I-Corps: Fiber-Coupled Nanoscale Chemical Imaging Spectroscopy Probe

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种基于等离子体光纤尖端组件的新型近场化学成像显微镜探针。这种光纤尖端增强拉曼光谱仪（F-TERS）探针被设计用于提供样品表面的化学成分，同时拍摄纳米级表面形貌图像。F-TERS实现了纳米级化学成像的自动化，这可以将技术从严格的研究实验室转移到工业生产环境。f - ter几乎可以在任何气体和液体环境中工作，为大多数实际环境中的样品分析提供了新的数据收集途径。探针显微镜的市场规模约为2亿美元，由于测量复杂性和缺乏化学灵敏度而受到限制。优化的F-TERS探针可以消除这些限制，为显微镜市场空间的增长创造机会。F-TERS的开发和商业化将使纳米级化学成像在商业上可行，可用于半导体、催化和制药工业等各种市场。这个I-Corps项目是基于光纤耦合，纳米级，化学成像光谱探针的发展。该探头独特地集成了等离子体光纤和最先进的拉曼光谱技术，可用于各种商业应用的成像和光谱仪器。探针可以添加到任何现有的纳米扫描探针显微镜系统（SPMs）。通过F-TERS，现有探针显微镜可以获得化学检测的一个额外维度，大大增加了它们的应用和内在价值。目前的纳米级化学传感方法需要特定的技术专长，冗长的显微镜操作时间，以及随之而来的高成本。f - ter不需要很高的技术专长，但通常操作科学仪器的技术人员都可以使用，大大减少了时间和成本。新的探头组件消除了对激光对准的需要，提高了信噪比，降低了对操作技能的要求，并拓宽了材料兼容性。F-TERS的独立设计也允许它在大多数水和气体环境中工作，很少或没有样品制备。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a novel, near-field, chemical imaging microscope probe based on a plasmonic fiber-tip assembly. This Fiber Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscope (F-TERS) probe is designed to provide the chemical composition of a sample surface while taking a nanoscale surface morphology image. F-TERS enables automation of nanoscale chemical imaging, which could move the technology from strictly research labs to industrial production settings. F-TERS can operate in virtually any gaseous and liquid environment, enabling new avenues in data collection for sample analysis in most real-world environments. The probe microscope market accounts for approximately $200 million and has been limited by measurement complexity and lack of chemical sensitivity. An optimized F-TERS probe could remove these limitations, creating an opportunity for growth within the microscopy market space. Development and commercialization of F-TERS would make nanoscale chemical imaging commercially viable for use in various markets such as the semiconductor, catalysis, and pharmaceutical industries.This I-Corps project is based on the development of fiber-coupled, nanoscale, chemical imaging spectroscopy probe. The probe uniquely integrates the plasmonic optical fiber and the most advanced Raman spectroscopy techniques for an imaging and spectroscopy instrument that can be used in a variety of commercial applications. The probe can be added to any existing nanoscale scanning probe-based microscope system (SPMs). Through F-TERS, an added dimension of chemical detection can be acquired by existing probe microscopes, substantially increasing their application and inherent value. Current methods of nanoscale chemical sensing require specific technical expertise, lengthy microscopy operational time, and subsequently, high cost. F-TERS will not require highly technical expertise but be usable by technicians who normally operate scientific instruments, greatly reducing the time and cost. The new probe assembly eliminates the need for laser alignment, improves the signal to noise ratio, lowers the required operating skill, and broadens the material compatibility. The self-contained design of F-TERS also allows it to function in most aqueous and gaseous environments with little or no sample preparation.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.