MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) for Visualization, Assembly, and Analysis of Materials at the Nanometer and Molecular Scale

0923066VinciLehigh U.“该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。“技术摘要一个灵活的原子力显微镜（AFM），集成了倒置光学显微镜，使先进的纳米尺度成像，光谱，光刻和操纵。购置这一仪器将：㈠大大提高利哈伊大学表征表面和界面以及新的纳米级材料的能力; ㈡促进分子间相互作用、自组装和纳米纤维的基础研究; ㈢帮助开发新的分析技术;（iv）允许当前的、旧的、共享的AFM/纳米压痕仪专用于全职纳米压痕，以及（v）加强在校园内发展的学术单位之间的合作，如物理学、化学、材料科学，和化学工程将与最先进的AFM进行的基础研究将推进分子和纳米尺度力学和生物分子相互作用，自组装和组织在纳米级的理解，以及合成，操作，和新的复杂的纳米结构（如大离子，杯[6]芳烃朗缪尔-布洛杰特膜，和碳纳米管-DNA杂交）的属性。它还将增加校园范围内纳米压痕的使用，从而支持正在进行的金属，陶瓷和复合材料的纳米和微观力学工作。可以使用现代AFM进行的研究的多样性将大大有助于培养学生和博士后研究人员在化学，物理，生物和工程之间的接口工作所需的跨学科努力，并将改善与外部学术，商业和工业合作伙伴的合作。该工具将加强对专业、本科和K-12学生的宣传？原子力显微镜（AFM）与光学显微镜耦合，可用于在纳米尺度上观察、测量和操纵表面。这种能力对于理解和改变过程的基础现象至关重要，例如化学生产的催化，新生物材料开发的细胞粘附以及先进照明设备的纳米结构的生长。使用AFM可以分析各种各样的材料。从软到硬，从有机到无机，从湿到干？原子分辨率。此外，在纳米尺度上实际操纵物质的能力为创造和测试独特材料创造了新的可能性，包括复杂分子和碳纳米管-DNA杂交体，这些材料可以解决能源生产、太空探索和疾病治疗等不同领域的问题。该仪器具有建立生物材料检查所需条件的附件，将使利哈伊大学在生物工程，物理，化学，材料科学和化学工程方面的纳米技术研究成为新的方向。新功能还将使旧的现有AFM作为专用纳米机械测试仪器的使用增加，以了解新型纳米材料的抗失效性。新仪器将比前几代仪器更容易使用，因此本科生和行业合作者更容易使用。它也可以通过网络操作，并可以在一定距离内使用，让孩子们在K-12水平，让他们？看到没？在纳米尺度上进行研究。

0923066VinciLehigh U."This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."Technical AbstractA flexible Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), integrated with an inverted light microscope, enables advanced nanometer scale imaging, spectroscopy, lithography, and manipulation. Acquisition of this instrument will: (i) significantly improve the capability at Lehigh University to characterize surfaces and interfaces, as well as new nanometer-scale materials; (ii) promote fundamental studies of intermolecular interactions, self-assembly, and nanofabrication; (iii) help develop new analytical techniques; (iv) allow the current, old, shared AFM/nanoindenter to be dedicated to full-time nanoindentation, and (v) enhance collaborations developing on campus among academic units such as Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Chemical Engineering. Fundamental research that will be carried out with a new state-of-the-art AFM will advance understanding of molecular and nanometer scale mechanics and biomolecular interactions, self-assembly and organization at the nanoscale, as well as synthesis, manipulation, and properties of new, complex nanostructures (such as macroions, calix[6]arene Langmuir-Blodgett films, and carbon nanotube-DNA hybrids). It will also enable increased campus-wide use of nanoindentation, thereby supporting ongoing work in nano- and micro-mechanics of metals, ceramics, and composites. The diverse nature of studies that can be carried out using a modern AFM will contribute greatly to the interdisciplinary effort required to train students and post-doctoral researchers to work at the interfaces between chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, and will improve collaborations with external academic, business and industrial partners. Outreach to students at the professional, undergraduate, and K-12 levels will be enhanced by the instrument?s ease of use and remote operation capability.Non-technical AbstractAn Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) coupled to an optical microscope can be used to visualize, measure, and manipulate surfaces at the nanometer scale. This capability is crucial for understanding and modifying the phenomena that underlie processes such as catalysis for chemical production, adhesion of cells for development of new biomaterials, and growth of nanostructures for advanced lighting devices. With an AFM it is possible to analyze a wide variety of materials ? from soft to hard, organic to inorganic, wet to dry ? with atomic resolution. Furthermore, the ability to actually manipulate matter at the nanoscale creates new possibilities for the creation and testing of unique materials, including complex molecules and carbon nanotube-DNA hybrids, that could solve problems in diverse areas such as energy production, space exploration, and disease treatment. With accessories that establish the conditions necessary for the examination of biological materials, the instrument will enable new directions in nanotechnology research at Lehigh University in Bioengineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Chemical Engineering. The new capability will also enable increased use of an old, existing AFM as a dedicated nanomechanical test instrument for understanding the failure resistance of novel nanomaterials. The new instrument will be much easier to use than those of previous generations, so it will be more accessible to undergraduate students and industry collaborators. It can also be operated over the Web, and can be used at a distance to engage children at the K-12 levels by allowing them to ?see? at the nanoscale without leaving their classrooms.