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

该合同将支持西德克萨斯农工大学(WTAMU)和位于德克萨斯州狭长地带农村的合作机构阿马里洛学院(AC)收购材料表面表征仪器，用于研究和教育。这两个机构都是非授予博士学位的机构，而西雅那州立大学被指定为拉美裔服务机构，总体拉美裔人口占26%。在受控的温度和压力条件下，当暴露在气体中时，建议的仪器将能够量化高度多孔材料和颗粒的表面和体积。来自两个机构的11名教职员工正在进行的研究将从该仪器中受益，而30多名研究生和本科生将接触到尖端表面科学研究。此外，170多名学生将有机会通过计划的课程作业使用该乐器。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。将探索的具体研究领域包括：作为处理废水的廉价材料的高孔性生物炭；小型大气纤维素在冰雹破坏中的作用；提高甲醇燃料电池的生存能力，以便在小空间为电子和车辆提供高功率输出；以及增加对用作固体燃料、储能介质和炸药的高能纳米材料表面化学的了解。此外，评估使拉美裔学生参与科学和技术工作的最佳做法是拟议工作的一个重要方面。具体来说，将评估拉美裔学生加入最先进的仪器设备以及他们追求科学和技术主题的愿望。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 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.