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

这项重大研究仪器(MRI)奖支持收购X射线衍射仪(X射线衍射仪)，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表征。该仪器将为来自北卡罗来纳A&T州立大学和邻近机构的13个系和4个学院的24名初级教员提供关键的高级表征能力，以进行NSF 10个大想法(融合、量子跃迁和理解生命规则)以及其他研究领域(包括能源、医学和可持续发展)的变革性材料研究。该仪器将安置在纳米科学与纳米工程联合学院(JSNN)的核心设施中，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)场地的一部分。此外，该仪器将是NCA&amp；T教学、研究培训和推广计划不可或缺的一部分，与JSNN现有的其他开放获取设施相结合，该仪器将提高学生的培训、生产力和他们为高影响力出版物生成高质量数据的能力，并为他们的STEM职业生涯成功做出贡献。X射线衍射仪的获奖将促进变革性研究、研究培训和表征各种材料的能力，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。除了跟踪催化剂相变、催化剂失活模式或优化催化剂合成等的现场研究外，X射线衍射仪的表征能力还包括小角和广角衍射、反射率和透射率研究。总的来说，在能源与环境、下一代电子学、生物医学与食品、材料与可持续发展等领域，X射线衍生品将促成变革性研究。能源与环境研究的范围从开发用于生物能源的双金属/多金属纳米催化剂，到用于离子电池和二氧化碳电解的电极。生物医学和食品研究涵盖了从3D打印加强药物研究到水凝胶研究以更好地了解大脑生理学和食品科学研究以生产更健康的食品。下一代电子学的研究包括用于光电探测器的GaAsSb纳米线，用于光捕获的氮氧化钛，以及二维MoS2单分子膜。材料与可持续发展研究包括用于废水处理的中空纤维生物反应器、水泥、猪粪生物炭材料、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。该奖项反映了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 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.