MRI: Acquisition of a Confocal and Tip-Enhanced Raman and Photoluminescence Microscope

非技术描述：传统的光学显微镜，即使具有最好的空间分辨率，也不足以研究非常小的结构，例如在自然界，纳米技术和小规模工程中经常发现的结构。在这个项目中，先进的扫描探针显微镜系统使科学家和工程师能够克服这一限制。光从显微镜的纳米级尖端反射，以探索精细结构并辨别复杂材料的组成。跨越多个长度尺度的能力，从体积到接近分子的尺度，为复杂的自然和工程系统中的非均质性提供了新的理解。该项目大大提高了跨STEM（科学技术工程数学）学科的研究和教育能力，同时为研究生和本科生的研究培训和教育提供了新的机会。这些活动服务于中央佛罗里达大学（UCF），西班牙裔服务机构和美国南部的不同人群。技术说明：该项目涉及在UCF收购一个集成的共焦、尖端增强拉曼系统（TERS）和尖端增强光致发光（TEPL）显微镜。该平台在原子力显微镜上实现了针尖增强近场光学的原理，以超越传统拉曼共焦显微镜的衍射极限。TERS配置实现了约10 nm的横向分辨率。该显微镜配备了多个激发激光器，覆盖了大部分可见光波长和近红外线，以适应广泛的研究项目。该系统使跨学科研究能够理解广泛的新兴材料的结构-性质关系，包括二维材料、钙钛矿、纳米颗粒、生物材料、农药、复合材料、软组织（例如，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Description:A traditional optical microscopy, even with the best possible spatial resolution that can be achieved, is not sufficient to study very small structures, such as the ones often found in nature, nanotechnology and small-scale engineering. In this project, an advanced scanning probe microscopy system allows scientists and engineers to overcome this limitation. Light is reflected off a nanoscale tip of the microscope to explore fine structures and discern composition of complex materials. The ability to span multiple length scales, from bulk to a scale approaching that of molecules, offers new understanding of the heterogeneities contributing to properties in complex natural and engineered systems. The project significantly enhances research and education capabilities across the boundaries of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) disciplines, while providing new opportunities in graduate and undergraduate research training and education. These activities serve a diverse population at the University of Central Florida (UCF), a Hispanic Serving Institution, and the Southern US. Technical Description:The project involves the acquisition of an integrated confocal, tip-enhanced Raman system (TERS) and tip-enhanced photoluminescence (TEPL) microscope at UCF. The platform implements the principle of tip-enhanced near-field optics on an atomic force microscope to surpass the diffraction limit of conventional Raman confocal microscopy. The TERS configuration achieves a lateral resolution of approximately 10 nm. The microscope is equipped with several excitation lasers, covering most of the visible wavelengths plus near infrared , to accommodate a wide range of research projects. The system enables interdisciplinary research to understand the structure-property relationships of a broad range of emerging materials including two-dimensional materials, perovskites, nanoparticles, biomaterials, pesticides, composites, soft tissues (e.g., plant cells), meteorites and asteroids for applications in electronics, optoelectronics, catalysis, biosensing, nanomedicine, nano-agriculture and planetary sciences.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.