MRI: Acquisition of a Transmission Electron Microscope for Multidisciplinary Research

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, the Department of Chemistry at Temple University will acquire a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for use in interdisciplinary nanomaterials research. Specific examples of research activities that will benefit from this acquisition include the study of phase transformation of nanoparticulate in soil and aquatic systems; nanostructures that make up polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells; functionalized nanoparticles for optical applications; functionalized paramagnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia treatment of tumors; and morphological changes of biological tissues and cells that result from elevated levels of homocysteine.Transmission electron microscopy is a widely used technique that provides an 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 research and the training of undergraduate and graduate students in the Departments of Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics, Mechanical, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Radiology, and Pharmacology in Medicine.