outside our departments.