NNCI: The Virginia Tech National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (VT NCE2NI)

对被称为纳米材料的超小物体的科学和工程调查和理解，不仅给医学、个人电子和国家安全等关键领域带来了革命性的变化，也加深了对地球运行方式的理解。人们呼吸的空气，种植农作物的土壤，建造工业的矿物中的金属，以及可能对人类造成严重伤害的污染物(从砷到危险的细菌)，都与构成地球关键部分的大量纳米材料有关和/或受到其影响。这些纳米材料必须被研究和理解，尽管由于它们的微小尺寸而存在巨大的困难，以安全和有效地净化空气，净化水，并允许负责任地使用地球上巨大的维持生命的资源。弗吉尼亚理工大学国家地球和环境纳米技术基础设施中心(VT NCE2NI)将极大地加快地球科学家和工程师在研究、理解、解释和利用地球造福所有人方面取得的进展。此外，基于迅速崛起的纳米技术的新型环境传感器和探测器，例如用于检测空气、水和土壤中有害的生物和非生物污染物，显然将是社会的重大利益。VT NCE2NI的用户将远远不止是专业学者和他们的高级研究学生。用户还将来自私人和公共持股公司，以及来自高中、社区学院、文科学院和主要为少数族裔服务的大学的学生。VT NCE2NI提供了一个NNCI网站，专门支持从事与纳米科学和纳米技术相关的地球和环境科学/工程方面工作的研究人员，这些领域包括这些领域的土地、大气、水和生物成分。与太平洋西北国家实验室(PNNL)的环境分子科学实验室(EMSL)建立了密切的合作伙伴关系，大大加强了VT NCE2NI在全国的存在。根据具体的技术需求和地理因素，NNCI地球和环境科学/工程用户可以访问弗吉尼亚理工大学和EMSL/PNNL网站。VT NCE2NI包括(I)15,000平方英尺。英国《金融时报》纳米表征和制造实验室(NCFL)，容纳了一系列高端、最先进的基于电子、离子和X射线的表征工具、样品制备实验室以及供参观者使用的会议空间和充足的办公空间；以及(Ii)6,300平方米。英国《金融时报》弗吉尼亚理工大学可持续纳米技术中心(VT SUN)，拥有广泛的纳米材料合成设施和技术诀窍(在水、土壤/固体介质和大气环境中)、表征工具和实验/反应堆系统，以及会议室和额外的供参观者使用的办公空间。VT NCE2NI还提供更广泛的影响倡议，包括为主要少数群体服务机构的学生提供大量资金，以及与社区学院和四年制文科学院的外联计划。该NNCI网站的总体贡献将是加速该领域的发展，该领域正在彻底改变对地球、环境科学和工程几个广泛方面的理解。

The scientific and engineering investigations and understanding of ultra-small objects, known as nano-materials, is not only revolutionizing critical fields such as medicine, personal electronics, and national security, but it is also sharpening the understanding of how the Earth works. The air one breaths, the soil in which crops are planted, the metals from minerals that build industries, and the contaminants that can profoundly harm one (from arsenic to dangerous bacteria), are all related to and/or influenced by the vast store of nano-materials that make up key portions of the planet. These nano-materials must be studied and understood, despite great difficulty due to their minute size, to safely and efficiently clean the air, purify water, and allow the responsible use of Earth's vast store of life-sustaining resources. The Virginia Tech National Center for Earth and Environmental Nanotechnology Infrastructure (VT NCE2NI) will greatly accelerate the progress that Earth scientists and engineers have made in studying, understanding, explaining, and utilizing Earth for the well-being of all. In addition, new types of environmental sensors and detectors based on rapidly emerging nanotechnologies, for example to detect harmful living and non-living contaminants in air, water, and soil, will clearly be a major benefit to society. VT NCE2NI users will consist of far more than professional academics and their advanced research students. Users will also come from private and publicly-held companies, as well as students from high schools, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and key minority-serving universities. VT NCE2NI provides an NNCI site to specifically support researchers who work with nanoscience- and nanotechnology-related aspects of the Earth and environmental sciences/engineering at local, regional, and global scales, including the land, atmospheric, water, and biological components of these fields. The national presence of VT NCE2NI is significantly enhanced by a close partnership with the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). NNCI geo- and environmental science/engineering users have access to both the Virginia Tech and EMSL/PNNL sites depending on specific technical needs and geographic considerations. VT NCE2NI consists of (i) the 15,000 sq. ft. Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory (NCFL) that houses a broad array of high-end, state-of-the-art electron-, ion-, and X-ray-based characterization tools, sample preparation laboratories, as well as meeting space and ample office space for visitors; and (ii) the 6,300 sq. ft. Virginia Tech Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology (VT SuN) which contains extensive nanomaterials synthesis facilities and knowhow (in aqueous, soil/solid media, and atmospheric environments), characterization tools, and experimentation/reactor systems, plus meeting rooms and additional office space for visitors. VT NCE2NI also provides broader impact initiatives including substantial funding for students from key minority-serving institutions, and outreach programs with community colleges and four-year liberal arts colleges. The overall contribution of this NNCI site will be to accelerate the growth of a field that is revolutionizing the understanding of several broad aspects of Earth and environmental sciences and engineering.