MRI: Acquisition of a Multi-Mode X-Ray Scattering System for Soft Materials Characterization

这项重大研究仪器奖将资助购买一台现代X射线散射仪器，以支持田纳西河流域及周边地区的软材料研究。该仪器将安装在田纳西大学的聚合物表征实验室，这是一个为学术和工业研究人员建立的用户设施。此次收购将使软材料在受控环境条件下的分层结构测量成为可能，从而为坚固和轻质复合材料、安全电池、气体和水净化、漏油修复、药物输送和3D打印等新材料的设计提供信息。拟议的仪器是非常灵活，易于使用，非常适合于一个庞大的用户群与多样化和不断发展的研究组合。该团队在X射线散射测量的设计、实施和分析方面经验丰富，因此学生将接受先进材料表征方面的培训，这对于保持美国在全球市场的技术竞争力至关重要。 该奖项将资助购买多模X射线散射系统，以支持目标或极端环境中的软材料表征。该系统将安装在田纳西大学的聚合物表征实验室，这是一个成熟的、可持续的、中央支持的用户设施。拟议的收购将使四种主力技术用于表征软质和混合材料中的分级结构：透射小角X射线散射（SAXS），透射广角X射线散射（WAXS），掠入射小角X射线散射（GISAXS）和掠入射广角X射线散射（GIWAXS）。该仪器可容纳各种状态的样品，包括散装粉末、液体和薄膜，并配备了集成的环境控制，以检查材料对温度、湿度、气体、外加张力和外加剪切的响应。X射线散射测量将为软质和混合材料的结构-性能-加工关系的基础研究提供信息，为纳米复合材料、储能、分离、可再生材料和生物材料等各种联邦资助的研究项目提供直接支持。该团队将利用获得的X射线散射仪器设计新的课程模块和区域沉浸式研讨会，从而通过先进材料表征的培训提升本科生和研究生的教育经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation award will fund the acquisition of a modern X-ray scattering instrument to support soft materials research in the Tennessee Valley and surrounding region. The instrument will be installed at the University of Tennessee in the Polymers Characterization Lab, an established user facility for academic and industrial researchers. This acquisition will enable measurements of hierarchical structure in soft materials under controlled environmental conditions, thereby informing the design of new materials for strong and lightweight composites, safe batteries, gas and water purification, oil spill remediation, drug delivery, and 3D printing. The proposed instrument is extremely flexible, easy to use, and well-suited to a large user base with a diverse and continuously evolving research portfolio. The team is highly experienced with the design, implementation, and analysis of X-ray scattering measurements, so students will receive training in advanced materials characterization, which is critical to maintaining US technological competitiveness in the global market. This award will fund the acquisition of a multimode X-ray scattering system to support soft materials characterization in targeted or extreme environments. The system will be installed at the University of Tennessee in the Polymers Characterization Lab, an established, sustainable, and centrally-supported user facility. The proposed acquisition will enable four workhorse techniques for characterization of hierarchical structure in soft and hybrid materials: transmission small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), grazing-incidence small angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), and grazing-incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS). The instrument can accommodate samples in a variety of states, including bulk powders, liquids, and films, and is equipped with integrated environmental controls to examine material responses to temperature, humidity, gases, applied tension, and applied shear. X-ray scattering measurements will inform fundamental studies of structure-property-processing relations in soft and hybrid materials, providing immediate support to a variety of federally funded research programs in nanocomposites, energy storage, separations, renewable materials, and biomaterials. The team will leverage the acquisition of the X-ray scattering instrument for the design of new course modules and a regional immersion workshop, thereby elevating the educational experience of undergraduate and graduate students through training in advanced materials characterization.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.