MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Interdisciplinary Research at Western Washington University

技术总结：PI将获得一个原子力显微镜耦合到一个生物光学显微镜，以支持涉及教师和学生在先进材料科学与工程中心（AMSEC）在西部华盛顿大学的各种研究计划，并将成为一个大学范围内的倡议，促进跨学科的研究和材料科学教育的一个组成部分。仪器是必要的，以支持研究在五个学术部门（化学，物理，地质，生物学和心理学），并将用于约九个本科科学和工程课程。 因此，该仪器不仅会影响所描述的具体研究计划，而且还有助于催化和促进材料研究和教育的更广泛的全学院倡议。WWU是一个以本科为主的机构，该项目的一个重要组成部分旨在培训学生在实验室课程中使用最先进的仪器，并让本科生参与有意义的前沿研究。 将直接受益于该仪器的具体研究项目包括测量用于有机电子学的混合共轭聚合物/金属纳米颗粒膜中的电荷传输和捕获，理解通过有机气-液-固沉积以及液晶印迹形成的膜的形态，新开发的磁性表面增强拉曼活性纳米颗粒的耦合磁力和光学测量，对蛋白质纳米线的自组装进行成像，并通过结合成像和扫描探针测量神经反应来理解学习和记忆的神经机制。原子力显微镜（AFM）是一种工具，使研究人员能够表征材料和表面的各种特性在纳米量级的尺寸尺度上，甚至在某些情况下小到足以对单个分子成像的尺寸尺度（包括表面结构、机械、电和磁性质）。 PI将为西华盛顿大学的跨学科先进材料科学与工程中心（AMSEC）购买AFM，该大学是一所主要的本科院校，非常重视让本科生参与有意义的尖端研究。 该仪器将用于教授学生有关材料和过程的性质，这些材料和过程发生在本科实验室中传统仪器无法到达的长度尺度上。 它还将支持五个学术部门（化学，物理，地质学，生物学和心理学）的研究项目，从大脑功能的研究，到薄膜的磁特性，再到了解纳米材料的光学和电学特性，这些材料在推进与医学，电子和通信相关的技术方面显示出希望。该项目在弥合课堂和研究实验室之间的差距方面具有广泛的影响。收购拟议的仪器将开辟新的途径，合作和跨学科的研究。

Technical Summary: The PI will acquire an atomic force microscope coupled to a biological optical microscope to support a varied program of research involving faculty and students in the Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) at Western Washington University, and will be an integral part of a university- wide initiative promoting cross-disciplinary research and education in materials science. The instrumentation is necessary to support research in five academic departments (Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biology, and Psychology) and would be used in about nine undergraduate science and engineering courses. The instrumentation will therefore impact not only the specific research programs described, but also help to catalyze and promote a broader, College-wide initiative in materials research and education. WWU is a predominately undergraduate institution, and a considerable component of the project is aimed at training students in the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation in laboratory coursework and involving undergraduates in meaningful, cutting-edge research. Specific research projects that will directly benefit from the instrumentation include measurement of charge transport and trapping in hybrid conjugated polymer/metal nanoparticle films for organic electronics, understanding morphology of films formed via organic vapor-liquid-solid deposition as well as liquid crystal imprinting, coupled magnetic force and optical measurements of newly developed magnetic surface-enhanced Raman active nanoparticles, imaging the self-assembling of protein nanowires, and understanding neural mechanisms of learning and memory through combined imaging and scanning probe measurements of neural responses.Layman Summary: The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a tool that allows researchers to characterize a variety of properties of materials and surfaces (including surface structure, mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties) at size scales on the order of nanometers, even small enough to image individual molecules in some cases. The PI will acquire an AFM for the interdisciplinary Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) at Western Washington University, a predominately undergraduate institution that has a strong emphasis on engaging undergraduate students in meaningful, cutting-edge research. This instrumentation will be used to teach students about properties of materials and processes that occur on length scales inaccessible by traditional instrumentation in an undergraduate laboratory. It will also support research in five academic departments (Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biology, and Psychology) in projects ranging from the study of brain function, to the magnetic properties of thin films, to understanding the optical and electrical properties of nanomaterials, materials that show promise in advancing technologies related to medicine, electronics, and communications. This project has a broad impact in bridging the gap between classroom and research lab. Acquisition of the proposed instrumentation will open new avenues for collaboration and cross-disciplinary research.