MRI-R2: Acquisition of an Advanced Atomic Force Microscope at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

0960232 wuu。技术摘要：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。该提案寻求资金为威斯康星大学普拉特维尔分校（UWP）购买先进的原子力显微镜（AFM）。先进的AFM提供了一个集成的倒置光学显微镜的多功能能力，使研究人员和学生能够在空气和液体环境中进行材料成像、操作和性能测量，包括光学、电和热刺激。具体研究项目包括：(1)生物合成膜在材料/水界面的双电层相互作用，(2)异质结有机太阳能电池中载流子迁移率的纳米尺度映射，(3)纳米级富胆固醇膜域的研究，(4)液相AFM纳米线电沉积，以及(5)用于光伏、电极和超级电容器的溶液浇铸透明石墨烯导电电极的表征。AFM将成为UWP微系统和纳米技术辅修课程（以及预期的未来四年制学位课程）的关键资源，该课程为本科生提供各种纳米级表征技术和纳米科学主题的深入培训和经验。作为两个学院多个部门之间的共享工具，AFM将促进互动并催化大学的跨学科研究和教学。该仪器还将被纳入现有的夏季外展计划，教职员工将尝试通过涉及该设备的外展活动来解决科学和工程领域的多样性问题。最后，该仪器还将在威斯康星州、爱荷华州和伊利诺伊州三州地区的当地企业中使用。摘要：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。在电子、太阳能和癌症研究等不同领域，最近和未来的进展取决于对“纳米尺度”材料特性的理解，也就是说，测量比人类头发宽度小一百万倍的特征。这种尺寸趋同的一个显著方面是，原子力显微镜（AFM）是这些看似无关的领域的关键工具。本提案中要求的AFM将为威斯康星大学普拉特维尔分校（UWP）的学生和教师提供各种研究，并为学生提供纳米尺度测量和制造技术的实践培训。其中一个例子包括使用原子力显微镜研究生物膜在其自然环境（水下）中的结构、组成和功能。这项基础研究将对未来的药物研究、癌症治疗和材料开发产生影响。此外，所要求的AFM还可以进行纳米级电测量，这不仅可以在最小尺度上探索“下一代”塑料太阳能电池中的电流运动，还可以研究纳米线的制造，这在太阳能电池，传感器和计算中具有潜在的未来用途。最后，原子力显微镜将成为UWP开发的一项正在申请专利的新技术继续发展的重要工具，该技术可以以非常低的成本将石墨烯（单原子厚的碳片）制成透明的导电薄膜。AFM将有助于优化它们的制造，并将表征它们的电性能，从而为它们在太阳能电池和电子产品中的应用奠定基础。在广泛的研究中获得的所有见解将与更大的科学界分享；然而，最重要的是，获得这种最先进的AFM将有助于UWP的理工科学生在毕业后为工作和研究机会做好准备。

0960232WuU. of Wisconsin-PlattevilleTechnical Abstract: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This proposal seeks funding to acquire an advanced atomic force microscope (AFM) for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP). The multifunctional capacity provided by an advanced AFM with an integrated inverted light microscope will enable researchers and students to perform material imaging, manipulation, and property measurements with optical, electrical and thermal stimuli in both ambient air and liquid environments. Specific research projects include: (1) Electrical double layer interactions of bio-synthetic membranes at the material/water interface, 2) Nano-scale mapping of the mobility of charge carriers in heterojunction organic solar cells, 3) Study of nanoscopic, cholesterol-rich membrane domains, 4) Nanowire electro-deposition using liquid phase AFM, and 5) Characterization of solution cast transparent graphene conductive electrodes for photovoltaics, electrodes and ultracapacitors. The AFM will be a key resource within the UWP Microsystems and Nanotechnology Minor (and anticipated future four-year degree program), which provides in-depth training and experience for undergraduate students in a variety of nanoscale characterization techniques and in nanoscience topics. As a shared instrument between several departments across two Colleges, the AFM will promote interactions and catalyze interdisciplinary research and teaching at the university. The instrument will also be incorporated into existing summer outreach programs, and faculty members will attempt to address diversity issues in science and engineering through outreach activities which involve this equipment. Finally, the instrument will also find use by local business at the tri-state area of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.Non-Technical Abstract: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Recent and future advances in diverse fields such as electronics, solar energy, and cancer studies depend on understanding the properties of materials at the "nanoscale;" that is, measuring features with dimensions a million times smaller than the width of a human hair. A remarkable aspect of this convergence in size is that one instrument, an atomic force microscope (AFM), is a key tool for these seemingly unrelated fields. The AFM requested in this proposal will enable a variety of research for students and faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP), plus hands-on student training in nanoscale measurement and fabrication techniques. One example includes using AFM to study the structure, composition, and function of biological membranes while in their natural environment: underwater. This basic research will have future implications in drug research, cancer treatment, and materials development. Further, the requested AFM can also perform nanoscale electrical measurements, which not only enable exploration of the motion of electric current in "next generation" plastic solar cells at the smallest scales, but also enable research into the fabrication of nanoscale wires, which have potential future uses in solar cells, sensors, and computing. Finally, the AFM will be an important tool in the continued development of a novel, patent-pending technique developed at UWP, in which graphene (one-atom-thick sheets of carbon) can be made into transparent, electrically conducting films at very low cost. The AFM will help optimize their fabrication, and will also characterize their electrical properties - thus laying the groundwork for their application in solar cells and electronics. All insights gained in this wide range of research will be shared with the larger scientific community; most importantly, though, acquiring this state-of-the-art AFM will help prepare UWP's science and engineering students for jobs and research opportunities after they graduate.