MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a Multifunctional Thermal Analysis Instrument for Interdisciplinary Research and Research Training in Advanced Nanomaterial Development

该奖项由主要研究仪器和化学研究仪器项目联合支持。联合学院正在购买一台热重分析仪，该分析仪集成了一台傅里叶变换红外光谱仪和一台气相色谱仪/质谱仪（TGA/FTIR/GC/MS）系统，以支持Ellen Robertson、Ann Anderson、Mary Carroll、Yijing Stehle和Christopher Whitehead以及该学院的其他同事的研究。一般来说，热重分析仪（TGA）是一种科学仪器，它有助于表征材料的结构、机械、化学和物理性质作为温度的函数。然而，只有关于材料重量损失作为温度的函数的信息不足以回答与每种材料相关的具体研究问题。相反，通常需要对材料加热过程中释放的化学物质进行彻底的表征。TGA/FTIR/GC/MS系统允许通过分配振动模式（傅里叶变换红外光谱- FTIR）和分子量分析（质谱- MS）来明确识别材料热降解产物。该仪器影响了许多领域，如化学、机械工程、材料科学和纳米技术。此外，新仪器每年为至少50名本科生提供研究和教育机会，包括课堂内外。该奖项旨在加强各级的研究和教育。该仪器的研究重点是表征各种现代纳米材料的结构、机械、化学和物理性质，包括用于检测污染物的等离子体纳米材料、用于重金属传感的半导体量子点、用于催化的金属氧化物纳米晶体和气凝胶，以及用于水过滤和净化的功能化氧化石墨烯膜。该仪器允许通过分配振动模式和分子量特征来明确识别纳米材料热降解产物。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. Union College is acquiring a thermogravimetric analyzer integrated with a Fourier Transform infrared spectrometer and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (TGA/FTIR/GC/MS) system to support the research of Ellen Robertson, Ann Anderson, Mary Carroll, Yijing Stehle, and Christopher Whitehead and other colleagues at the institution. In general, a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) is a scientific instrument that aids the characterization of the structural, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of materials as a function of temperature. However, having only information about the material weight loss as a function of temperature is not sufficient for answering the specific research questions associated with each material. Instead, a thorough characterization of the chemical species that are released during material heating is often desired. A TGA/FTIR/GC/MS system allows for the unambiguous identification of material thermal degradation products through the assignment of both vibrational modes (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy – FTIR) and molecular weight analysis (Mass Spectroscopy – MS). The instrument impacts many areas, such as chemistry, mechanical engineering, materials science, and nanotechnology. Furthermore, the new instrumen provides research and educational opportunities for a diverse group of at least 50 undergraduate students annually, both inside and outside of the classroom.The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. Research enabled by the instrument is focused on characterizing the structural, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of diverse classes of modern nanomaterials, including plasmonic nanomaterials for detecting pollutants, semiconducting quantum dots for heavy metal sensing, metal oxide nanocrystals and aerogels for catalysis, and functionalized graphene oxide membranes for water filtration and purification. The instrument allows for the unambiguous identification of nanomaterial thermal degradation products through the assignment of both vibrational modes and molecular weight signatures.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.