MRI: Acquisition of an Analytical Scanning Electron Microscope for Engineering and Natural Sciences Research

MRI：购买分析扫描电子显微镜用于工程和自然科学研究

• 批准号: 1429563
• 负责人: Sanju Gupta
• 金额: $ 19.37万
• 依托单位: Western Kentucky University Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-01 至 2017-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1429563&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Analytical; Scanning; Electron

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding to the Western Kentucky University to acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for education and research at undergraduate and graduate levels. The instrument will support a broad range of cutting-edge and innovative research projects spanning multiple disciplines of natural sciences and engineering. Additionally, the instrument will allow the integration of a hands-on training and research component into the curriculum for various undergraduate courses. The new instrument will allow students, researchers and educators to obtain high-resolution images of a wide variety of samples ranging from complex micro-features in electronic and aerospace materials to organic nano-particles and biological species. The new instrument will also impact the research experience and education of Gatton Academy Math and Science high school students, as well as secondary and middle school students from minority and underrepresented groups in Appalachian counties.The scanning electron microscope with extended capabilities including secondary and backscatter imaging, high and low vacuum control, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analyzer will impact a number of research projects from multiple disciplines including advanced manufacturing, mechanical engineering, geology, chemistry, and biology. The focused research and education areas include: (i) analyzing dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and crater sizes of micro and nano features machined using advanced manufacturing processes, (ii) surface morphology characterizations of nanostructures and their thin films, (iii) characterization of antibiotic coated gold nanoparticles for antimicrobial applications, (iv) characterization of structural and physical properties of advanced nanocarbon-based materials for energy-related applications, (v) morphological characteristics of stoneflies (Insecta, Plecoptera), and (vi) chemical, mineralogical (diagenetic) and morphological analysis of rocks and minerals from oil and gas reservoir. The high vacuum mode of the scanning electron microscope will enable imaging and analysis of micro and nano scale features in metallic and electronic materials. Low vacuum mode will be used for characterizing not only inorganic and organic nanoparticles, but also biological systems in various environments such as wet, dry, oily, porous, out-gassing, hydrated, or contaminated. In addition, the instrument will support a number of courses on electron microscopy; materials characterization; mechanical properties of materials; geology; and earth sciences. Overall, the new instrument will impact the research productivity of a core group of researchers to continue building a multidisciplinary, comprehensive program in materials science and advanced manufacturing.

这项主要研究仪器（MRI）补助金为西肯塔基州大学提供资金，以获得扫描电子显微镜（SEM）用于本科和研究生教育和研究。 该工具将支持跨越自然科学和工程多个学科的广泛尖端和创新研究项目。 此外，该工具将允许将实践培训和研究部分纳入各种本科课程的课程。 新仪器将使学生、研究人员和教育工作者能够获得各种样品的高分辨率图像，从电子和航空航天材料的复杂微观特征到有机纳米颗粒和生物物种。新仪器还将影响加顿学院数学和科学高中学生的研究经验和教育，以及来自阿巴拉契亚县少数民族和代表性不足群体的中学生。具有扩展功能的扫描电子显微镜，包括二次和反向散射成像，高低真空控制，和能量色散X射线光谱仪分析仪将影响多个学科的研究项目，包括先进制造，机械工程，地质，化学和生物学。 重点研究和教育领域包括：（i）分析使用先进制造工艺加工的微米和纳米特征的尺寸精度、表面光洁度和凹坑尺寸，（ii）纳米结构及其薄膜的表面形态表征，（iii）用于抗微生物应用的抗生素涂覆的金纳米颗粒的表征，（iv）用于能源相关应用的先进纳米碳基材料的结构和物理特性的表征，（昆虫纲，鳞翅目），和（vi）化学，矿物学（成岩）和石油和天然气储层的岩石和矿物形态分析。 扫描电子显微镜的高真空模式将使金属和电子材料中的微米和纳米尺度特征的成像和分析成为可能。 低真空模式不仅可用于表征无机和有机纳米颗粒，还可用于表征各种环境中的生物系统，如潮湿、干燥、油性、多孔、脱气、水合或污染。 此外，该仪器还将为电子显微镜、材料特性、材料机械特性、地质学和地球科学等课程提供支持。 总的来说，新仪器将影响核心研究人员的研究生产力，以继续建立材料科学和先进制造领域的多学科综合计划。