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

该主要研究仪器奖支持德克萨斯A&amp大学商业（A&M- commerce）为研究和教育采购桌面扫描电子显微镜（SEM）系统。扫描电镜系统使我们能够通过纳米级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研究活动，导致学生更多地参与教师的研究项目。移动商务是一所以本科生为主的公立大学。培养下一代工程师和科学家是所有理工科教师的首要目标。有意义的研究经验，提供最先进的科学仪器。对于想要在STEM领域从事职业的学生来说，SEM是一个很好的培训工具。此外，扫描电镜还用于大学外展活动，为社区大学生进行暑期研究和当地高中生演示纳米成像。扫描电镜能够用能量色散光谱（EDS）对分辨率低于10纳米的物体进行成像。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研究了多层有机半导体薄膜的界面形态，用于光电应用的基础研究。SEM成像揭示了苝酰亚胺衍生物在无机氧化铟锡衬底上的界面接触特性。(2)将污染芦苇水热转化所得的烃类作为Pd-Ni/Cu双金属催化剂的载体，选择性地将炔烃加氢为烯烃，烯烃是生产关键化学品/药品的中间体。扫描电子显微镜是用来联系碳氢化合物的表面性质的活性，选择性和稳定性的加氢反应。(3)用于热解转化的生物质质量由细胞总脂质含量决定。光合效率的提升与碳氮平衡的破坏是有效的光合生物量生产的主要策略；脂质储存的概念基础是细胞内的碳和能量。扫描电镜成像为监测细胞内容物和存储分子组成变化提供了一种重要的创新机制。(4)采用扫描电镜（SEM）成像技术对胶凝材料混凝土的微观结构进行了研究。分析了粉煤灰、矿渣水泥、硅灰、橡胶、纤维、再生骨料等不同组分混凝土的断裂面，确定了不同组分混凝土的破坏模式和破坏机理。扫描电镜还可以通过其EDS功能获得补充信息，从而对材料的结构和组成进行亚微米级的研究。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。

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.