MRI: Acquisition of a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Research in Advanced Materials, Energy, and Environment

非技术性：该项目将获得一个集成了扫描电子显微镜(FIB-SEM)的双束聚焦离子束，以支持南达科他州矿业与技术学院及其周边地区的研究和教育。该系统将纳米材料的构图和处理与高分辨率成像和分析能力结合在一起。该系统将使金属、陶瓷和聚合物的高分辨率表征、操纵和纳米制造成为可能。该系统将对东道国机构和该区域的研究活动产生直接和重大的影响。该工具还将支持培训计划，并将通过支持当地小企业影响地区经济发展。它将被纳入外联活动，以扩大来自代表性不足群体的学生对STEM的参与。系统的运行和维护将由工程和采矿实验站管理。EMES是一个多用户设施，服务于南达科他州的大学和部落学院以及地区企业，以及州、部落和联邦政府。技术：FIB-SEM将支持许多新材料研究能力，将支持南达科他州研究增长的令人兴奋的时代。结合能量色散X射线光谱分析和电子背向散射衍射探测器，该系统将允许对先进材料进行高分辨率的化学和晶体分析。FIB能力还将使金属、陶瓷、聚合物和生物材料的层析成像和分析成为可能(例如，介导微生物细胞附着以实现有效生物质降解的多酶复合体的3D成像)。来自SD的三个研究机构(SDSMT、南达科他州立大学和南达科他大学)、多所主要本科大学(例如黑山州立大学)和两个部落学院(Oglala Lakota学院、Sinte Gleska大学)的35多名教职员工预计将使用该系统进行研究和教育活动。FIB-SEM还将影响七个活跃的机构和全州范围内的研究中心/实验室，其中大部分集中在先进材料和制造领域。新设备将补充之前由磁共振成像资助的设备收购，这些收购将包括不断发展的最先进的材料表征多用户设施(EMES)，这将积极影响SDSMT从STEM代表性不足的群体中竞争性地招聘有才华的教师和学生的能力。FIB-SEM将支持顶石工程设计项目，并将整合到SDSMT的研究生和本科生课程中，每年影响290名学生。此外，还将引入一门新课程，培训学生关于先进材料表征的FIB-SEM的理论和应用。FIB-SEM将被整合到研究生和本科生研究培训计划中，包括两个NSF本科生研究经验(REU)站点计划和最近资助的NSF国家研究培训计划。关于前者，该系统将支持一个研究项目，该项目涉及对美洲原住民(NA)文物进行文化和科学分析，作为REU计划的一部分，以促进北美学生参与和培训STEM研究。FIB-SEM还将被整合到正在进行的STEM推广计划中，旨在吸引SD的大量NA人口(包括K-12学生/教师和部落学院的教职员工和学生)，以提高这些服务不足的人群对FIB-SEM的认识和接触。最后，该系统将支持多家地区性科技初创公司。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。

Nontechnical:The project is to acquire a dual-beam focused ion beam integrated with scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) to support research and education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and in the surrounding region. The system combines nanoscale materials patterning and processing with high-resolution imaging and analytical capabilities. The system will enable high resolution characterization, manipulation, and nanofabrication of metals, ceramics, and polymers. The system will provide an immediate and significant impact to research activities at the host institution and in the region. The instrumentation will also support training programs and will impact regional economic development by supporting local small enterprises. It will be integrated into outreach activities to broaden participation in STEM by students from underrepresented groups. Operation and maintenance of the system will be managed by the Engineering and Mining Experiment Station. EMES is a multi-user facility that serves universities and tribal colleges in South Dakota as well as regional enterprises, and state, tribal, and federal governments.Technical:The FIB-SEM will enable numerous new materials research capabilities that will support an exciting era of research growth in South Dakota. Coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction detectors, the system will permit high resolution chemical and crystallographic analysis of advanced materials. The FIB capability will also enable tomographic imaging and analysis of metals, ceramics, polymers, and biological materials (e.g., 3D imaging of multi-enzyme complexes that mediate microbial cell attachment for efficient biomass degradation). More than 35 faculty from SD’s three research institutions (SDSMT, South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota), multiple primarily undergraduate universities (e.g., Black Hills State University), and two tribal colleges (Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska University) are expected to use the system for research and educational activities. The FIB-SEM will also impact seven active institutional and state-wide research centers/laboratories, the majority of which are focused in the area of advanced materials and manufacturing. The new equipment will complement previous MRI-funded equipment acquisitions that together will comprise a growing state-of-the-art materials characterization multi-user facility (EMES) that will positively impact SDSMT’s ability to competitively recruit talented faculty and students from underrepresented groups in STEM. The FIB-SEM will support capstone engineering design projects and will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate courses at SDSMT, impacting 290 students on an annual basis. Further, a new course will be introduced to train students on the theory and application of FIB-SEM for advanced materials characterization. The FIB-SEM will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate research training programs, including two NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Site programs and a recently funded NSF National Research Traineeship program. Regarding the former, the system will support a research project that involves cultural and scientific analysis of Native American (NA) artifacts, conducted as part of a REU program to facilitate engagement and training of NA students in STEM research. The FIB-SEM will also be integrated into ongoing STEM outreach programs intended to engage SD’s large NA population (including K-12 students/teachers and tribal college faculty and students) to increase awareness and access of the FIB-SEM for this underserved population. Finally, the system will support multiple regional tech-based start-up companies.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.