MRI: Acquisition of an imaging Raman spectrometer for research and training

在化学部主要研究仪器计划和化学研究仪器和设施(CRIF)计划的支持下，弗吉尼亚联邦大学的Massimo Bertino教授和他的同事Dexian Ye，Joseph Reiner，Everett Carpenter和Collen Taylor(后者来自弗吉尼亚州立大学)将获得扫描共聚焦拉曼显微镜。该建议旨在加强所有层面的研究和教育，特别是在下列领域：(A)贵金属涂层纳米针尖上的表面增强拉曼散射；(B)检测血液和组织中的一氧化氮；(C)纳米孔促进的纳米尖端负载；(D)功能梯度二氧化硅薄膜及其在多个长度尺度上的表征；以及(E)气凝胶交联。拉曼光谱测量样品中分子的振动频率，这是材料的化学成分、组成和结构的特征。拉曼显微镜扫描样品，提供响应激光探头的化学成分的空间图像。这种被广泛使用的技术，使用激光探测材料，是非破坏性的。该仪器将加强研究生和本科生的教育，因为学生在他们的研究项目和实验室课程中使用这种仪器。

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation Program and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Massimo Bertino from Virginia Commonwealth University and colleagues Dexian Ye, Joseph Reiner, Everett Carpenter and Collen Taylor (the latter from Virginia State University) will acquire a scanning confocal Raman microscope. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as (a) surface-enhanced Raman scattering on noble metal coated metal nanotips; (b) detection of NO in blood and tissue; (c) nanopore-facilitated loading of nanosharps; (d) functionally-graded silica films and their characterization on multiple length scales; and (e) aerogel cross-linking.Raman spectroscopy measures the vibrational frequencies of molecules in a sample which are characteristic of the chemical content, composition and structure of the material. A Raman microscope scans across a sample to provide a spatial image of the chemical composition in response to the laser probe. This widely used technique, employing lasers to probe the material, is non-destructive. This instrument will strengthen graduate and undergraduate education as students use this instrument in their research projects and in laboratory courses.