MRI: Acquisition of an AC Susceptibility Measurement System for Interdisciplinary Materials Research and STEM Education

通过与本科院校、研究型大学、社区学院和当地高中的研究和教育合作，北佛罗里达大学 (UNF) 购买 AC 磁化率测量系统预计将使整个地区受益。此次收购增强了现有基础设施，包括通过 NSF 支持获得的四种主要研究仪器，并使团队能够探索新的研究项目。该团队的研究项目跨越许多 STEM 学科，包括化学（无机/材料化学和化学教育）、凝聚态物理以及材料科学与工程的一般领域。该工具的教学影响也很广泛，因为它纳入了 a) 化学和物理本科课程（即高级实验室和各种本科研究项目），b) 面向公众和高中生的外展活动，以及 c) UNF 校园的教师教育活动。此次 NSF 支持购买的 AC 磁化率测量系统证明了 UNF 作为佛罗里达州东北部研究和教育中心的主导作用。交流磁化率的测量在分子磁性领域至关重要，因为它可以探测单分子和单链磁性、自旋玻璃行为，并提供对分子磁系统弛豫机制的深入了解。在 UNF，SQUID 磁力计的存在允许进行直流磁化率测量，并且随着交流功能的增加，完整的表征套件将变得容易使用。对于固态材料，交流测量提供有关自旋玻璃转变的信息，这是理解/调整材料性能的重要信息。通过压力下的磁力测量来探测压力引起的材料性能变化，并应用于材料的宏观后合成性能控制。因此，该团队及其合作者在 a) 分子磁体（单分子、单链和有机基磁体）、b) 多核过渡金属和镧系元素/锕系元素簇、c) 磁性和相关材料、d) 高温超导体和 e) 用于水修复的环保材料等跨学科研究中使用交流电磁化率。 SQUID 的交流能力，以及在高达 20 GPa 的压力下用于磁力测量的不同压力单元的获取，预计将加强这些跨学科的努力。将这些技术纳入化学和物理课程以及本科生研究中，预计将丰富为 UNF 本科生提供的体验式学习机会，并使他们接触现代材料研究。通过与美国、加拿大和塞浦路斯的至少一所本科院校和四所研究型大学的研究和教育合作，该设施预计将使分子磁性领域的许多研究小组受益。此外，压力能力使 UNF 团队成为州和国家高压科学领域的领导者，与 UNF 现有的极端压力下的拉曼光谱和单晶 X 射线衍射相吻合。此外，将 SQUID 磁力测量纳入教师教育活动和 UNF 实地考察将使当地高中教师和学生接触到前沿研究，并加强 UNF 与社区的联系。通过丰富其研究和教育组合并体现其在该地区的领导作用，该测量系统的获得构成了 UNF STEM 机构发展的基石。

The acquisition of an AC susceptibility measurement system at the University of North Florida (UNF) is expected to benefit the entire region, through research and educational collaborations with primarily undergraduate institutions, research universities, community colleges, and local high schools. This acquisition enhances existing infrastructure, including four major research instruments acquired through NSF support, and enables the team to explore new research ventures. The team's research projects span many STEM disciplines, including chemistry (inorganic/materials chemistry and chemical education), condensed matter physics, and the general area of materials science and engineering. The pedagogical impact of this instrument is also extensive because of its incorporation in a) both the chemistry and physics undergraduate curricula (i.e. in advanced labs and in various undergraduate research projects), b) outreach activities both for the general public and for high school students, and c) teachers' education events on the UNF campus. This NSF-supported acquisition of an AC susceptibility measurement system constitutes proof of the leading role of UNF as a research and education hub in Northeast Florida. Measurement of AC susceptibility is critical in the field of molecular magnetism, as it probes single-molecule and single-chain magnetism, spin-glass behavior, as well as provides insight in the relaxation mechanism of molecular magnetic systems. At UNF, the presence of a SQUID magnetometer has allowed DC magnetic susceptibility measurements, and with the addition of the AC capabilities a complete characterization suite will become readily available. For solid-state materials AC measurements provide information about spin-glass transitions, which is important information for understanding/tweaking the materials' properties. Pressure-induced changes in the materials' properties are probed with magnetometry under pressure, with applications in macroscopic post-synthetic properties manipulation in materials. As such, the team and its collaborators use AC susceptibility in interdisciplinary investigations of a) molecular magnets (single-molecule, single-chain, and organic radical-based magnets), b) polynuclear transition metal and lanthanide/actinide clusters, c) magnetic and correlated materials, d) high temperature superconductors, and e) environmentally friendly materials for water remediation. Enhancement of these interdisciplinary efforts is expected from the AC capabilities of the SQUID, as well as from the acquisition of different pressure cells for magnetometry at pressures up to 20 GPa. Incorporation of these techniques in the chemistry and physics curricula and through undergraduate research is expected to enrich the experiential learning opportunities offered to UNF undergraduates and expose them to modern materials research. This facility is projected to benefit a number of research groups in the field of molecular magnetism, through research and educational collaborations with at least one primarily undergraduate institution and four research universities in the US, Canada, and Cyprus. Furthermore, the pressure capabilities make the UNF team a leader in high-pressure science in the state and the nation, dovetailing Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal x-ray diffraction under extreme pressures already available at UNF. Additionally, incorporation of SQUID magnetometry in teachers' education events and field trips to UNF is poised to expose local high school teachers and students to cutting edge research and strengthen UNF's bonds to the community. Acquisition of this measurement system constitutes the cornerstone for institutional growth for STEM at UNF by enriching its research and education portfolio and exemplifying its leadership role in the region.