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

先进功能材料拥有独特的表面和界面，用途广泛，例如太阳能储存、生物燃料生产、水处理和医药。成功的应用需要有关这些材料在不同环境条件下的表面和界面的详细信息。拟议的用于表面分析的环境 X 射线光电子能谱仪 (E-XPS) 通过在较宽温度范围（-100 至 1100 华氏度）的反应环境中在接近环境压力下提供不受影响的操作，克服了传统仪器必须在超高真空压力下运行的缺陷。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 将加强理海大学本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员的跨学科研究、培训和教育。作为用户设施，这一独特的仪器将加强区域学术、政府和工业研究合作。拟议研究的重点是四个广泛的领域：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；和生物分子在其表面/界面的自然环境中。在催化方面，这些项目包括合理设计利用地球上丰富的无毒元素制氢的催化剂，以及设计用于将廉价且丰富的甲烷（天然气）转化为增值乙烷和乙烯的模型催化剂。 对于吸附剂，重点是模板介导的分级多孔碳膜的多尺度结构。航空航天应用高性能涂层的摩擦化学特性。还将探讨高压合成的超低磨损聚合物纳米复合材料和无孔材料。将分析大气条件下各种半导体材料（例如稀砷 GaN 合金以及硫族化物玻璃）的表面化学和电子特性，以了解潜在的氧化机制和动力学。 最后，将分析在水存在下的细胞/基质界面层，以分析近天然生活环境下的支架和细胞。

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.