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

这笔赠款支持购买脉冲激光沉积系统，用于西南密苏里州立大学(SMSU)的材料科学研究和教育培训。近年来，脉冲激光沉积(PLD)系统已经成为研究和教育的重要实验工具，特别是在材料科学中。这归功于其独特的性能、多功能性以及在合成先进材料和发展尖端技术方面的成功。该技术已被广泛用于制备高质量的氧化物、铁电、电介质、半导体、聚合物、金属和合金薄膜，用于电子、磁性和光学设备。可编程逻辑器件系统将加强大学内部的材料准备设施。特别是，该仪器将用于合成下列电子材料的薄膜：(1)用于光伏的半导体；(2)用于自旋电子器件的磁性半导体；(3)用于红外传感器和光电子器件的有机半导体；(4)用于非挥发性铁电随机存取存储器的钙钛矿型铁电材料；以及(5)用于微磁性和电荷有序现象的钙钛矿型锰氧化物。本科生和研究生将接受使用PLD系统进行材料合成领域的培训。使用PLD系统的研究和研究培训活动将极大地提高学生在薄膜合成方面的技能和经验，使他们能够更好地为在工业和学术界从事与职业相关的工作做好准备。由于PLD设施将是本科生/研究生课程不可或缺的一部分，它将吸引更多的学生。将为来自社区大学、农村高中和少数民族学校和大学的学生举办关于电子材料的合成及其在现实生活中的应用的专题暑期讲习班。对于许多农村学生和其他代表性不足的群体来说，这一努力将提振材料科学领域的职业前景。除了加强材料科学计划，拟议中的设备还将扩大其他校园科学系之间的跨学科合作，并加强目前和未来与其他大学和研究中心的合作。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介绍。这将增进不同科学部门对科学和技术的理解。最后，拟议的活动在国防信息学和生物技术领域有重要的应用，这些领域涉及国土安全和一般的社会潜在利益。

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.