ExpandQISE: Track 1: Investigating biomass pretreatment with nanodiamond quantum sensors

摘要：利用新型量子系统实现超越经典能力的测量设备并将其应用扩展到更广泛的科学界是现代量子科学的核心。该项目利用基于纳米金刚石的量子传感器在生物能源研究领域的力量来研究生物质预处理过程，这是生产可持续生物燃料的关键一步。通过开发具有量子传感能力的细胞成像显微镜，研究小组计划实时研究生物质的结构变化，这将有助于加快生物能源生产效率的优化。在教育和推广方面，研究小组将把开发的量子成像显微镜作为共享设备介绍给南伊利诺伊大学爱德华兹维尔分校的研究人员。此外，研究团队计划为本科生和硕士生创建一个新的量子信息暑期课程和研究体验，这有助于激励和准备他们转向量子科学带来的全新和令人兴奋的机会。技术摘要：本项目的总体目标是应用基于纳米金刚石中氮空位缺陷和其他色心的量子传感技术，直接可视化和实时成像木质纤维素生物质在预处理过程中的结构变化。首先，南伊利诺伊大学爱德华兹维尔分校现有的细胞成像显微镜将被改进和升级，以检测和优化纳米金刚石量子传感器。其次，开发了一种强大而高效的纳米金刚石表面附着纤维素酶/木聚糖酶的功能化过程。最后，对木质纤维素生物质在预处理过程中的结构变化进行了成像和研究，这有助于探索预处理工艺的最佳条件。与传统的光谱方法相比，纳米金刚石量子传感器具有几个独特的优势：(1)能够实时成像和跟踪生物质成分；(2)用不同颜色的纳米金刚石标记和区分生物质（纤维素、半纤维素和木质素）的不同成分的潜力；(3)主动调节纳米金刚石传感器的信号强度并将其与背景荧光隔离（无背景）的能力。该项目由多学科活动办公室（MPS/OMA）和技术前沿计划（TIP/TF）共同资助。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 Abstract: Leveraging novel quantum systems to realize measuring devices beyond classical capabilities and expanding their applications to a broader scientific community is at the heart of modern quantum science. This project exploits the power of nanodiamond-based quantum sensors in the field of bioenergy research to investigate the biomass pretreatment process, a crucial step toward the production of sustainable biofuels. By developing a cell imaging microscope with quantum sensing capabilities, the research team plans to investigate the structure change of biomass in real-time, which will help to accelerate the optimization of bioenergy production efficiency. On the educational and outreach front, the research team will introduce the developed quantum imaging microscope as a shared facility to the researchers at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Moreover, the researcher team plans to create a new summer course and research experience on quantum information for undergraduate and master students, which helps to motivate and prepare them to pivot to the brand-new and exciting opportunities enabled by quantum science.Technical Abstract: The overarching goal of this project is to apply quantum-enabled sensing technology based upon nitrogen-vacancy defects and other color centers in nanodiamonds to directly visualize and image in real-time the structure change of lignocellulosic biomass during the pretreatment process. First, an existing cell imaging microscope at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will be modified and upgraded to detect and optimize nanodiamond quantum sensors. Second, a robust and efficient functionalization procedure is developed for nanodiamond surfaces to attach cellulase/xylanase enzymes. Finally, the structure change of lignocellulosic biomass during pretreatment is imaged and investigated, which helps to explore the optimal conditions for pretreatment processes. Compared to conventional spectroscopy methods for this task, nanodiamond quantum sensors feature several unique advantages: (1) the ability to image and track in real-time biomass components in situ; (2) the potential to label and differentiate different components of biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) with different colors of nanodiamonds; (3) the capability to actively modulate the signal intensity of nanodiamonds sensors and isolate them from the background fluorescence (background-free).This project is jointly funded by the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (MPS/OMA), and the Technology Frontiers Program (TIP/TF).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.