MRI: Acquisition of a desktop scanning electron microscope (SEM) for research and education in STEM fields at a primarily undergraduate institution.

这项主要研究仪器奖支持德克萨斯农工大学商业分校（A M-Commerce）收购台式扫描电子显微镜（SEM）系统用于研究和教育。SEM系统允许我们通过纳米尺寸成像和元素分析来表征各种样品系统。该仪器极大地影响了校园内的研究活动，从而增加了学生参与教师的研究项目。M-Commerce是一所公立大学，主要是本科生。教育下一代的工程师和科学家是科学和工程的所有教师的首要目标。有意义的研究经验提供了最先进的科学仪器。SEM被用作想要在STEM领域从事职业的学生的优秀培训工具。此外，SEM还用于社区大学学生暑期研究和当地高中学生的大学外展活动，演示纳米成像。SEM能够利用能量色散光谱（EDS）对低于10 nm分辨率的物体进行成像。该仪器用于四个主要研究领域：物理，化学，生物和建筑工程。(1)在有机半导体物理实验室中，对多层有机半导体薄膜的界面形态进行了研究。SEM图像揭示了无机铟锡氧化物衬底上的二萘嵌苯二酰亚胺衍生物膜的界面接触特性。(2)以芦苇水热转化得到的水焦为载体，经活化后制备了Pd-Ni/Cu催化剂，用于炔烃选择性加氢制烯烃，而烯烃是重要化学品和医药的中间体。使用扫描电子显微镜将氢焦的表面性质与加氢反应的活性、选择性和稳定性联系起来。(3)用于热解转化的生物质质量由总细胞脂质含量决定。 光合效率的提升加上碳/氮平衡的破坏是一个有效的光合生物质生产的主要策略;与脂质储存的概念基础是细胞内的碳和能量。SEM成像提供了监测细胞内容物和储存分子组成变化的重要创新机制。(4)利用扫描电镜成像技术研究了掺胶凝材料混凝土的微观结构。断裂面进行了分析，以确定与不同的成分，如粉煤灰，矿渣水泥，硅灰，橡胶，纤维和再生骨料的混凝土的失效模式和机制。SEM还通过其EDS功能产生补充信息，使材料的结构和成分的亚微米调查成为可能。该奖项反映了NSF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。

This Major Research Instrumentation award supports the acquisition of a table-top Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) system at Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M-Commerce) for research and education. The SEM system allows us to characterize various sample systems by nano-size imaging and element analysis. The instrument greatly impacts on-campus research activities, leading to increased student involvement in faculty research projects. A&M-Commerce is a public, primarily undergraduate university. Educating the next generation of engineers and scientists is the primary goal of all faculty members of Science and Engineering. Meaningful research experience is provided with state-of-the-art scientific instruments. The SEM is used as an excellent training tool for students who want to pursue a career in STEM fields. In addition, the SEM is used for university outreach activities for community college students in summer research and local high school students with demonstration of nano imaging. The SEM is capable of imaging objects below 10 nm resolution with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The instrument is used in four major research areas: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Construction Engineering. (1) Interface morphology in multilayer organic semiconductor films is investigated for basic research in optoelectronic applications in an organic semiconductor physics lab. SEM imaging reveals the interfacial contact properties of films of perylene diimide derivatives on inorganic indium tin oxide substrates. (2) Hydrochars from hydrothermal conversion of contaminated reeds are activated as supports of Pd-Ni/Cu bimetallic catalysts for selective hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes which are intermediates to manufacture critical chemicals/medicine. SEM is used to relate the surface properties of hydrochars to the activity, selectivity, and stability of hydrogenation reactions. (3) Biomass quality for pyrolytic conversion is determined by total cellular lipid content. Photosynthetic efficiency upgrade coupled with Carbon/Nitrogen balance disruption is a major strategy for an effective photosynthetic biomass production; with a conceptual basis of lipid storage being an intracellular carbon and energy. SEM imaging provides an important innovative mechanism of monitoring cellular contents and composition changes of storage molecules. (4) The microstructure of concrete with cementitious materials is studied by SEM imaging. Fracture surfaces are analyzed to determine the mode and mechanism of failure of concrete with different components such as fly ashes, slag cement, silica fume, rubber, fibers, and recycled aggregates. The SEM also yields complementary information via its EDS capability, enabling sub-micrometer investigation of the material’s structure and composition.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.