MRI Consortium: Acquisition of a Small Angle X-ray Scattering System for Materials Characterization

技术概述：小角和广角x射线散射（SAXS/WAXS）是硬、软材料定量表征的关键。然而，在休斯顿大都市区没有SAXS用户设施，因此目前的研究项目需要在休斯顿以外的地方合作和/或在国家实验室获得光源。该提案的目的是获得双SAXS/WAXS系统，为休斯顿的材料研究界提供直接访问散装样品，薄膜和溶液的x射线表征。所提出的系统非常适合多种应用，各种样品类型，以及透射和反射散射模式。独特的功能包括一个掠入射阶段，以表征纳米结构薄膜，一个高温样品阶段，和一个液体电池毛细管支架。这些能力将加强联邦政府资助的纳米材料、器件物理学和生物物理学项目的变革性研究，包括活性聚合物纳米复合材料、无机纳米复合材料、用于催化和能源应用的无机纳米材料、纳米磁性器件和存储、药物和造影剂输送载体以及先进的生物膜。该系统将安装在休斯顿大学的纳米材料表征设施中，并将提供给当地学术界和工业界的材料研究界。SAXS/WAXS系统的收购将填补休斯顿地区最先进的材料表征设施的重要空白，并将使材料、纳米材料、生物物理科学和工程等不同学生群体的研究和教育持续增长。外行总结：理解和调整材料的结构对于材料、纳米材料、生物物理科学和工程等各种高科技应用至关重要。x射线散射是一种快速表征液体溶液、薄膜或块状材料的定量工具，所获得的信息提供了对天然和合成纳米级材料的更深入了解。休斯顿大都市区拥有众多研究密集型大学和活跃的工业研究，但目前没有x射线用户设施来支持多样化的研究社区。来自休斯顿大学、德克萨斯南方大学和莱斯大学的资深参与者参与了这项多机构提案，其目标是获得一个小角度和广角x射线散射仪器系统，为休斯顿地区的材料研究界提供直接访问各种样品类型的x射线表征的途径。该系统将安装在休斯顿大学的纳米材料表征设施中，并将提供给广泛的学术和工业用户群，填补休斯顿地区最先进的材料表征设施的重要空白，并使材料、纳米材料、生物物理科学和工程领域的不同学生群体的研究和教育持续增长。

Technical Summary: Small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) are crucial for quantitative characterization of hard and soft materials. However, there are no SAXS user facilities in the Houston metropolitan area, so current research programs require collaborations outside Houston and/or access to light sources at national laboratories. The objective of this proposal is to acquire a dual SAXS/WAXS system to provide the materials research community in Houston with direct access to x-ray characterization for bulk samples, thin films, and solutions. The proposed system is ideally suited for multiple applications, a variety of sample types, and both transmission and reflection scattering modes. Unique features include a grazing-incidence stage to characterize nanostructured thin films, a high-temperature sample stage, and a liquid-cell capillary holder. These capabilities will enhance transformative research across a wide range of federally-funded programs in nanomaterials, device physics, and biophysics that include active polymer nanocomposites, inorganic nanocomposites, inorganic nanomaterials for catalysis and energy applications, nanomagnetic devices and storage, drug and contrast agent delivery vehicles, and advanced biomembranes. The system will be installed in the Nanomaterials Characterization Facility at the University of Houston and will be available to the local materials research community in academia and industry. Acquisition of the SAXS/WAXS system will fill an important gap in the state-of-the-art materials characterization facilities in the Houston area, and will enable continued growth of research and education of a diverse group of students in materials, nanomaterials, and biophysical sciences and engineering. Layman Summary: Understanding and tailoring the structure of materials is crucial for a diverse range of high-technology applications in materials, nanomaterials, and biophysical sciences and engineering. X-ray scattering is a quantitative tool for rapid characterization of liquid solutions, thin films, or bulk materials, and the information acquired provides a deeper understanding of natural and synthetic nanoscale materials. The Houston metropolitan area is home to numerous research-intensive universities and active industrial research, but currently there are no x-ray user facilities to support the diverse research community. The objective of this multi-institution proposal, with senior participants from the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and Rice University, is to acquire a small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering instrument system to provide the materials research community in the Houston area with direct access to x-ray characterization for a broad range of sample types. The proposed system will be installed in the Nanomaterials Characterization Facility at the University of Houston and will be available to the broad academic and industrial user base, filling an important gap in the state-of-the-art materials characterization facilities in the Houston area and enabling continued growth of research and education of a diverse group of students in materials, nanomaterials, and biophysical sciences and engineering.