Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Research and Research Training at UNC

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With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Northern Colordo will acquire an atomic force microscope (AFM). This equipment will be used to a) investigate initial silane monolayer formation stability on mica surfaces using silanes with terminal functional groups, b) explore zinc oxide nanocolumn deposition and doping of zinc oxide nanowires, c) evaluate snake venom toxin interactions with specific receptors, and d) develop a 3-D representation of the torusbearing pit membrane of gymnosperm woods.Chemistry is a scientific discipline that studies structure and processes at the molecular scale. In the past, chemists learned to examine and elucidate molecular events by performing collective spectroscopy, that is, measuring average properties from solution or solid-state experiments. Modern techniques, including AFM, allow measurements at a much smaller scale. AFM allows the direct observation and understanding of molecular events occurring in chemical and biological processes, enables the correlation of microscopic structures to macroscopic properties, and permits the design of materials with nanoscopic features. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, including materials science and biochemistry.