STTR Phase I: The xAristotle Platform for Advanced X-ray Spectroscopy

这个小企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响有几种形式。 基本产品使新的动手本科教学先进的X射线方法用于开发电能存储和催化系统。接下来，该产品的升级版本将为这些X射线方法在工业质量控制中的使用开辟一个新市场，并为学术界和国家实验室的专业研究扩大相同方法的市场。 可能的应用包括锂离子电池组件的质量控制，清洁能源领域催化剂和电催化剂的研究，以及从清洁能源到消费品的许多应用中工程纳米相的快速筛选。 拟议的项目解决的核心问题，缺乏入门级的能力，先进的X射线方法称为X射线吸收精细结构，或XAFS。 在这里，入门级是指在成本和性能方面适合于在化学、物理、化学工程和材料科学的高级教学实验室中用于本科教育，或者类似地适合于在工业和学术界的某些应用中使用，这些应用需要非常高的访问权限，但技术能力相对较低。 我们将建立在现有的原型能力，开发小型化的台式XAFS能力，能够连接到现有的X射线衍射源。 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。

The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project takes several forms. The basic product enables new hands-on undergraduate instruction in advanced x-ray methods for use in development of electrical energy storage and catalysis systems. Next, upgraded versions of this product will open a new market for use of these x-ray methods in industrial quality control and expand the market for the same methods in specialized research in academia and national labs. Likely applications include quality control for lithium-ion-battery components, research into catalysts and electrocatalysts in the clean energy sector, and rapid screening of engineered nanophases for many applications spanning from clean energy to consumer products. The proposed project addresses the core problem posed by the absence of entry-level capability for the advanced x-ray method known as x-ray absorption fine structure, or XAFS. Here, by entry level, we mean suitable in cost and performance for use in undergraduate education in advanced instructional laboratories in chemistry, physics, chemical engineering and materials science, or similarly suitable for use in certain applications in industry and academia where very high access but relatively low technical capability is required. We will build on existing prototype capabilities to develop miniaturized benchtop XAFS capability capable of attaching to an existing x-ray diffraction source. Effort will include testing of different optical and detector components and work to decrease background scattering.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.