MRI: Acquisition of an ultrahigh vacuum closed cryostat scanning probe microscope for nanoscale discoveries on surfaces

这项来自主要研究仪器计划的奖项支持收购 Scienta Omicron Infinity 扫描探针显微镜实验室，该实验室配备闭环低温恒温器、超高真空扫描隧道和非接触式原子力显微镜。该显微镜可在低温下提供原子和分子水平的图像。闭式氦环技术的结合使仪器用户不再需要昂贵的、不可再生的氦制冷剂资源，同时仍然可以在低噪声环境中获得原子分辨率所需的低温（10 K）。这些仪器的稳定性使用户能够将样品一次在低温下保存数周，并使用户能够在本科院校詹姆斯·麦迪逊大学 (JMU) 进行高影响力的新颖工作。 JMU 安装 Infinity 显微镜将增加 JMU 和弗吉尼亚大学 (UVA) 四个系研究项目的影响力，从而增加学生的研究机会：（JMU 化学/生物化学和物理/天文学、UVA 化学/生物化学和材料科学/工程）。 UVA 的研究人员将前往 JMU，在与 JMU PI 和本科生合作的同时，使用仪器来增强他们自己的项目。这些交流机会将丰富 JMU 本科研究人员的经验。 JMU 和 UVA 的 9 个研究小组的本科生和研究生研究人员将获得使用最先进仪器的实践经验。 Infinity 显微镜将为 JMU 和 UVA 的 9 个新的或正在进行的项目提供原子和纳米级分辨率、电子结构表征和低温跃迁（分子堆积、电子结构和电导率测量、缺陷形态和重排、分子结合位点）。这些跨学科项目将让本科生和研究生参与以下研究：1）分子间相互作用和基质对堆积的影响，2）单个光合作用蛋白质中的电子传输，3）熵稳定氧化物的表面特性，4）锰掺杂氧化铟锡的表面电子结构，5）石墨烯缺陷的局部电子结构，6）镍基合金的缺陷位点，7）二维二氧化铈纳米片的几何和电子结构， 8) 尖端诱导的吸附物解离，以及 9) 嵌段共聚物结构和域的自组装。该显微镜将提供纳米级几何和电子细节，这将进一步加深每个特定研究项目的基础知识。热稳定的低温扫描隧道显微镜将使研究人员能够研究导电样品的形态和电子结构，而原子力显微镜将突出非导电基底上的纳米级复杂性。通过该显微镜获得的原子和分子水平的见解将有助于对催化、腐蚀、光合作用、聚合物科学、表面科学和材料科学等领域的基本理解。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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 from the Major Research Instrumentation program supports the acquisition of a Scienta Omicron Infinity Scanning Probe Microscopy Lab, with a closed-loop cryostat, ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling and non-contact atomic force microscope. This microscope provides images on the atomic and molecular levels at low temperatures. The incorporation of closed helium loop technology rids the instrument users from needing expensive, nonrenewable helium cryogen resources, while still accessing low temperatures ( 10 K) in a low noise environment, necessary for atomic resolution. The stability of these instruments will allow the user to keep samples at low temperatures for weeks at a time, and enables users to conduct high impact, novel work at James Madison University (JMU), an undergraduate institution. The installation of the Infinity microscope at JMU will enhance the research opportunities for students by increasing the impact of research projects spanning four departments at both JMU and the University of Virginia (UVA): (JMU Chemistry/Biochemistry and Physics/Astronomy, UVA Chemistry/Biochemistry and Materials Science/Engineering). Researchers at UVA will travel to JMU to use the instrumentation to enhance their own projects while working with JMU PIs and undergraduates. These networking opportunities will enrich the experiences of JMU undergraduate researchers. Across the 9 research groups at JMU and UVA, undergraduate and graduate researchers will get hands-on experience with a state-of-the-art instrument. The Infinity microscope will provide the atomic and nanoscale resolution, electronic structure characterization, and low temperature transitions (molecular packing, electronic structure and conductivity measurements, defect morphology and rearrangement, molecular binding sites) for 9 new or ongoing projects at both JMU and UVA. These cross-disciplinary projects will involve both undergraduate and graduate students in research in 1) intermolecular interactions and substrate effects on packing, 2) electron transport in individual photosynthesis proteins, 3) surface characteristics of entropy-stabilized oxides, 4) surface electronic structures of manganese-doped indium tin oxide, 5) local electronic structures of graphene defects, 6) defect sites of nickel-based alloys, 7) geometric and electronic structures of 2D ceria nanosheets, 8) tip-induced dissociation of adsorbates, and 9) self-assembly of block copolymer structures and domains. The microscope will provide nanoscale geometric and electronic details that will further the fundamental knowledge of each particular research project. The thermally stable, low temperature scanning tunneling microscope will allow researchers to investigate the morphology and electronic structure of their conductive samples, while atomic force microscopy will highlight nanoscale intricacies on nonconductive substrates. The atomic and molecular level insights gained by this microscope will aid the fundamental understanding of fields including catalysis, corrosion, photosynthesis, polymer science, surface science, and materials science.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.