MRI: Acquisition of an Instrument for Nanoscale Manipulation and Experimental Characterization

这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)赠款提供资金，用于购买最先进的纳米操纵和可视化系统，用于在功能纳米结构和微/纳米设备和系统的原型、表征和性能评估方面的科学研究和培训。该系统将提供纳米分辨率、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)兼容的操作能力，使一些关键的纳米级实验研究能够支持以下每个领域正在进行的研究：1)纳米结构和纳米复合材料的纳米级拉伸测试；2)高功率横向RF MEMS开关和PZT纳米纤维的表征；3)新型纳米/微尺度操纵的6自由度设计方法的开发；4)微化学系统的自下而上的原型和实验表征；5)复杂流体的纳米流变学表征；6)基于光子晶体的纳米传感器技术的原型/表征；7)活细胞与其微环境相互作用的纳米尺度表征；8)材料老化过程中机电性能演变的纳米分辨率映射；9)基于胶体探头的传感器应用技术的发展。这些研究领域的成果将极大地受益于该系统提供的可控三维纳米级操纵和同时可视化能力。这一努力的更广泛影响将是加强对关键纳米尺度现象的理解，这些现象是由这笔赠款资助的仪器所实现的直接实验表征的结果。受这一能力直接影响的研究项目涉及许多关键的新兴纳米/微技术领域，包括：纳米材料开发/表征、纳米/微传感器和致动器，以及微化学和微机械系统。此外，这一系统将促进在这些研究领域工作的越来越多的教师、高级研究人员以及研究生和本科生之间的跨学科合作，并将有力地补充我们研究所在纳米技术方面的本科生和研究生教育倡议。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding to acquire a state-of-the-art nanomanipulation and visualization system for scientific research and training in prototyping, characterization, and performance evaluation of functional nanostructures and micro/nanoscale devices and systems. This system will provide nanometer-resolution, scanning electron microscope (SEM)-compatible manipulation capability, enabling a number of critical nanoscale experimental investigations in support of ongoing research in each of the following areas: 1) Nanoscale tensile testing of nanostructures and nanocomposites; 2) Characterization of high power lateral RF MEMS switches and PZT nanofibers; 3) Development of 6-DOF design methodologies for novel nano/microscale manipulation; 4) Bottom-up prototyping and experimental characterization of microchemical systems; 5) Nano-rheological characterization of complex fluids; 6) Prototyping/characterization of photonic crystal-based nano-sensor technology; 7) Nanoscale characterization of the interactions of living cells with their microenvironment; 8) Nanometer resolution mapping of electromechanical property evolution during material aging; and 9) The development of colloidal probe-based techniques for sensor applications.Efforts in these research areas will greatly benefit from the controllable three-dimensional nanoscale manipulation with simultaneous visualization capabilities provided by this system. The broader impact of this effort will be the enhanced understanding of critical nanoscale phenomena developed as a result of the direct experimental characterization enabled by the instrumentation funded by this grant. The research projects directly impacted by this capability span many key emerging nano/microtechnology areas, including: nanomaterials development/characterization, nano/micro sensors and actuators, and micro-chemical and micro-micromechanical systems. In addition, this system will promote interdisciplinary collaborations among an increasing number of faculty, senior research personnel, and graduate and undergraduate students working in these research areas, and will strongly complement undergraduate and graduate educational initiatives in Nanotechnology at our Institute.