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

技术概述：PI将获得一台原子力显微镜和一台生物光学显微镜，以支持西华盛顿大学先进材料科学与工程中心（AMSEC）教师和学生参与的各种研究项目，并将成为促进材料科学跨学科研究和教育的大学范围内倡议的组成部分。该仪器是支持五个学术部门（化学、物理、地质、生物和心理学）的研究所必需的，并将用于大约九门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项目，还有助于催化和促进更广泛的大学范围内的材料研究和教育倡议。世界海洋大学是一个以本科生为主的机构，该项目的相当一部分旨在培训学生在实验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。直接受益于该仪器的具体研究项目包括：用于有机电子学的杂化共轭聚合物/金属纳米颗粒薄膜中电荷输运和俘获的测量，通过有机气-液-固沉积和液晶印迹形成的薄膜形态的理解，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。成像蛋白质纳米线的自组装，并通过联合成像和扫描探针测量神经反应来了解学习和记忆的神经机制。摘要：原子力显微镜（AFM）是一种工具，它允许研究人员在纳米量级的尺度上表征材料和表面的各种特性（包括表面结构、机械、电气和磁性），在某些情况下甚至小到足以成像单个分子。PI将获得西华盛顿大学跨学科先进材料科学与工程中心（AMSEC）的AFM，这是一个以本科生为主的机构，非常强调让本科生参与有意义的前沿研究。该仪器将用于教授学生关于材料和过程的特性，这些特性发生在本科生实验室中传统仪器无法达到的长度尺度上。它还将支持五个学术部门（化学、物理、地质、生物和心理学）的研究项目，从研究大脑功能到薄膜的磁性，再到了解纳米材料的光学和电学性质，这些材料在医学、电子和通信等相关技术的进步中显示出前景。这个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。收购拟议的仪器将为合作和跨学科研究开辟新的途径。

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.