MRI: Development of an infrared scanning near-field optical microscope (IR s-SNOM) for broadband nano-imaging and -spectroscopy

科罗拉多博尔德大学的Markus Raschke教授及其同事Steven Cundiff、Prashant Nagpal、Thomas Perkins和Sean Shaheen正在开发一种用于宽带纳米成像和光谱的红外扫描近场光学显微镜(IR S-SNOM)，该奖项得到了重大研究仪器计划(MRI)以及化学研究仪器计划和MPS多学科活动办公室的支持。该仪器提供纳米空间分辨率、高光谱分辨率和单分子灵敏度的振动和化学红外成像数据。该仪器用于研究聚合物共混物、嵌段共聚物、液晶和生物膜中的分子自组织和纳米级相分离；光合作用中的能量和电荷转移；以及有机和无机光伏。该奖项不仅允许开发一种新的仪器，还为早期职业科学家提供仪器开发方面的培训。仪器开发工作正在应用于以下项目：(A)研究有机光伏和电化学晶体管中的耦合和传输，(B)实现膜蛋白质结构和功能的无标记访问，(C)研究用于太阳能燃料发电的纳米生物杂化材料中的子带间跃迁，以及(D)通过局部探针振动溶剂变色来探索分子间的耦合和动力学。红外S单色光学显微镜的技术创新可能导致对成像技术有用的软物质和量子材料的新发现。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) and support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program (CRIF) as well as the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA), Professor Markus Raschke from the University of Colorado Boulder and colleagues Steven Cundiff, Prashant Nagpal, Thomas Perkins, and Sean Shaheen are developing an infrared scanning near-field optical microscope (IR s-SNOM) for broadband nano-imaging and spectroscopy. The instrument provides vibrational and chemical infrared imaging data with nanometer spatial resolution, high spectral resolution and single molecule sensitivity. This instrument is to enable the study of molecular self-organization and nanoscale phase separation in polymer blends, block-copolymers, liquid crystals, and biomembranes; energy and charge transfer in photosynthesis; and organic and inorganic photovoltaics. The award not only allows for the development of a new instrument but also provides training to early career scientists in instrumentation development.The instrument development effort is being applied to projects such as: (a) studying coupling and transport in organic photovoltaics and electrochemical transistors, (b) achieving label-free access of structure and function of membrane proteins, (c) investigating inter-sub-band transitions in nano-bio-hybrid materials for solar fuel generation, and (d) probing intermolecular coupling and dynamics through local probe vibrational solvatochromism. The technical innovation in IR s-SNOM may lead to new discoveries in soft-matter and quantum materials of utility to imaging technologies.