MRI: Acquisition of a Lifetime Fluorimeter for Columbia University's Precision Biomolecular Characterization Facility

该奖项由重大研究仪器(MRI)和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划支持。哥伦比亚大学的鲁本·冈萨雷斯教授及其同事阿瑟·帕尔默、科林·纳科尔斯和劳拉·考夫曼获得了终身荧光仪。该仪器测量样品在一段时间内衰减时发出的光。这是激光照射样品所产生的荧光(衰变)信号。发出的光提供了有关生化系统的各种性质的信息，如酶和蛋白质。来自太阳能电池等材料的衰减信号有助于提高它们的效率。它为优化未来的光电器件提供了有用的数据。该仪器正被研究生和本科生用于研究和实验室课程。它为学生未来在科学、工程和高等教育领域的职业生涯做好准备。该奖项旨在加强各级的研究和教育。该仪器正被用于研究单分子双分子机器和蛋白质折叠动力学、识别和催化。双分子过程的结构、热力学和力学研究正在进行中。有机发色团的激发态动力学正在研究中，共轭聚合物的光物理研究也在进行中。另一项研究涉及能够单重态裂变的有机发色团的光物理。目前正在对胶体纳米粒子的成核和生长机制进行调查。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemical Research Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. Professor Ruben Gonzalez from Columbia University and colleagues Arthur Palmer, Colin Nuckolls and Laura Kaufman have acquired a lifetime fluorimeter. The instrument measures the light emitted from a sample as it decays over a period of time. This is the fluorescence (decay) signal caused by irradiation of the sample by a laser. The light emitted provides information on various properties of biochemical systems such as enzymes and proteins. The decay signal from materials such as solar cells helps to improve their efficiency. It provides data useful to optimize future optoelectric devices. The instrument is being used by graduate and undergraduate students in research and in laboratory courses. It prepares the students for future careers in science, engineering and advanced education. The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. The instrumentation is being used to study single-molecule bimolecular machines and protein folding dynamics, recognition, and catalysis. Structural, thermodynamic, and mechanistic studies of bimolecular processes are being carried out. The excited state-dynamics of organic chromophores is being studied, and photo physical studies of conjugated polymers. Another investigation involves the photo-physics of singlet-fission-capable organic chromophores. An investigation of the mechanisms of colloidal nanoparticle nucleation and growth is being pursued.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.