MRI: Acquisition of an X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) for Multidisciplinary Research and Undergraduate Education

该项目包括在凯特林大学获得一台x射线光电子能谱（XPS）仪器，以支持材料研究、研究与教育的整合以及外展计划。随着凯特林新学位课程的发展，创新材料研究的新举措已经启动，跨学科参与，涉及外部工业和学术合作伙伴。XPS提供了急需的能力，使项目能够显著推进其目标并作出重要贡献。XPS的校园使用也加强了教学和研究的整合，在物理、化学、化学工程、电气工程和工业工程等课程中都使用了XPS设备。此外，这些设备显著提高了凯特林独特的本科生研究经验。凯特林学院长期以来一直在为当地青年开展拓展活动，在这些活动中，教职员工开放研究实验室和设备，包括表征仪器，如XPS，并创建引人入胜的演示，突出这些技术在日常生活中的相关性。该仪器是一种物理电子X-Tool模型，专门设计通过增加自动和易于使用的功能来达到更广泛的受众，而不会影响获得元素识别和定量，化学状态，深度剖面和化学表面映射的全部功能。XPS设备支持的研究活动正在解决众多跨学科的科学问题，包括改进医疗植入物的先进涂层、改进牙科和骨科材料、改进疾病治疗和成像的材料、用于运输的轻质材料、增强电动汽车的电池技术、开发保护涂层、用于解决日益增长的能源需求的储能材料。以及提高沼气产量的膜，等等。虽然具体目标因项目而异，但总体目标和范围包括创新材料和涂层的开发、工艺表征和定制材料以满足目标。对XPS的数据进行评估，以确定和量化工艺参数、材料化学性质和应用性能之间的联系。

ABSTRACTNon-technicalThe project involves acquisition of an X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) instrument at Kettering University to support materials research, integration of research and education, and outreach programs. With the development of new degree programs at Kettering, new initiatives in innovative materials research have been launched with participation across disciplines and involving external industrial and academic partners. The XPS provides much-needed capabilities to enable the projects to significantly advance their objectives and make important contributions. On-campus availability of XPS also strengthens integration of teaching and research, with incorporation of the equipment in classes spanning physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering. Additionally, this equipment significantly enhances the unique undergraduate research experience at Kettering. Kettering has a long history of outreach activities for local youth, in which faculty members open research laboratories and equipment, including characterization instruments such as XPS, and create engaging demonstrations that highlight the relevance of such technologies in everyday life.TechnicalThe instrument is a Physical Electronics X-Tool model, designed specifically to reach a wider audience by adding automatic and easy-to-use features, without compromising full capabilities to obtain elemental identity and quantification, chemical states, depth profiles, and chemical surface mapping. The research activities supported by the XPS equipment are addressing a multitude of scientific problems across disciplines, including advanced coatings to improve medical implants, improvement of materials for dentistry and orthopedics, materials to improve disease treatment and imaging, lightweight materials for transportation, enhancement of battery technology for electronic vehicles, development of protective coatings, materials for energy storage to address increasing energy demand, and membranes to improve biogas production, among others. While the specific objectives vary by project, general goals and scope include development of innovative materials and coatings, process characterization, and tailoring the materials to meet the objectives. The data from the XPS is evaluated to determine and quantify the links between the process parameters, the material chemical properties, and the application performance.