MRI: Acquisition of a powder X-ray diffractometer for Research and Educational Training in Crystallographic Characterization of Nanostructured materials

非技术摘要：该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖旨在获得一台粉末x射线衍射仪（XRD），用于纳米结构材料晶体学表征的研究和教育培训。这种新的XRD将加强塔斯基吉大学在可持续和先进纳米材料新兴领域的研究能力。这种先进的多用途XRD将促进塔斯基吉大学多个部门、合作机构和当地行业之间的合作。利用该仪器的能力，研究人员旨在获得对各种纳米材料的晶体结构的基本理解，包括下一代先进的可持续绿色材料，这将有助于减少碳足迹和缓解全球变暖的担忧，并将对教育和学生培训的先进研究方法产生重大影响。该仪器将改进塔斯基吉大学材料科学与工程（MSE）的现有课程。该仪器与塔斯基吉大学现有的其他最先进的设备一起，将促进大学为其MSE研究生课程和MSE本科生辅修课程招收有前途的学生。预计这将有助于培养大量非裔美国人毕业生，从本科生到博士生。这群多元化的学生将通过研究、实践学习模块和多所大学的互动来接受跨学科的培训。研究和教育活动的整合将有助于培养下一代具有全球竞争力的非裔美国科学家、工程师和企业家。这些研究和培训活动将增强塔斯基吉大学的研发企业和基础设施，使其在可持续和先进纳米材料的新兴领域具有全国竞争力。技术摘要：在塔斯基吉大学，已经投入了大量的努力和资源，从自然废物资源合成各种纳米材料，用于生物，制药，能源和聚合物填料。例如，纳米多孔碳和硅酸钙、羟基磷灰石和碳酸钙的纳米颗粒已经在内部开发，对形状、大小和生长模式进行了精确控制。此外，正在努力开发先进的绿色纳米复合材料和多铁复合材料。只有当纳米粒子与宿主材料（如聚合物和生物细胞）之间具有良好的分散性和良好的相互作用时，纳米粒子的加入才能有助于提高复合材料的性能，这可以并且需要通过纳米晶体结构分析来确定。这种先进的x射线衍射仪器将提高研究能力，并允许对纳米颗粒和纳米复合材料的晶体相科学的基本理解，用于结构，生物和能源应用。拟议的研究工具将通过以下方式对教育和人力资源发展产生重大影响：a)用于电子应用的多铁纳米材料的开发，b)从农业废弃物中开发纳米生物材料，c)低温等离子体处理对聚己内酯改性的影响研究，d)用于组织工程应用的力纺丝纳米纤维垫的开发，e)用于组织工程应用的3D打印支架的开发，f)新型3D打印可植入药物递送系统制备中药物赋形剂混合物的表征，g)纤维素生物质产品晶体结构的研究，h)磁控溅射低温生长高质量氧化镓薄膜，i)改进塔斯基吉大学（TU）现有材料科学与工程课程。不同的学生群体将通过研究、实践学习模块和多所大学的互动来接受跨学科的培训。研究和教育活动的整合将有助于培养下一代具有全球竞争力的非裔美国科学家、工程师和企业家。这些研究和培训活动将增强TU的研发企业和基础设施，使其在可持续和先进纳米材料的新兴领域具有全国竞争力。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。

Non-Technical abstract:This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award is to acquire a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) for research and educational training in the crystallographic characterization of nanostructured materials. This new XRD will strengthen Tuskegee University’s research capabilities in the emerging field of sustainable and advanced nanomaterials. This advanced multipurpose XRD will foster collaborations between several departments at Tuskegee University, partnering institutions and local industry. With the capabilities of this instrument, researchers aim to gain a fundamental understanding of the crystal structure of various nanomaterials including next generation advanced sustainable green materials that would help reduce carbon footprint and alleviate global warming concerns and will have significant impact in education and student training in advanced research methodologies. The proposed instrumentation will improve existing curriculum in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Tuskegee University. This instrument, along with other state-of-the-art facilities which exist at Tuskegee University, will boost the university’s efforts to recruit promising students to its graduate programs in MSE and undergraduate minor program in MSE. This is expected to help produce a large number of African-American graduates, from undergraduates through Ph.D students. This diverse group of students will receive transdisciplinary training through research, hands-on learning modules, and interactions across multiple universities. Integration of research and educational activities will help train next generation of globally competitive African-American scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. These research and training activities will enhance the R&D enterprise and infrastructure at Tuskegee University, making it nationally competitive in the emerging fields of sustainable and advanced nanomaterials. Technical abstract:At Tuskegee University, significant efforts and resources have been invested in synthesizing a variety of nanomaterials from natural waste resources for biological, pharmaceutical, energy and polymer filler applications. For example, nanoporous carbon, and nanoparticles of calcium silicates, hydroxyapatite, and calcium carbonate have been developed in-house with precise control on the shape, size and growth patterns. In addition, efforts are ongoing to develop advanced green nanocomposites and multiferroic composite materials. Incorporation of nanoparticles will help in improving the properties of composites only when there is good dispersion and excellent interaction between the nanoparticles and host materials such as polymers and biological cells, which can and need to be ascertained through nanocrystalline structural analysis. This state of art X-ray diffraction instrument will enhance research capabilities and allow fundamental understanding of the science of crystal phase of nanoparticles and nanocomposites for structural, biological and energy applications. The proposed research instrumentation will have significant impact on education and human resources development through: a) Development of multiferroic nanomaterials for electronic applications, b) Development of nano-biomaterials from agricultural wastes, c) Studies on effect of low temperature plasma treatment on modification of polycaprolactone, d) Development of nanofiber mats by force spinning for tissue engineering applications, e) Development of 3D printed scaffolds for tissue engineering applications, f) Characterization of drug excipient blends in the preparation of novel 3D printed implantable drug delivery systems, g) Studies on crystal structures of cellulosic biomass products, h) Low temperature growth of high quality gallium oxide thin films by magnetron sputtering, and i) Improvement of existing curriculum in materials science and engineering at Tuskegee University (TU). A diverse group of students will receive transdisciplinary training through research, hands-on learning modules, and interactions across multiple universities. Integration of research and educational activities will help train next generation of globally competitive African-American scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. These research and training activities will enhance the R&D enterprise and infrastructure at TU, making it nationally competitive in the emerging fields of sustainable and advanced nanomaterials.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.