MRI: Acquisition of a Next Generation Pulsed Laser Deposition System for Thin Film and Nanomaterials Research at North Carolina A & T State University

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)拨款为获得用于薄膜和纳米材料研究的下一代脉冲激光沉积系统提供资金。脉冲激光沉积系统将立即和显著地促进以下研究项目：用于生物医学植入的金属和陶瓷生物材料的开发，用于数据存储设备的自组装磁性纳米颗粒的合成，以及用于超导电子学的嵌入纳米颗粒的高温超导薄膜的合成。第一个研究领域与2008年由美国国家科学基金会资助的北卡罗来纳农业技术州立大学金属生物材料革命性工程研究中心直接相关。所建议的沉积系统的独特之处在于提供了在同一腔室中进行激光烧蚀和直流磁控溅射的能力，以及通过光学发射光谱系统对等离子体中存在的物种进行原位诊断的能力，以及通过反射高能电子衍射系统对薄膜和纳米结构材料进行原位结构表征的能力。该仪器将直接供研究生和本科生使用。它还将被纳入目前在北卡罗来纳农业和技术州立大学机械工程系研究生和本科生水平上提供的薄膜技术和纳米科学和纳米工程课程。由于脉冲激光沉积系统操作简单，以及基片加热平台的激光羽流和红色辉光的视觉吸引力，该设施还将用于中小学师生参观校园的教育和外展活动。

This Major Resesarch Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding for the aquisition of a next generation pulsed laser deposition system for thin film and nanomaterials research. The pulsed laser deposition system will provide immediate and significant boost to the research projects focused on the development of metallic and ceramic biomaterials for biomedical implant applications, synthesis of self-assembled magnetic nanoparticles for data storage devices, and synthesis of high-temperature superconducting thin films embedded with nanoparticles for superconductive electronics. The first research area is directly related to the Engineering Research Center on Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials funded by the National Science Foundation in 2008 at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The uniqueness of the proposed deposition system lies in the provision for laser ablation and direct current magnetron sputtering in the same chamber and capabilities of in situ diagnosis of species present in the plasma by an optical emission spectroscopy system and in situ structural characterization of thin film and nanostructured materials by a reflection high energy electron diffraction system.The instrumentation will be used directly in a hands-on fashion by both graduate and undergraduate students. It will also be incorporated into courses on thin film technology and nanoscience and nanoengineering offered currently at graduate as well as undergraduate levels in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Due to simplicity of operation of pulsed laser deposition system and the visual attractiveness of laser plume and red glow of the substrate heating platform, the facility will also be used for the education and outreach activities for elementary, middle, and high school students and teachers visiting the campus.