Vibrational spectrochemical imaging studies of materials from macro to nanoscale

关键的化学相互作用发生在纳米尺度上，但对每个维度都有影响。我和我的学生们解决了在从千分之一到十亿分之一米的长度尺度上对材料的化学成像所固有的挑战，使用模型系统来证明原理。具体来说，我们用一种叫做振动光谱学的技术，用可见光和红外光探测物质的化学成分。通过这个项目，我努力成为振动光谱化学成像领域的世界领导者，培养年轻科学家突破性的技术来解决与重要材料和环境问题相关的难题。我的短期目标代表了从纳米到宏观分辨率尺度的现实问题，从可再生资源制成的新材料到气候变化对北极海冰硅藻的影响，硅藻是海洋食物网的关键成员。我们将振动光谱学的既定原理带到科学前沿，使用最好的衍射限制光学，我们新专利的红外断层扫描配件，以及突破红外衍射限制的超分辨率技术。我们设计了新的方法来保留天然的分子结构，使我们能够阐明局部化学，并对这些以前无法获得的微纳米尺度数据做出准确的解释。

Critical chemical interactions occur at the nanoscale but have impact at every dimension. My students and I tackle the challenges inherent in imaging the chemistry of materials at length scales from one thousandth to one billionth of a meter, using model systems for proof of principle. Specifically, we probe the chemical composition of matter with visible and infrared light, using a technique called vibrational spectroscopy. With this program, I strive to be a world leader in vibrational spectrochemical imaging, training young scientists in groundbreaking techniques to solve puzzles related to important materials and environmental issues. My short term objectives represent real-world problems that span the nano to macro resolution scale, in new materials made from renewable resources to the impact of climate change on Arctic sea ice diatoms, key members of the marine food web. We take established principles of vibrational spectroscopy to the scientific frontier, using best diffraction-limited optics, our newly-patented accessory for infrared tomography, and super-resolution techniques that break the infrared diffraction limit. We devise novel methods to retain native molecular architecture, allowing us to elucidate localized chemistry and make accurate interpretations of this previously inaccessible micro and nanoscale data. In one branch of my program, we use spectrochemical imaging to identify chemical changes in single-celled microorganisms under normal and stress conditions. Why? We can discover how nutrient and light levels, and community interactions affect Arctic sea ice diatoms, key to predicting their likely responses to global climate change and decreasing sea ice. We can learn how the cell wall ultrastructure of Candida albicans is affected by external stimuli, especially antifungal treatments. In the other branch, we analyze natural and synthetic fibres at the micro and nanoscale. We aim to maximize the added-value of post-harvest waste-stream fibre, a renewable resource, and improve production quality of bio-inspired synthetic silk materials that depend on molecular composition, orientation and conformation. We will better understand the self-assembly of collagens, biomolecules that perform essential functions in the healthy body and are basic to tissue engineering materials. Finally, we will aid the design of new contact-active self-disinfective surfaces, a disruptive technology created to prevent cross-infection in hospitals and contamination of food during processing or packaging. Our spectroscopic capabilities will accelerate completely new avenues of discovery. My students, skilled in these techniques, will be able to connect consequences from the molecular to macroscopic length scales, and be ready to contribute to the advancement of fundamental knowledge, aiding environmental, health and advanced manufacturing initiatives in Canada.