Critical Need for Powder X-ray Diffractometer

本建议是一个台式粉末X射线衍射系统。X射线衍射系统将用于表征散装材料和纳米材料，以获得有关（i）材料形成，（ii）纯度，（iii）微晶尺寸，（iv）合成再现性和（v）结构细节的信息。 该设备将主要支持三个研究项目，重点是设计，合成和表征新型材料，用于地下水和城市污水修复（吸附，催化和传感），化学战剂解毒，药物输送，光动力疗法和太阳能转换。这些材料包括新型稀土金属有机框架（RE-MOFs），镧系元素掺杂的纳米颗粒，染料敏化光电极和半导体。除了支持三个申请人的研究计划外，该设备还将支持我们部门的研究计划，重点是生物柴油生产，生物化学和有机半导体。由该设备支持的研究活动对于材料化学领域以及纳米化学、绿色化学、环境化学和可持续性都具有重要意义。该设备将允许更好地了解化学结构和性质，这对于设计和生产用于上述相关应用的下一代材料至关重要。研究预计将导致更安全，更有效的废水净化，士兵和平民的防护设备，药物输送，癌症治疗和可持续能源的商业材料。大部分研究都集中在使用稀土元素合成新材料上，加拿大是世界上稀土元素储量最大的国家之一。加拿大的几个省政府最近投资了数百万美元开采稀土元素，预计不久的将来还会有联邦政府的投资。重要的是，这些设备对于培养化学领域的下一代高素质人才也至关重要。

The present proposal is for a benchtop powder X-ray diffraction system. The X-ray diffraction system will be used to characterize bulk materials and nanomaterials to gain information about (i) material formation, (ii) purity, (iii) crystallite size, (iv) synthetic reproducibility, and (v) structural details. This equipment will primarily support three research programs that are focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of novel materials for applications in groundwater and municipal wastewater remediation (adsorption, catalysis, and sensing), detoxification of chemical warfare agents, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and solar energy conversion. The materials include novel rare earth metal-organic frameworks (RE-MOFs), lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, dye-sensitized photoelectrodes, and semiconductors. In addition to supporting the research programs of the three applicants, the equipment will also support research programs in our department focused on biodiesel production, biogeochemistry, and organic semiconductors. The research activities supported by this equipment are significant for the field of materials chemistry, as well as nanochemistry, green chemistry, environmental chemistry, and sustainability. The equipment will allow for a better understanding of chemical structure and properties, which is imperative for designing and producing the next generation of materials for the relevant applications mentioned above. Research is expected to lead to commercial materials for safer and more efficient wastewater purification, protective equipment for soldiers and civilians, drug delivery, cancer treatment, and sustainable energy. Much of the research is focused on using rare-earth elements to synthesize new materials, and Canada has among the largest reserves of rare-earth elements in the world. Several provincial governments have recently invested millions of dollars to mine rare-earth elements in Canada, with a federal investment expected in the near future. Importantly, this equipment is also critical for training the next generation of high qualified personnel in the field of chemistry.