MRI: Acquisition of an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) for Multidisciplinary Materials Research and Education

该重大研究仪器（MRI）奖支持购买X射线衍射仪（XRD），用于粉末，薄膜，纤维，纳米材料，聚合物和生物材料的微观结构和晶体学表征。该仪器将为来自北卡罗来纳州AT州立大学和邻近机构的13个部门和4个学院的24名初级教师提供关键的先进表征能力，以在NSF 10大理念（融合，量子飞跃和理解生活规则）和其他研究领域（包括能源，医学和可持续性）进行变革性材料研究。该仪器将被安置在纳米科学和纳米工程联合学院（JSNN）核心设施中，该设施是NSF国家纳米技术协调基础设施（NNCI）计划中东南纳米技术基础设施走廊（SENIC）站点的一部分。此外，该仪器将成为NCA T的教学，研究培训和推广计划的组成部分。与JSNN现有的其他开放获取设施相结合，该工具将提高学生的培训，生产力和他们为高影响力出版物生成高质量数据的能力，并有助于他们的STEM职业成功。XRD仪器的授予将使变革性研究，研究培训和表征各种材料的能力成为可能，包括粉末催化剂，纳米材料，聚合物材料，半导体，生物材料和薄膜。XRD表征能力包括小角和广角衍射、反射计和透射研究，以及跟踪催化剂相变、催化剂失活模式或优化催化剂合成的原位研究。总的来说，XRD将在能源环境、下一代电子、生物医学食品和材料可持续性等领域实现变革性研究。能源环境研究从生物能源的双金属/多金属纳米催化剂的开发到离子电池和CO2电解的电极。生物医学食品研究从用于加强药物研究的3D打印到用于更好地了解大脑生理学和食品科学研究以生产更健康食品的水凝胶研究。下一代电子研究包括用于光电探测器的GaAsSb纳米线、用于光收集的氮氧化钛和2D MoS 2单层。材料可持续性研究包括用于废水处理的中空纤维生物反应器、水泥、猪排生物炭材料、金属陶瓷复合材料的3D打印以及用于传感应用的介孔聚合物。“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知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) for microstructural and crystallographic characterization of powders, thin films, fibers, nanomaterials, polymers and biomaterials. This instrument will provide critical advanced characterization capability to twenty four primary faculty from thirteen departments and four colleges at North Carolina A&T State University and neighboring institutions to conduct transformative materials research in NSF 10 Big Ideas (Convergence, Quantum Leap, and Understanding Rules of Life) and in other areas of research including energy, medicine, and sustainability. This instrument will be housed in the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) core facility, which is part of Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC) site in the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) program. In addition, this instrument will be an integral part of teaching, research training and outreach programs at NCA&T. Combined with other existing open access facilities at JSNN, this instrument will enhance student training, productivity and their ability to generate high-quality data for high-impact publications and contribute to their STEM career success. The award of the XRD instrument will enable transformative research, research training and the ability to characterize variety of materials, including powdered catalysts, nanomaterials, polymeric materials, semiconductors, biomaterials, and thin-films. XRD characterization capabilities include small- and wide-angle diffraction, reflectometry and transmission studies, in addition to in-situ studies to track for example, catalyst phase transitions, modes of catalyst deactivation, or to optimize catalyst synthesis. In general, the XRD will enable transformative research in areas such as Energy & Environment, Next-Gen Electronics, Biomedical & Food, and Materials & Sustainability. Energy & Environmental research span from development of bi-metallic/multi-metallic nanocatalysts for bioenergy to electrodes for ion batteries and CO2 electrolysis. Biomedical & Food research span from 3D printing for enhancing pharmaceutical research to hydrogel studies for better understanding of brain physiology and food science research to produce healthier food. Next-Gen Electronics research include GaAsSb nanowires for photodetectors, titanium oxynitrides for light harvesting, and 2D MoS2 monolayers. Materials & Sustainability research include hollow fiber bioreactor for wastewater treatment, cementitious, swine-waste biochar materials, 3D printing of metal-ceramic composites and mesoporous polymers for sensing applications."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.