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、水处理和医药等领域。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。提出的用于表面分析的环境X射线光电子能谱(E-XPS)克服了传统仪器必须在超高真空压力下操作的不足，提供了在宽温度范围(-100至1100华氏度)的反应环境中近环境压力下的不妥协操作。拟议的研究活动有可能促进基础科学和先进功能材料的使用，以满足这些众多应用。E-XPS将加强利哈伊大学本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员的跨学科研究、培训和教育。作为一项用户设施，这一独特的仪器将加强地区学术、政府和工业研究合作。四大领域是拟议研究的重点：多相催化剂和吸附剂；光子学和光电子化学；表面摩擦学和多功能材料；以及自然环境中表面/界面上的生物分子。在催化方面，项目包括合理设计无毒富含稀土元素的制氢催化剂，以及设计廉价而丰富的甲烷(天然气)转化为增值乙烷和乙烯的模型催化剂。对于吸附剂，重点是模板介导的层次化多孔碳膜的多尺度结构。航空航天用高性能涂层的摩擦化学性能。还将探讨在高压下合成的超低磨损聚合物纳米复合材料和无孔材料。在大气条件下，我们将分析各种半导体材料的表面化学和电学性质，如稀砷合金和硫化物玻璃，以了解潜在的氧化机理和动力学。最后，将分析在水存在下用于分析支架和近自然生活环境下的细胞的细胞/基界面层。

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.