Equipment: MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of Electrochemical Impedance Spectrometer for Research in Glass with Undergraduates

这个主要的研究仪器项目，由材料研究部和刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助，资助购买电化学阻抗光谱仪（EIS）。通过此次收购，Coe学院物理系的本科生和教师以及他们的合作者可以在受控气氛下，在高达2200华氏度（或1200摄氏度）的温度下对固体和液体样品进行电学表征，从而大大扩展他们的研究。为此，该设备测量在不同频率下施加在样品上的输入电压和输出电流之间的相位差。然后将结果与表现出类似行为的电路进行统计比较，并使用该数据计算样品的电学特性。这项工作还将允许培训12名本科生，因为他们每年夏天都会定期访问。此外，学生还将在某些高级课程中接触到这些仪器，例如材料科学和高级实验室。该设备还将与Coe学院的组织合作使用，这些组织代表了STEM领域中代表性不足的群体，以促进这种职业前景，并吸引更多未来的科学家进入该领域。Coe学院的新电化学阻抗光谱仪系统将由高性能模块化测量系统（负责频域的介电、电导率、电化学、阻抗和增益相位测量）组成，由于其宽阻抗测试接口，频率范围为3微赫兹至20兆赫。该系统配备了两个熔炉-一个用于样品电池的Novotherm温度控制系统，温度范围为+25°C至400°C，一个交钥匙高温系统，温度范围为+25°C至1200°C，但设计在300℃以上的温度下理想运行。交钥匙炉也可以在可控气氛下运行。更具体地说，EIS设备将用于表征碱含量异常高的玻璃和玻璃陶瓷，测量通常难以制备的玻璃的电性能，随着预测性人工智能的进步，帮助开发可能的商业成分，并用于帮助开发一种新的方法来获得玻璃陶瓷中的晶体生长。EIS系统将大大扩展Coe学院材料研究小组的表征能力；并继续发展成为全国本科材料表征中心。此外，该系统的表征工作将影响其他地方和国家学术机构、当地公司、国内和国际合作者，以及REU学生和RET高中教师。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。

Non-Technical SummaryThis major research instrumentation project, jointly funded by Division of Materials Research and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), funds the acquisition of a electrochemical impedance spectrometer (EIS). This acquisition allows the undergraduate students and faculty of the Physics Department at Coe College and their collaborators to drastically expand their research by allowing electrical characterization of solid and liquid samples at temperatures of up to 2200 oF (or 1200 oC), under controlled atmosphere. To do so, the equipment measures the phase differences between the input voltage and the output current being applied at the sample, at different frequencies. The results are then statistically compared to electrical circuits who present a similar behavior, and that data is used to calculate the electrical properties of the sample. The work will also allow for the training of twelve undergraduate students, as they will have regular access to it every summer. Additionally, students will also be exposed to the instruments in certain advanced classes, such as Materials Science and Advanced Laboratory. The equipment will also be used in collaboration with organizations from Coe College that represent underrepresented groups in STEM fields to promote this career perspective and attract more future scientists to the field.Technical SummaryThe new electrochemical impedance spectrometer system at Coe College will be composed of a high-performance modular measurement system (responsible for the dielectric, conductivity, electrochemical, impedance and gain phase measurements in the frequency domain), with a frequency range of 3 micro-Hz to 20 mega-Hz thanks to its wide impedance test interface. Two furnaces accompany the system – a Novotherm temperature control system for sample cells with a temperature range of +25°C to 400°C and a turnkey high-temperature system, with a temperature range of +25°C to 1200°C but designed to operate ideally at temperatures above 300 oC. The turnkey furnace can also operate under a controlled atmosphere. More specific to the proposed project, the EIS equipment will be used to characterize glasses and glass-ceramics with unusually high alkali content, measure the electrical properties of glasses that are usually hard-to-prepare, help with the development of possible commercial compositions with the advance of predictive artificial intelligence, and used to help develop a new methodology for obtaining crystal growth in glass ceramics. The EIS system will expand drastically the characterization capabilities of the materials research groups at Coe College; and continue the growth of the institution as a national undergraduate materials characterization hub. Additionally, the characterization work on the system will impact other local and national academic institutions, local companies, domestic and international collaborators, as well as REU students, and RET high-school teachers.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.