Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring for Characterization of Novel Materials

需要资金用于配备耗散监测的石英晶体微天平(QCM-D)和相关的外围设备；达尔豪西大学过程工程和应用科学系内外迫切需要这种设备来推动材料研究。所要求的QCM-D是确定吸附在目标传感器表面的新型材料的质量、厚度和粘弹性性质所必需的，这将在纳米级提供关于表面相互作用和材料结构的有价值的信息。没有这些基础数据，就不可能完全了解材料的性能对后续应用性能的影响，这限制了我们以知情的方式努力实现最佳设计材料的能力。据申请者所知，达尔豪西大学目前没有QCM-D系统。因此，我们没有能力在流动条件下表征纳米尺度的表面相互作用，没有能力测量纳米尺度的粘弹性性质，没有能力观察新型纳米复合材料的逐层组装，没有能力量化环境条件对薄膜的影响，也没有能力测量和优化水凝胶的加载和释放行为。没有这些功能，我们仅限于必须用于推断这些属性的替代测量，这引入了不必要的可变性，并限制了对相关机制的基本理解。需要所需的QCM-D来研究和优化各种新型材料，包括用于水处理和提高石油采收率的设计的水溶性聚合物、功能生物聚合物薄膜、溶液处理光电子学和生物质衍生水凝胶。QCM-D将使人们能够更深入地了解支配材料性能的表面相互作用和材料性能，从而有可能操纵结构-性能-功能关系，以开发新材料，应对当前的全球挑战，包括确保所有人都能获得清洁水，促进新材料的可持续发展和生产，以及为所有人提供清洁和负担得起的能源。鉴于所要求的系统的多功能性，预计许多研究人员和高素质人员将受益于能够使用QCM-D。在申请者的研究小组中，至少有10名博士生、12名硕士研究生、12名本科生和1名博士后将有机会在未来5年内进行尖端材料研究。此外，与达尔豪西大学内外研究人员的现有合作将进一步扩大所需设备的影响，特别是在新的生物医学工程应用方面。

Funds are requested for a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and related peripherals; this equipment is urgently needed to advance materials research within and beyond the Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science at Dalhousie University. The requested QCM-D is required to determine the mass, thickness, and viscoelastic properties of novel materials adsorbed to target sensor surfaces, which will provide valuable information about surface interactions and material structures at the nanoscale level. Without these fundamental data, it is impossible to fully understand the impact of the materials' properties on the subsequent application performance, which limits our ability to work towards optimally designed materials in an informed manner. To the best of the applicants' knowledge, there is not currently a QCM-D system available at Dalhousie University. As such, we do not have the capacity to characterize nanoscale surface interactions under flow conditions, measure viscoelastic properties on a nanoscale, observe layer-by-layer assembly of novel nanocomposite materials, quantify the effects of ambient conditions on thin films, or measure and optimize hydrogel loading and release behaviour. Without these capabilities, we are limited to surrogate measurements that must be used to infer these properties, which introduces unnecessary variability and limits fundamental understanding of the related mechanisms. The requested QCM-D is needed to investigate and optimize a variety of novel materials including designed water-soluble polymers for water treatment and enhanced oil recovery, functional biopolymeric films, solution-processed optoelectronics, and biomass-derived hydrogels. The QCM-D would allow for a deeper understanding of the surface interactions and material properties that govern material performance, making it possible to manipulate structure-property-function relationships for the development of novel materials that address current global challenges including ensuring the availability of clean water for all, promoting the sustainable development and production of new materials, and providing clean and affordable energy for all. Given the versatility of the requested system, it is anticipated that many researchers and highly qualified personnel will benefit by having access to the QCM-D. Within the applicants' research groups, at least 10 PhD candidates, 12 MASc candidates, 12 undergraduate students and a postdoctoral fellow will have an opportunity to perform cutting-edge materials research within the next 5 years. Additionally, existing collaborations with researchers within and beyond Dalhousie University will further the impact of the requested equipment, especially for novel Biomedical Engineering applications.