MRI: Acquisition of a Multipurpose X-Ray Diffractometer for Advanced Materials Research and Education

非技术摘要新的多用途X射线衍射仪系统(MXDS)将支持伦斯勒各种多学科项目中的高级材料研究，并通过新设计的实验室模块作为对本科生和研究生进行动手培训的教育工具。该仪器将直接影响伦斯勒8个学术部门和4个研究中心在纳米、生物科学和设备技术领域的12个主要研究项目中的35个以上项目。特别是，MXDS将成为一个关键的中央设施，用于研究一系列新材料的合成、制造、组装、稳定性和性质，这些材料用于能源生产、纳米电子学、固态照明、红外探测、轻质复合材料、生物组装、检测和传感、组织工程以及了解气候变化的早期地球研究。超过18名教师、21名博士后研究员、69名研究生(16名女性/少数民族)和29名本科生研究人员将定期使用该仪器，他们来自工程和科学学院以及由联邦、州和工业拨款资助的4个研究中心的8个系。MXDS将通过实验室模块和现场实验演示用于4个本科生和3个研究生课程，以丰富每年700多名学生的教育经验。此外，这种新工具每年将为70多名参加伦斯勒？S K-12和暑期推广项目的学生提供培训和使用--包括那些来自历史上的黑人学院和大学以及主要是本科院校的学生。最后，MXDS还将被其他当地教育机构和行业用于研究和培训。技术摘要新的多用途X射线衍射仪系统(MXDS)将成为伦斯勒各种多学科项目中表征先进材料结构的重要基石工具，并通过演示和动手研究丰富学生的教育经验。MXDS将用于表征一系列块状、微米和纳米结构形式的新型材料和复合材料，影响到纳米、生物、地球科学和设备技术领域的8个学术部门和4个研究中心的12个主要研究计划中的35个项目。最先进的MXDS将是一种多功能的中分辨率X射线衍射系统，用于表征各种材料的晶体结构、相形成、转变和稳定性、择优取向、残余应力和反射率。MXDS包括一个用于快速高信噪比数据采集的多条探测器，一个用于空间分辨显微衍射的毛细管准直器，以及一个用于相变动力学研究的热阶段。MXDS将用于4个本科生(包括500名学生的工程材料科学课程)和3个研究生课程的实验室模块和现场演示，以提供衍射学和材料结构表征基础知识的丰富教育。此外，这种新工具每年将为70多名参加伦斯勒？S K-12和暑期推广项目的学生提供培训和使用--包括那些来自历史上的黑人学院和大学以及主要是本科院校的学生。最后，该仪器还将被其他当地教育机构和行业使用，包括联合学院和通用电气，用于研究和培训。该软件支持先进的分析和用户友好的界面，用于远程操作、实时课堂演示和通过实验室模块进行推广。

Non-technical abstractThe new multipurpose X-ray diffractometer system (MXDS) will support advanced materials research in a variety of multidisciplinary programs at Rensselaer, and serve as an educational tool for hands-on training to undergraduate and graduate students through newly designed laboratory modules. This instrument will directly impact more than 35 projects in 12 major research programs in 8 academic departments and 4 research centers at Rensselaer in the areas of nano- and bio-sciences and device technologies. In particular, the MXDS will serve as a key central facility for studies involving the synthesis, fabrication, assembly, stability and properties of a wide range of novel materials for energy generation, nanoelectronics, solid-state lighting, infrared detection, light-weight composites, biological-assembly, detection and sensing, tissue engineering, and early earth studies for understanding climatic changes. More than 18 faculty, 21 post-doctoral fellows, 69 graduate students (16 women/minorities), and 29 undergraduate researchers from 8 departments across the schools of engineering and sciences and 4 research centers funded through federal, state and industrial grants, will use this instrument on a regular basis. The MXDS will be used for in 4 undergraduate and 3 graduate courses through laboratory modules and live experimental demonstrations, to enrich the educational experience of more than 700 students per year. Additionally, the new instrument will be available for training and access to more than 70 student participants each year in Rensselaer?s K-12 and summer outreach programs --including those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. Finally, the MXDS will also be used by other local educational institutions and the industry, including Union College and General Electric, for research and training.Technical AbstractThe new multipurpose X-ray diffractometer system (MXDS) will serve as an essential cornerstone tool for characterizing the structure of advanced materials in a variety of multidisciplinary programs at Rensselaer, and for enriching the educational experience of students through demonstrations and hands-on research. The MXDS will be used to characterize a wide range of novel materials and composites in bulk, micro- and nano-structured forms, impacting 35 projects in 12 major research programs in 8 academic departments and 4 research centers in the areas of nano-, bio- and geo-sciences and device technologies. The state-of-the-art MXDS will be a versatile medium-resolution X-ray diffraction system used for characterizing crystal structure, phase formation, transformations and stability, preferred orientation, residual stresses and reflectivity in a variety of materials. The MXDS includes a multiple strip detector for rapid high-signal-to-noise ratio data collection, a capillary pipe collimator for spatially resolved microdiffraction, and a hot-stage for phase transition kinetics studies. The MXDS will be used in laboratory modules and live demonstrations in 4 undergraduate (including the Materials Science for Engineers course wit 500+ students) and 3 graduate courses to provide enriched education in the rudiments of diffraction and materials structure characterization. Additionally, the new instrument will be available for training and access to more than 70 student participants each year in Rensselaer?s K-12 and summer outreach programs --including those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. Finally, this instrument will also be used by other local educational institutions and the industry, including Union College and General Electric, for research and training. The software supports advanced analyses and user-friendly interfacing for remote operation, real-time classroom demonstrations, and outreach through laboratory modules.