MRI: Acquisition of a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope for West Chester University, a Primarily Undergraduate Institution

该奖项由主要研究仪器和化学研究仪器项目联合支持。宾夕法尼亚西切斯特大学正在获得一台场发射扫描电子显微镜（FE-SEM）和一台能量色散光谱仪，以支持Kurt Kolasinski教授及其同事Howell Bosbyshell、Brandon Mitchell、John Pisciotta和LeeAnn Srogi的研究。该仪器促进了化学、生物学、物理学、地质学和地球科学的研究。扫描电子显微镜是用来成像和了解在纳米和中尺度的化学现象。聚焦的电子束被扫描到表面上，产生扫描电镜图像，随后产生信号，揭示了样品的组成和拓扑结构的信息。该仪器提高了许多院系各级学生的教育、研究和教学努力，并为附近的机构提供了可访问性。至少有三个部门在与当地社区学院和组织的外联活动中利用了这一工具。该奖项旨在加强各个层面的研究和教育，特别是在生物、化学、地球科学和物理等领域。研究重点是纳米材料结构解析，纳米颗粒与环境的相互作用，以及包括成像和微分析在内的基本地球材料和过程。高分辨率成像和化学分析是研究薄膜、纳米材料和多孔固体的关键，因此我们可以建立尺寸-结构-性质关系。此外，其他研究还包括评估金属纳米颗粒对生物膜中纯细菌培养物和微生物群落的抗菌活性，以更好地了解纳米生态毒理学。它还有助于重建矿物颗粒的微观结构和化学成分，整合模型山带构造-热演化的空间组成和与火山灾害相关的岩浆室过程。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 award is jointly supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Programs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is acquiring a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) coupled to an energy dispersive spectrometer to support the research of Professor Kurt Kolasinski and colleagues Howell Bosbyshell, Brandon Mitchell, John Pisciotta, and LeeAnn Srogi. This instrument facilitates research in chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and earth sciences. Scanning electron microscopy is used to image and understand chemical phenomena at the nano and mesoscales. A focused electron beam, which is scanned over a surface to generate a SEM image and subsequently produces signals, reveals information about the composition and topology of a sample. This instrument enhances the educational, research, and teaching efforts of students at all levels in many departments as well as provides accessibility for use at nearby institutions. The instrument is leveraged by at least three departments and in outreach activities with local community colleges and organizations.The award for the FE-SEM is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics. Research focuses on nanomaterial structure elucidation, interactions of nanoparticles with the environment, and fundamental Earth materials and processes that encompass imaging and microanalysis. High-resolution imaging and chemical analysis are key for studying thin films, nanomaterials, and porous solids so that we size-structure-property relationships can be established. In addition, other investigations include evaluation of antimicrobial activity of metallic nanoparticles against pure bacterial cultures and microbial communities in biofilms to better understand nano-ecotoxicology. It also assists in reconstructing microscale textures and chemical compositions of mineral grains, integrating spatial-composition of model tectono-thermal evolution of mountain belts and magma chamber processes associated with volcanic hazards.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.