MRI: Acquisition of a Multi-User X-ray Diffraction System for Advanced Materials Analysis

缅因大学表面科学与技术实验室（LASST）拟购买一套高性能x射线衍射（XRD）系统，以提供有关材料在原子、分子和纳米尺度上的结构特性的关键信息。该多功能仪器将由x射线发生器、x射线反射镜和透镜、混合单色仪、高分辨率测角仪和样品支架、狭缝和准直器、快速多通道探测器和Xe比例计数器以及高温样品台组成。XRD系统的具体测量能力将包括相分析、高分辨率空间互反映射、极图分析、摇摆曲线分析、反射测量、应力和纹理分析以及地形分析。最先进的XRD能力对于LASST的研究项目尤其有价值，这些项目涉及(i)半导体气体传感器薄膜和陶瓷涂层，（ii）用于声波器件和传感器的新型压电单晶，以及（iii）用于化学检测和化学分离的介孔和纳米孔材料。其他将受益于高分辨率XRD分析的材料研究项目包括微系统组件和生物mems器件、生物材料和蛋白质结构、微电子介质、纸张涂料、复合材料、纳米颗粒探针、水泥基材料、沸石和金属催化剂。缅因大学的研究人员提议购买最先进的x射线衍射（XRD）材料分析系统，以研究薄膜涂层、传感器和其他正在实验室开发的材料的表面结构。有关材料中原子键合的详细信息将有助于开发下一代化学传感器，以检测环境中的有毒化学物质，用于超高温的新型保护性陶瓷涂层，改进的高频电子材料以及用于化学检测和分离的膜。这项研究将由缅因州的本科生、研究生、博士后、访问科学家以及来自其他高校、行业、非营利研究机构和缅因州公立学校的合作者进行。该系统将位于表面科学与技术实验室（LASST），这是一个跨学科的研究中心，汇集了来自物理学、化学、电气工程、化学工程和生物工程的专业知识，以解决与表面、界面、薄膜、微器件和纳米结构材料相关的问题。该系统是缅因州唯一的同类系统，将用于缅因州高科技公司和几家从LASST传感器技术研究中孵化出来的初创公司的项目。教育推广研讨会和示范将用于向普通公众、初中和高中教师、高中生、本科生和研究生教授技术概念，这些学生参加了在缅因大学举行的其他nsf资助的培训活动。

The University of Maine's Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology (LASST) proposes to purchase a high performance X-ray Diffraction (XRD) system to provide critical information about the structural properties of materials at the atomic, molecular, and nanometer scale. The versatile instrument will be composed of an X-ray generator, X-ray mirrors and lenses, a hybrid monochromator, a high resolution goniometer and sample cradle, slits and collimators, a fast multichannel detector and Xe proportional counter, and a high temperature sample stage. Specific measurement capabilities of the XRD system will include phase analysis, high resolution reciprocal space mapping, pole figure analysis, rocking curve analysis, reflectometry, stress and texture analysis, and topography. State-of-the-art XRD capabilities will be especially valuable to research programs at LASST pertaining to (i) semiconductor gas sensor films and ceramic coatings, (ii) novel piezoelectric single crystals for acoustic wave devices and sensors, and (iii) mesoporous and nanoporous materials for chemical detection and chemical separation. Other materials research projects that will benefit from high resolution XRD analysis include microsystem components and bio-MEMS devices, biomaterials and protein structures, dielectrics for microelectronics, paper coatings, composite materials, nanoparticle probes, cement-based materials, zeolites, and metal catalysts. University of Maine researchers propose to acquire a state-of-the-art X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Materials Analysis System to investigate the structure of the surfaces of thin film coatings, sensors, and other materials being developed in their laboratory. Detailed information about atomic bonding in materials will enable development of next generation chemical sensors to detect toxic chemicals in the environment, novel protective ceramic coatings for ultra-high temperatures, improved high frequency electronic materials, and membranes for chemical detection and separation. This research will be conducted by UMaine undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, visiting scientists, and collaborators from other colleges and universities, industries, non-profit research institutions, and Maine's public schools. The system will be located in the Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology (LASST), an interdisciplinary research center that brings together UMaine expertise from physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, and biological engineering to solve problems related to surfaces, interfaces, thin films, microdevices, and nanostructured materials. The proposed system, the only of its kind in the State of Maine, will be used in projects with Maine high-tech companies and several start-up companies incubated from LASST research in sensor technology. Educational outreach workshops and demonstrations will be used to teach technology concepts to the general public, middle and high school teachers, high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students participating in other NSF-funded training activities at UMaine.