MRI: Acquisition of a surface & sorption characterization instrument to enable multidisciplinary research at a rural West Texas HSI

该奖项将支持西德克萨斯州农工大学（WTAMU）和位于德克萨斯州农村狭长地带的合作机构阿马里洛学院（AC）的研究和教育材料表面表征仪器的收购。这两个机构都是非博士授予机构，而WTAMU被指定为西班牙裔服务机构，西班牙裔总人口为26%。拟议的仪器将能够量化的表面和体积高度多孔材料和颗粒时，暴露于受控的温度和压力条件下的气体。来自这两个机构的11名教师正在进行的研究将受益于该仪器，而30多名研究生和本科生将接触到尖端的表面科学研究。此外，超过170名学生将有机会通过计划的课程使用该仪器。 来自环境工程，机械工程，农业工程，化学和生物化学的拟议团队计划使用Micrometrics 3Flex系统研究物理吸附和化学吸附现象。有待探索的具体研究领域包括：高度多孔的生物炭作为处理废水的廉价材料;小规模大气纤维素对冰雹灾害的影响;提高甲醇燃料电池的可行性，以便在小空间内为电子设备和车辆提供高功率输出;以及增加对用作固体燃料、能量存储介质和爆炸物的高能纳米材料的表面化学的理解。此外，评估最佳做法，在从事西班牙裔学生在科学和技术是拟议的工作的一个重要方面。具体来说，将评估西班牙裔学生在国家的最先进的仪器和他们的愿望追求科学和技术的主题。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是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的支持。

This award will the support acquisition of material surface characterization instrument for research and education at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and the partner institution Amarillo College (AC), located in the rural Panhandle of Texas. Both institutions are non-PhD granting institutions, while WTAMU is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution with an overall Hispanic population of 26%. The proposed instrument will be able to quantify the surface and volume in highly porous materials and particles when exposed to gases under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. Ongoing research of 11 faculty members from both institutions will benefit from the instrument while over 30 graduate and undergraduate students will be exposed to cutting-edge surface science research. In addition, over 170 students will have an opportunity to use the instrument through planned coursework. The proposed team from environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, chemistry, and biochemistry plans to study physisorption and chemisorption phenomena using a Micrometrics 3Flex system. The specific research areas to be explored include highly porous biochar as an inexpensive material for treatment of wastewater; effect of small-scale atmospheric cellulose in hail storm damage; improving the viability of methanol fuel cells to produce high power output for electronics and vehicles in a small space; and increasing understanding of surface chemistry of high energy nanomaterials for use as solids fuel, energy storage media, and explosives. In addition, evaluation of best practices in engaging Hispanic students in science and technology is an important aspect of the proposed work. Specifically, inclusion of Hispanic students in state-of-the-art instrumentation and their desire to pursue science and technology topics will be evaluated.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.