MRI/RUI: Acquisition of a Pulsed Laser Deposition System for Research and Educational Training in Materials Science

这笔拨款为西南密苏里州立大学（SMSU）材料科学研究和教育培训的脉冲激光沉积系统的收购提供支持。近年来，脉冲激光沉积（PLD）系统已成为研究和教育的重要实验工具，特别是在材料科学领域。这是由于其独特的性能，多功能性和成功的合成先进材料和尖端技术的发展。该技术已广泛用于制备高质量的氧化物、铁电体、介电体、半导体、聚合物、金属和合金薄膜，用于电子、磁性和光学器件。可编程逻辑器件系统将加强大学内的材料制备设施。特别是，该仪器将用于合成以下电子材料的薄膜：(1)用于光伏应用的半导体；(2)自旋电子器件用磁性半导体；(3)用于红外传感器和光电子器件的有机半导体；(4)非易失性铁电随机存取存储器用钙钛矿铁电体；(5)钙钛矿锰矿的微磁性和电荷有序现象。本科生和研究生将在使用PLD系统的材料合成领域进行培训。使用PLD系统的研究和研究培训活动将大大提高学生在薄膜合成方面的技能和经验，使他们更好地为工业界和学术界的职业相关工作做好准备。由于PLD设施将成为本科/研究生课程的一个组成部分，它将吸引更多的学生。将为社区学院、农村高中和少数民族学校的学生举办一个关于电子材料的合成及其在现实生活问题中的应用的暑期专题讲习班。这一努力将促进许多农村学生和其他代表性不足群体在材料科学领域的职业前景。除了加强材料科学项目外，拟议的设备将扩大其他校园科学部门之间的跨学科合作，并加强与其他大学和研究中心的现在和未来的合作。拟议活动的结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，并在跨学科会议和科学学会会议上提出。这将加强不同科学分支之间的科学和技术理解。最后，拟议的活动在国防信息学和生物技术领域具有重要的应用，这些领域与社会潜在的利益有关，因为它与国土安全和一般情况有关。

This grant provides support for the acquisition of a pulsed laser deposition system for research and educational training in materials science at Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU). In recent years, a Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) system has emerged as a vital experimental tool for both research and education, particularly in materials science. This is due to its unique performance, versatility and success in synthesis of advanced materials and the development of cutting-edge technology. This technique has been extensively used to prepare high quality thin films of oxides, ferroelectrics, dielectrics, semiconductors, polymers, metals and alloys for applications in electronic, magnetic and optical devices. A PLD system will enhance the materials preparation facility within the University. In particular, the instrument will be used to synthesize thin films of the following electronic materials: (1) semiconductors for photovoltaic applications; (2) magnetic semiconductors for spintronic devices; (3) organic semiconductors for applications in infrared sensors and optoelectronic devices; (4) perovskite ferroelectrics for nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memories; and (5) perovskite manganites for micromagnetics and charge ordering phenomena. Undergraduate and graduate students will be trained in areas of materials synthesis using the PLD system. The research and research training activities using the PLD system will greatly enhance students skills and experience in the synthesis of thin films allowing them to be better prepared for career related jobs in industry and academia. Since the PLD facility will be an integral part of undergraduate/graduate courses, it will attract more students. A special summer workshop on the synthesis of electronic materials and their applications in real life problems will be conducted for students from community colleges, high schools in rural areas, and minority schools and colleges. This effort will boost career prospects in the areas of materials science of for many rural students and other underrepresented groups. In addition to strengthening the Materials Science program, the proposed equipment will broaden interdisciplinary cooperation between the other campus science departments and enhance present and future collaborations with other universities and research centers. The results from the proposed activities will be published in peer reviewed journals and presented at interdisciplinary conferences and scientific society meetings. This will enhance the scientific and technological understanding within different branches of science. Finally, the proposed activities have important applications in the areas of defense informatics and bio technology that are of potential interest to society as it relates to homeland security and in general.