MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a Broad Beam Ion Mill for Advancing Research and Training

MRI：轨道 1 采购宽束离子磨机以推进研究和培训

• 批准号: 2320552
• 负责人: Mark Atwater
• 金额: $ 20.33万
• 依托单位: Liberty University, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2320552&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Track; Acquisition; Broad; Beam

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a broad beam ion mill that is used to prepare samples for examination by electron microscopy. The development of new technology often requires greater understanding of how materials are constructed and change at a very small scale. Traditional sample preparation by abrasive polishing can actually obscure or destroy the features that are most important. This instrument will be used to preserve those features and study them in detail. This broad beam ion mill acquisition will support research in nanostructured alloy development for high-strength, lightweight structures, low-cost and efficient catalysts and electrodes, and advancing additive manufacturing processes to extend the materials catalog. Liberty University primarily serves undergraduate students in its science and engineering programs, and this instrument and associated analysis will be incorporated into all levels of those programs to better prepare future scientists and engineers. In addition to being a critical component of cutting-edge research, the instrument will also be used in new graduate-level opportunities at Liberty University. As part of Liberty University’s commitment to engage a diverse range of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the instrument will also be used to support outreach and recruitment in local schools, especially those which serve historically underrepresented communities in these fields. The development of new materials and processes by trial and error is time-consuming and expensive. Integrated computational materials engineering is a method that optimizes materials for applications through the interplay of simulation and experimental validation to accelerate innovation. Having the best possible microstructural data is crucial to this process. The ion mill will be used to create cross-sections and planar surfaces with minimal damage to preserve nanoscale features after various mechanical and chemical processes to illuminate chemistry-structure-process-property relationships. This data will be compared to computational predictions incorporating the internal state variable approach to multiscale modeling. The research enabled will pair together faculty with expertise in computational and experimental engineering with local industry and include interdisciplinary work in biomedical applications with the College of Medicine. The ion mill will be used synergistically with Liberty University’s world-class microscopy facilities, including a first-of-its-kind in-situ heating and mechanical testing stage for use in the electron microscope.This project is jointly funded by the Major Instrumentation Research Program (MRI) and the division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI).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.

这项主要的研究仪器奖（MRI）奖支持收购宽梁离子磨坊，该磨坊用于准备通过电子显微镜检查样品。新技术的开发通常需要对材料的构造方式和更改的方式更加了解。通过磨料抛光的传统样品制备实际上可以掩盖或破坏最重要的功能。该乐器将用于保留这些功能并详细研究它们。这种宽光束离子磨机的采集将支持纳米结构合金开发的研究，以提供高强度，轻质结构，低成本和高效的催化剂和电极，并推进添加剂制造工艺以扩展材料目录。自由大学小学为本科生提供了科学和工程课程的服务，该工具和相关的分析将被纳入这些计划的所有级别，以更好地准备未来的科学家和工程师。除了成为尖端研究的关键组成部分外，该工具还将用于自由大学的新研究生机会。作为自由大学致力于参与科学，技术，工程和数学的潜水员范围的承诺，该工具还将用于支持当地学校的外展和招聘，尤其是那些为这些领域中代表性不足的社区提供服务的人。通过反复试验开发新材料和过程是耗时且昂贵的。集成计算材料工程是一种通过模拟的相互作用和实验验证以加速创新来优化应用材料的方法。拥有最佳的微观结构数据对于此过程至关重要。离子磨坊将用于创建具有最小损坏的横截面和平面表面，以在各种机械和化学过程之后保持纳米级特征，以照亮化学结构 - 实施过程。该数据将与包括内部状态变量多尺度建模方法的计算预测进行比较。这项研究启用将将教师与计算和实验工程专家与本地工业相结合，并包括医学院生物医学应用中的跨学科工作。 The ion mill will be used synergistically with Liberty University’s world-class microscopy facilities, including a first-of-its-kind in-situ heating and mechanical testing stage for use in the electronic microscope.This project is jointly funded by the Major Instrumentation Research Program (MRI) and the division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed precious of support通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛影响的评论标准进行评估。