Acquisition of Nanoindentation Facility

该奖项为获得原子力显微镜（AFM）提供资金，以支持马萨诸塞大学达特茅斯分校（UMassD）纳米和生物力学材料领域的当前研究和教学活动。AFM使我们能够以亚纳米分辨率了解各种纳米结构材料和生物结构的表面形貌。利用超硬蓝宝石悬臂梁，还可用于聚合物、碳纳米管和纳米纤维的压痕研究。该系统由具有闭环功能的PicoSPM II显微镜和电子器件、带有X、Y、Z闭环电路的大型多用途扫描仪、带计算机工作站的Picoscan控制器和钻石尖蓝宝石悬臂梁组成。此次收购的设备将涵盖机械工程、材料与纺织工程、生物医学工程与生物技术、土木工程和化学与生物化学等领域的广泛研究项目。研究活动将集中在各种材料的纳米级研究，如纤维增强聚合物复合材料，粘合剂，智能纺织品，纳米纤维支架，活细胞，离子交换纤维，以及肉毒杆菌神经毒素在神经膜中的整合的分子机制。共享和协调使用拟议的原子力显微镜将扩大研究活动的范围，并促进上述部门在麻省理工大学纳米和生物技术新兴领域的潜在合作。由于马萨诸塞大学的研究生项目还处于起步阶段，有必要建立一个研究基础设施并建立声誉。原子力显微镜将是一项重要的收购，将上述所有部门的师资力量提升到纳米和材料生物力学领域的新水平。所提出的多功能纳米压痕仪的主要影响在于利用它为本科生和研究生提供研究训练和教育机会。本科生将获得研究机会，通过使用建议的设备支持他们的研究项目。研究生将全职参与研究活动，使用建议的设备，并朝着他们的论文工作。马萨诸塞州立大学将把购买拟议设备所产生的研究项目纳入新生暑期学院（FSI），这是一个现有的准备和推广项目，有前途的当地大学高中毕业生与教师一起学习工作项目。

This award provides fund for the acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to support current research and teaching activities in the areas of nano and biomechanics of materials at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMassD). An AFM allows us to understand surface topography of various nanostructured materials and biological structures at sub-nanometer resolution. With the use of ultra-stiff sapphire cantilever, it can also be used to perform indentation studies on polymers, carbon nanotubes and nanofibers. The proposed system consists of PicoSPM II microscope and electronics with closed-loop capability, large multi-purpose scanner with X, Y, Z closed-loop circuitry, Picoscan controller with computer workstation and diamond tipped sapphire cantilever. The acquired equipment will cover a wide spectrum of research programs in areas of Mechanical Engineering, Materials & Textiles Engineering, Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, and Chemistry & Biochemistry. Research activities will focus on nano-scale investigation of various kinds of materials such as fiber-reinforced polymer composites, adhesive bonds, smart textiles, nanofibrous scaffolds, living cells, ion exchange fibers, and molecular mechanisms of Botulinum neurotoxin integration in nerve membrane. The shared and well-coordinated use of the proposed atomic force microscope will expand the scope of the research activities and promote potential collaborations among the above mentioned departments in the emerging areas of nano and biotechnologies at UMassD. Since the graduate programs at UMassD are in their infancy, it is necessary to establish a research infrastructure and build a reputation. The AFM will be a key acquisition to bring the current strength of the faculty of all above departments to a new level in the areas of nano and biomechanics of materials. The major impact of proposed multi-functional nanoindentation instrument lies in using it to provide research training and education opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students will be given research opportunities by supporting them through research projects using the proposed equipment. Graduate students will be involved full-time in research activities using proposed equipment and work towards their thesis. UMassD will incorporate the research programs resulting from the acquisition of proposed equipment into the Freshman Summer Institute (FSI), an existing preparatory and outreach program where promising local college bound high school graduates study with faculty members on working projects.