Development of a New Optical Nanoprobe Scanning Tunneling Microscope for Nanoscale Science and Engineering Research and Education

在主要研究仪器(MRI)计划的支持下，来自西北大学化学系的Richard Van Duyne和他的同事将开发一种新的光学纳米探针扫描隧道显微镜，用于纳米科学和工程研究及教育。他们将设计、开发、应用并向市场推出一种新型超高真空扫描隧道显微镜(UHV-STM)，它将STM的非凡空间分辨率与先进光学光谱技术的无与伦比的灵敏度和广泛的系统适用性结合在一起。他们将把高灵敏度、化学信息丰富的光学光谱方法与扫描隧道显微镜相结合，以保持亚纳米级的空间分辨率。特别是，他们将使用电子束激发、局域表面等离子体共振(LSPR)光谱、暗场光子激发LSPR光谱和各种表面增强光谱等超灵敏方法。光学纳米探针STM的开发将加强西北大学的教育经验，因为它被纳入许多课程。此外，通过网络控制硬件/软件的开发，其他教育机构也将获得接入。首席调查员将与一个工业伙伴合作，确保将这一文书过渡到商业部门。

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, Richard Van Duyne and colleagues from the Chemistry Department at Northwestern University will develop a new optical nanoprobe scanning tunneling microscope for nanoscale science and engineering research and education. They will design, develop, apply and bring to the marketplace a new class of ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope (UHV-STM) that combines the extraordinary spatial resolution of the STM with the unparalleled sensitivity and broad system applicability of advanced optical spectroscopic techniques. They will integrate high sensitivity, chemical information-rich optical spectroscopic methods with STM in such a way that sub-nanometer spatial resolution is preserved. In particular, they will use the ultra-sensitive methods of electron beam-excited, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy, dark-field photon-excited LSPR spectroscopy, and various surface-enhanced spectroscopies. The development of the optical nanoprobe STM will enhance the education experiences at Northwestern University as it is incorporated into a number of courses. In addition, through the development of network control hardware/software, other educational institutions will have access. The principal investigators will collaborate with an industrial partner to ensure the transition of this instrument to the commercial sector.