MRI: Acquisition of a Transmission Electron Microscope for Research and Education

通过主要研究仪器（MRI）项目的奖励，弗吉尼亚联邦大学物理系将获得一台用于跨学科纳米材料研究的透射电子显微镜。研究工作将在多个领域进行，包括1)纳米粒子光刻，2)金属和半导体纳米粒子的光学性质，3)有机自旋电子学，4)核壳磁性纳米粒子，以及5)功能两亲性聚合物。透射电子显微镜是一种广泛使用的技术，它提供了通过样品传输的电子束相互作用形成的薄样品的显微图像。TEM的分辨率比光学显微镜高。它用于材料研究和生物领域等，在高分辨率下检查这些材料的结构和性能。TEM的收购将有利于四个不同部门（化学，物理，电气工程和化学工程）的学生的研究和培训。它将扩大与当地工业和国家研究机构的合作活动，并加强与弗吉尼亚联合大学（Virginia Union University）和诺福克州立大学（Norfolk State University）两所历史悠久的黑人学院的现有联系。它将成为新的VCU纳米科学和纳米技术跨学科博士课程基础设施的组成部分。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, the Department of Physics at Virginia Commonwealth University will acquire a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for use in interdisciplinary nanomaterials research. Research work will be conducted in a variety of fields including 1) Nanoparticle Photolithography, 2) Optical Properties of Metal & Semiconductor Nanoparticles, 3) Organic Spintronics, 4) Core-Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles, and 5) Functional Amphiphilic Polymers.Transmission electron microscopy is a widely used technique that provides a microscopic image of a thin sample formed from the interaction of a beam of electrons transmitted through the specimen. A TEM provides higher resolution than optical microscopes. It is used in materials research and biological fields among others to examine the structure and properties of these materials under high resolution. The TEM acquisition will benefit the research and training of students in four different departments (Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering). It will broaden collaborative activities with local industry and national research facilities, and strengthen existing ties with two historically black colleges, Virginia Union University and Norfolk State University. It will be integral to the infrastructure of the new VCU interdisciplinary doctoral program in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.