MRI: Acquisition of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) for Engineering Research and Education

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖的目的是在劳伦斯理工大学获得环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）。 环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）是一种强大的材料研究工具，可以研究传统上被认为不可能使用传统显微镜技术研究的潮湿，油性，多孔和柔软材料。在劳伦斯理工大学的ESEM系统的收购将大大提高劳伦斯理工学院及其在底特律大都会地区的合作机构正在进行的研究活动的广泛。这包括在劳伦斯理工学院、威廉博蒙医院和韦恩州立大学对新型生物材料、微加工医疗器械和矫形植入物的表征;碳纳米管增强水泥基材料的研究和劳伦斯理工大学火灾下混凝土的断裂分析，新型表面涂层和润滑剂的表征，用于开发具有更高效发动机的新型车辆/奥克兰大学的传动部件研究，以及通用汽车公司为下一代锂离子电池的开发研究新型电极材料。一旦ESEM获得并投入使用，它将支持的研究项目的结果将被出版和传播，以促进本提案中研究人员在各个研究领域的进一步理解和进展。 ESEM将加强劳伦斯理工学院及其合作机构现有的材料研究基础设施，并增强劳伦斯理工学院和其他大学大量学生的研究和教育经验。实验室会议的发展与实践经验，使用这种环境扫描电镜的各种推广计划将加强劳伦斯技术？在底特律大都会地区发挥主导作用，以增加女性和代表性不足的学生进入科学和工程的数量。

The objective of this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award is to acquire an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM)at Lawrence Technological University. The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) is a powerful materials research tool that permits the study of wet, oily, porous and soft materials which are traditionally considered impossible to study using conventional microscopy techniques. The acquisition of an ESEM system at Lawrence Technological University will greatly enhance a wide array of ongoing research activities at Lawrence Tech and its partnering institutions in the metro Detroit area. This includes the characterization of novel biomaterials, microfabricated medical devices and orthopedic implants at Lawrence Tech, William Beaumont Hospital, and Wayne State University; the study of carbon nanotube-reinforced cement based materials and fracture analysis of concrete exposed to fire at Lawrence Tech, the characterization of novel surface coatings and lubricants for the development of new vehicles with more efficient engine/transmission components at Oakland University, and the study of novel electrode materials for the development of next generation lithium ion batteries at General Motors. Once this ESEM is acquired and operational, results from the research projects it will support will be published and disseminated to stimulate further understanding and progress in the various research areas of the investigators in this proposal. The ESEM will strengthen the existing materials research infrastructure at Lawrence Tech and its partnering institutions, and enhance the research and educational experiences of a large number of students at Lawrence Tech and other universities. The development of laboratory sessions with hands-on experience of using this ESEM for a variety of outreach programs will strength Lawrence Tech?s leading role in the metro Detroit area to increase the number of women and underrepresented students entering science and engineering.