MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced Integrated Environmental X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy/Optical Spectroscopy Instrument for Simultaneous Surface, Bulk and Gas/Liquid Phase

先进的功能材料具有独特的表面和界面，广泛应用于太阳能储存、生物燃料生产、水处理和医学等领域。成功的应用需要这些材料在不同环境条件下的表面和界面的详细信息。用于表面分析的环境x射线光电子光谱仪（E-XPS）克服了传统仪器必须在超高真空压力下工作的缺点，在反应环境中在宽温度范围（-100至1100华氏度）的近环境压力下提供不受影响的操作。拟议的研究活动有可能推动基础科学和先进功能材料在这些众多应用中的使用。E-XPS将加强理哈伊大学本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员的跨学科研究、培训和教育。作为一个用户设施，这一独特的工具将加强区域学术、政府和工业研究合作。提出的研究重点包括四个方面：多相催化剂和吸附剂；光子学与光电子化学；表面摩擦学与多功能材料；和生物分子在自然环境中的表面/界面。在催化方面，项目包括合理设计无毒富地元素制氢催化剂和设计廉价富地甲烷（天然气）转化为高附加值乙烷和乙烯的模型催化剂。对于吸附剂，重点是模板介导的分层多孔碳膜的多尺度结构。航空航天用高性能涂料的摩擦化学性能。超低磨损聚合物纳米复合材料和在高压下合成的无孔材料也将被探索。在大气条件下，将分析各种半导体材料的表面化学和电子性质，如稀as - GaNAs合金和硫系玻璃，以了解潜在的氧化机制和动力学。最后，细胞/底物界面层在水的存在下分析支架和细胞在接近天然的生活环境将被分析。

Advanced functional materials possess unique surfaces and interfaces that find widespread use, such as solar energy storage, biofuel production, water treatment, and medicine. Successful applications require detailed information about the surfaces and interfaces of these materials in different environmental conditions. The proposed Environmental X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (E-XPS) for surface analysis overcomes the deficiency of traditional instrument that must operate under ultra-high vacuum pressures by providing uncompromised operation at near ambient pressures in reactive environments over a wide temperature range (-100 to 1100 degrees Farenheit). The proposed research activities have the potential to advance the fundamental science and use of advanced functional materials for these numerous applications. The E-XPS will enhance interdisciplinary research, training and education of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at Lehigh University. As a user facility, the unique instrument will enhance regional academic, governmental and industrial research collaborations. Four broad areas are the focus of the proposed research: heterogeneous catalysts and sorbents; photonics and photoelectron-chemistry; surface tribology and multifunctional materials; and biomolecules in their natural environments at surfaces/interfaces. For catalysis, the projects include rational design of catalysts for hydrogen manufacture with non-toxic earth-abundant elements and design of model catalysts for conversion of inexpensive and abundant methane (natural gas) to value-added ethane and ethylene. For sorbents, the focus is on template-mediated multiscale structuring of hierarchically porous carbon membranes. Tribochemical properties of high performance coatings for aerospace applications. Ultralow wear polymer nanocomposites and nonporous materials synthesized at high pressures will also be probed. Surface chemical and electronic properties of various semiconducting materials, such as dilute-As GaNAs alloys as well as chalcogenide glasses, under atmospheric conditions, will be analyzed to understand the underlying oxidation mechanism and kinetics. Finally, cell/substrate interfacial layers in the presence of water to analyze scaffolds and cells under near-native live environments will be analyzed.