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

这一重大研究仪器奖支持在德克萨斯农工大学商业学院(A&amp；M-Commerce)购买桌面扫描电子显微镜(SEM)系统，用于研究和教育。扫描电子显微镜系统使我们能够通过纳米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，导致学生更多地参与教师研究项目。A&amp；M-Commerce是一所公立大学，主要是本科生。培养下一代工程师和科学家是理工学院全体教职员工的首要目标。最先进的科学仪器提供了有意义的研究经验。对于想要在STEM领域寻求职业发展的学生来说，SEM是一个很好的培训工具。此外，扫描电子显微镜还用于大学暑期研究的社区大学生和具有纳米成像演示的当地高中生的外展活动。扫描电子显微镜能够用能量色散光谱(EDS)对分辨率低于10 nm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)研究了有机半导体多层膜的界面形态，为有机半导体物理实验室的光电子学应用基础研究奠定了基础。扫描电子显微镜图像显示了在无机氧化铟锡衬底上的二芳基二亚胺衍生物薄膜的界面接触特性。(2)将受污染的芦苇水热转化制得的加氢半焦作为Pd-Ni/Cu双金属催化剂的载体，用于烯烃选择加氢制烯烃，这是制造关键化学品/药物的中间体。用扫描电子显微镜将加氢反应的活性、选择性和稳定性与加氢焦的表面性质联系起来。(3)细胞总脂含量决定了热解转化的生物量质量。光合作用效率的提高加上碳/氮平衡的破坏是有效的光合作用生物质生产的主要策略；脂肪储存的概念基础是细胞内的碳和能量。扫描电子显微镜成像为监测存储分子的细胞含量和组成变化提供了一种重要的创新机制。(4)用扫描电子显微镜研究了胶凝材料混凝土的微观结构。对混凝土的断口进行了分析，以确定不同组份的混凝土的破坏模式和机理，如飞灰、矿渣水泥、硅灰、橡胶、纤维和再生骨料。扫描电子显微镜还通过其EDS能力提供补充信息，使材料的结构和成分能够进行亚微米调查。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 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.