MRI: Acquisition of Equipment for Nanoscale Characterization and Integration of Multifunctional Materials and Devices

本研究的目的是探索具有光电子和生物光子学应用的多功能纳米材料；该研究涉及纳米尺度研究的基础和应用方面，同时研究具有半导体，分子和/或生物元素的新型光子材料。该方法是获得一台近场扫描光学显微镜，使UNT的研究人员能够补充现有的共享设施基础设施，并在多功能纳米材料方面形成协作焦点的区域资源。智力优势：所寻求的设备将使纳米材料的制造和表征集成到多功能组件中，包括电气、光子、等离子体、流体、化学和生物功能。将启用的项目包括：(1)光子晶体的纳米制造和表征。(2)基于水凝胶的光电和生物光子纳米系统。(3)鸟苷基紫外可见纳米光电探测器。(4)分子与大分子光电子学。(5)肌球蛋白的单分子成像和操作。(6) 5-氨基乙酰丙酸荧光光谱诊断口腔癌。更广泛的影响：拟议的设备将位于共享设施中，供七个参与小组的负责人及其合作者使用。提议的设备将成为UNT和北德克萨斯地区集成纳米系统发展的焦点，涉及纳米级研究的相当广泛的多学科用户群。这些项目为不同教育背景的学员（研究生和本科生、高中生和教师、博士后学员和访问科学家）以及传统上代表性不足的群体提供了积极参与多学科研究的机会。所有参与小组的领导在招募这些人员参与他们的研究方面都有良好的记录。

The objective of this research is to investigate multifunctional nanoscale materials with applications in optoelectronics and biophotonics; the research involves fundamental and applied aspects of nanoscale research while investigating novel photonic materials with semiconductor, molecular, and/or biological elements. The approach is to acquire a Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope to allow UNT researchers to complement existing infrastructure of shared facilities and form a regional resource with a collaborative focal point in multifunctional nanomaterials.Intellectual Merit: The equipment sought will enable the fabrication and characterization of nanomaterials integrated into multifunctional components that include electrical, photonic, plasmonic, fluidic, chemical, and biological functions. The projects to be enabled include: (1) Nanofabrication and characterization of photonic crystals. (2) Hydrogel-based optoelectronic and biophotonic nanoscale systems. (3) Guanosine-based UV-Vis nanoscale photodetectors. (4) Molecular and macromolecular optoelectronics. (5) Single molecule imaging and manipulation of myosin. (6) Fluorescence spectroscopic diagnosis of oral cancer using 5-aminolevulinic acid. Broader Impacts: The proposed equipment will reside in shared facilities for use by the seven participating group leaders and their collaborators. The proposed equipment will serve as a focal point for the development of integrated nanosystems at UNT and the North Texas region by a rather broad and multidisciplinary user base involved in nanoscale research. The projects provide opportunities for trainees with diverse educational backgrounds (graduate and undergraduate students, high school students and teachers, postdoctoral trainees and visiting scientists) and traditionally-underrepresented groups to actively participate in multidisciplinary research. All participating group leaders have strong track records in recruiting such personnel into their research.