MRI: Acquisition of a small angle X-ray diffractometer for in situ measurements of liquid to solid samples over a wide range of temperatures

非技术描述：这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)赠款将使获得一台最先进的多功能X射线衍射仪，以填补利哈伊大学显微/光谱材料表征基础设施的关键空白，使其能够进行独特的、全面的材料表征，实现材料结构和功能的无缝关联。该仪器的多功能性，可对多种生物、有机和无机样品进行补充询问，应有助于化学和分子工程、材料科学、化学、生物工程、机械工程、地球和环境科学以及物理等领域的研究人员进行多学科的努力，并增加学生的教育机会。通过实现利哈伊大学所在地区独有的一站式材料表征，X射线衍射仪将影响到许多地区性初创公司和成熟行业，以及4个或更多当地非博士学位授予但活跃于研究的学院和大学的同事。对材料结构和功能的独特和全面洞察的新能力将使旨在解决能源、环境和健康等广泛领域的大材料研究挑战的广泛尖端科学和工程成为可能。互补性教育X射线模块的开发和部署将影响每年在利哈伊？S显微镜暑期学校招收的国内和国际学生以及利哈伊教育推广项目中的一系列初中、高中和本科生。所有这些方案都把重点放在招募妇女、任职人数不足的少数族裔和残疾人上。技术说明：这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)赠款将支持收购一台配置独特的最先进的Anton Paar SAXSpace X射线衍射仪，该衍射仪具有同步和连续的小角度和广角能力以及多准直(线、点)X射线束配置，适用于探测各种成分(如溶液、凝胶、粉末、薄膜)和温度的样品，即使是弱散射的各向同性和各向异性样品。现场张力测量、掠入射小和中等广角薄膜研究以及生物分析的能力使这台单一仪器具备全面、无损和高分辨率的多尺度(即分子到介观尺度)洞察各种生物、聚合物和无机样品的能力，这些样品将增强、集成和创建与LeHigh现有的最先进的显微镜、光谱学和近端探针工具不同的新的变革性材料分析工具。这种独特的、互补的见解将有助于建立旨在高效和合理的材料设计的变革性合成-结构-性能关系。这将加强横跨以下领域的积极研究：(I)功能、介观结构和介孔无机材料；(Ii)有机、无机和杂化薄膜、埋藏界面；(Iii)生物和杂化材料，通过具体的跨学科项目，应用广泛，如用于生物质到化学品转化的催化剂，用于低成本液体燃料生产的光催化剂，用于硬组织再生的生物活性玻璃支架，仿生材料和多功能纳米复合材料的力学，用于仿生毒素传感的蛋白质和细胞膜相行为，以及新的治疗设计等等。

Non-technical Description:This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant will enable the acquisition of a state-of-the-art versatile X-ray diffractometer to fill a critical gap in Lehigh University's microscopy/spectroscopy materials characterization infrastructure enabling unique, comprehensive materials characterization for seamless correlation of material structure and function. The versatility of the instrument for complementary interrogation of a wide range of biological, organic and inorganic sample types should facilitate multi-disciplinary efforts of researchers spanning Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics, among others, and enhance educational opportunities for students. By enabling one-stop materials characterization unique to the region in which Lehigh University is located, the X-ray diffractometer should impact numerous regional start-up companies to well-established industries as well as colleagues at 4 or more local non-PhD granting, but research-active, colleges and universities. The new capabilities for unique and comprehensive insight into materials structure and function will enable a wide range of cutting edge science and engineering aimed at solving Grand Materials Research Challenges within the broad arenas of energy, the environment, and health. Development and deployment of complementary interactive educational X-ray modules will impact domestic and international students enrolled annually in Lehigh?s Microscopy Summer School and a range of middle school, high school, and undergraduate students in educational outreach programs at Lehigh. All of these programs place concerted focus on the recruitment of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities. Technical Description:This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant will support acquisition of a state-of-the-art, uniquely configured Anton Paar SAXSpace X-ray diffractometer that has simultaneous and continuous small- and wide-angle capabilities and multi-collimated (line, point) X-ray beam configurations suitable for probing even weakly scattering isotropic and anisotropic samples of a wide range of compositions (e.g., solutions, gels, powders, films) and temperatures. Capabilities for in situ tensiometry, grazing incidence small- and moderate wide-angle thin film studies, and biologics analysis uniquely equip this single instrument for comprehensive, non-destructive, and high-resolution multi-scale (i.e., molecular to meso-scale) insight into a diverse range of biological, polymeric and inorganic samples that will augment, integrate and create new, transformative materials analysis distinct from existing state-of-the-art microscopy, spectroscopy, and proximal probe tools at Lehigh. This unique, complementary insight will help establish transformative synthesis-structure-properties relations aimed at efficient and rational materials design. This should enhance active research spanning: (i) Functional, Meso-structured and Meso-porous Inorganic Materials, (ii) Organic, Inorganic, and Hybrid Films, Buried Interfaces, and (iii) Biological and Hybrid Materials, through specific interdisciplinary projects in applications as diverse as catalysts for biomass-to-chemicals conversion, photocatalysts for low-cost liquid fuel production, bioactive glass scaffolding for hard tissue regeneration, mechanics of biomimetic materials and multi-functional nanocomposites, protein and cell membrane phase behavior for biomimetic toxin sensing, and novel therapeutics design, among others.