MRI-RUI: Acquisition of a Micro-Raman-Photoluminescence Instrument for Materials-Related Research and Education

摘要显微拉曼光谱是不透明材料多组分分析、水溶液到超临界条件下的定量形态分析、局部机械应力分析和小样品区域光谱成像的不可或缺的研究工具。光致发光(PL)光谱对于确定半导体的带隙和分析材料中的杂质能级、光学活性中心和点缺陷是非常有价值的，而微光致发光对于分辨小的光学活性区域是不可或缺的。密苏里州立大学获得的一套组合的微拉曼和微光致发光系统将显著提高教职员工和学生在几个与材料相关的领域的科学表现，包括生物材料和生物设备、生物分子/无机纳米材料、光电子学和磁电子学以及极端环境下的材料。MICRO-RAMAN-PL系统将用于研究密苏里州立大学的下列研究领域：1)纳米材料和溶质在超临界流体中的应用；2)用于光伏和发光二极管应用的透明导电氧化物的光电性质；3)核酸和附着在纳米材料上的蛋白质之间的生物分子相互作用；4)WO3纳米和微晶的晶格结构和水合物形式；5)碳纳米管和石墨烯的结构特性；6)生物分子-Co/Au-纳米颗粒相互作用；7)金属氧化物纳米颗粒-生物分子杂化体系的功能表面修饰；以及8)多铁薄膜中的铁电结构动力学。微拉曼-PL系统还将极大地促进推广和教育项目，扩大密苏里州立大学科学系之间的跨学科合作，并加强与其他机构和高科技行业的合作。莱曼摘要：材料相关技术的进步，如能源应用、纳米技术、光子学、电子学、生物技术、交通运输、药物输送系统和医疗诊断，取决于对相关材料的成键、振动、结构和其他物理化学性质的基本了解。通过与原子水平上的光相互作用，拉曼光谱提供了关于振动性质的极其有价值的信息，这些性质与给定材料的成键和结构性质直接相关。同样，通过光的刺激，光致发光光谱能够提供关于半导体中巡回电子与束缚电子和杂质的能量学信息，以及材料中点缺陷和活性中心的光学性质的信息。本建议书中要求的最先进的微拉曼光谱分析仪器将提供一个极具价值的新研究和教学工具，以补充密苏里州立大学用于研究各种材料的一系列现有设施和表征工具。利用带有拉曼或光致发光的激光微束探头将提供对材料中光学活性微区、微晶和铁电域的高分辨率成像。通过本提案中概述的研究项目为学生提供的关于微拉曼-光致发光仪器的宝贵培训将有助于他们未来在高科技行业和研究实验室的就业。微拉曼-PL系统将对面向K-12学生追求科学和工程职业的外展和教育项目做出巨大贡献。微拉曼-PL系统将有助于促进密苏里州立大学内部教职员工和学生之间的合作，并加强与其他机构的合作。

AbstractMicro-Raman spectroscopy is an indispensible investigative tool for multicomponent analysis of non-transparent materials, quantitative speciation analysis in aqueous fluids to supercritical conditions, local mechanical stress analysis, and spectroscopic imaging of small sample domains. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy is invaluable for band gap determination in semiconductors and analysis of impurity levels, optically active centers and point defects in materials, whereas micro-PL is indispensible for resolution of small optically active domains. The acquisition of a combined micro-Raman and micro-PL system at Missouri State University will significantly enhance the scientific performance of faculty and students in several materials-related areas, including biomaterials and biodevices, hybrid biomolecular/inorganic nanomaterials, opto- and magneto-electronics, and materials under extreme environments. The micro-Raman-PL system will be used to investigate the following areas of research at Missouri State University: 1) nanomaterials and solutes in aqueous fluids to supercritical conditions for energy applications, 2) the optoelectronic properties of transparent conducting oxides for photovoltaic and light emitting diode applications, 3) biomolecular interactions between nucleic acids and proteins attached to nanomaterials, 4) lattice structures and hydrate forms of WO3 nano- and micro-crystallites, 5) structural properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene, 6) biomolecule-Co/Au-nanoparticle interactions, 7) functional surface modification of metal oxide nanoparticle (MONP)-biomolecule hybrid systems, and 8) ferroelectric domain dynamics in multiferroic thin films. The micro-Raman-PL system will also contribute greatly toward outreach and educational programs, broaden interdisciplinary cooperation between science departments at Missouri State University, and enhance collaborations with other institutions and high-tech industry.Layman Summary: The advancement of materials-related technologies, such as for energy applications, nanotechnology, photonics, electronics, biotechnology, transportation, and for drug delivery systems and medical diagnostics, depends upon the fundamental understanding of the bonding, vibrational, structural, and other physico-chemical properties of the relevant materials. From interaction with light at the atomic level, Raman spectroscopy provides extremely valuable information about the vibrational properties, which are directly related to the bonding and structural properties, of a given material. Similarly, by stimulation from light, PL spectroscopy is able to provide information about the energetics of itinerant vs. bound electrons and impurities in semiconductors, and of the optical properties of point defects and active centers in materials. The state-of-the art micro-Raman-PL instrument requested in this proposal will provide an extremely valuable new research and teaching tool to complement an array of existing facilities and characterization tools utilized for investigation of a wide range of materials at Missouri State University. The utilization of a laser micro-beam probe with Raman or PL will provide for high-resolution imaging of optically active micro-regions, micro-crystallites, and ferroelectric domains in materials. The valuable training provided to students on the micro-Raman-PL instrument through work on research projects outlined in this proposal will be useful for their future employment in high-tech industry and research labs. The micro-Raman-PL system will contribute greatly toward outreach and educational programs targeting K-12 students for pursuit of careers in science and engineering. The micro-Raman-PL system will help stimulate collaboration among faculty and students within Missouri State University and enhance collaborations with other institutions.