MRI: X-ray Diffractometer for Material Research

该提案要求获得资金，以购置一台四圈X射线衍射仪，用于薄膜、单晶和粉末样品的结构分析。该仪器将是材料物理、凝聚态物理、纳米技术、地球科学和化学等多学科领域研究项目的关键组成部分。材料物理项目包括脉冲激光沉积生长的功能金属氧化物外延薄膜的结构表征。将研究的薄膜包括用于红外探测器和磁传感器的巨磁阻型锰氧化物材料和用于光子器件的电荷有序锰氧化物。除了使用衍射仪作为确定外延薄膜的相纯度和结晶质量的诊断工具外，还将对晶格参数进行详细的评估，以研究几种材料系统中的晶格失配应变效应。使用X射线衍射仪的结构分析也将成为我们晶格工程工作的重要组成部分，利用缓冲层和模板层方案在硅等具有重要技术意义的衬底上生长功能氧化物材料。将使用该仪器的纳米技术项目包括使用原子力显微镜和X射线微束技术研究薄膜的机械性能，以及大分子晶体的生长。X射线衍射仪也将成为几个地质研究项目的重要组成部分。该仪器的使用将对地质系统演化动力学研究中细粒沉积物的矿物学表征产生重大影响。另一个需要X射线衍射分析的地质学项目是通过使用伊利石结晶度指数法估计石油源岩的峰值埋藏温度来评价有机页岩作为潜在的石油和天然气来源。除了上述物理和地球科学项目外，X射线衍射仪还将促进化学系的几个研究项目，包括法医化学、纳米表面处理、模板表面单层的自组装、固相转变催化表面化学和材料化学。X射线衍射仪还将用于通过实验室教学和本科生研究项目来加强本科教育。在高等物理实验课和高级地质学课程中开展X射线衍射实验。除了Towson大学外，附近的其他几个机构预计将通过合作研究受益于该仪器。这项建议要求获得资金，以获得一台X射线衍射仪，用于分析薄膜、粉末和单晶形式的材料的结构特性。该仪器将是汤森大学材料物理、凝聚态物理、纳米技术、地球科学和化学等多学科领域研究项目的关键组成部分。材料物理项目的重点是开发用于技术应用的新型材料，如用于传感温度和磁场的电子传感器，以及用于光通信和计算的纳米结构光子材料。这些新材料的开发包括使用所提出的仪器通过X射线衍射来研究它们的晶体结构。X射线衍射仪也将成为几个地质研究项目的重要组成部分。这些项目包括表征细粒沉积物中的微量元素，以研究地质系统的演化和动力学，以及通过估计石油源岩的最高埋藏温度来评估富含有机页岩作为石油和天然气源岩的潜力。X射线衍射仪还将为化学系的几个研究项目做出贡献，包括法医化学。除了在研究项目中使用，X射线衍射仪还将用于通过实验室教学和本科生研究项目来加强本科教育。在高等物理实验课和高级地质学课程中开展X射线衍射实验。除了Towson大学，附近的其他几个机构预计将通过合作研究从这一工具中受益。

This proposal requests funds to acquire a 4-circle x-ray diffractometer for structural analysis of thin films, single crystals and powder samples. This instrument will be a key component of research projects in several multidisciplinary areas such as Materials Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nanotechnology, Geosciences and Chemistry. The materials physics projects include structural characterization of epitaxial thin films of functional metal oxides grown by pulsed laser deposition. The thin films which will be studied include colossal magnetoresistive manganite materials for infrared detector and magnetic sensor applications and charge-ordered manganites for photonic device applications. Besides using the diffractometer as a diagnostics tool for establishing phase purity and crystalline quality of epitaxial thin films, detailed evaluation of lattice parameters will be undertaken to study lattice-mismatch strain effects in several material systems. Structural analysis using the x-ray diffractometer will also form an essential component in our lattice engineering efforts to grow functional oxide materials on technologically important substrates such as Silicon, employing buffer and template layer schemes. The nanotechnology projects which will use this instrument include study of mechanical properties of thin films using atomic force microscopy and x-ray micro beam techniques and growth of macromolecular crystals. The x-ray diffractometer will also form a vital component in several geology research projects. The use of this instrument will have a major impact on the characterization of the mineralogy of fine-grained sediments in the investigation of the evolution dynamics of geological systems. Another geology project which requires x-ray diffraction analysis is the evaluation of organic shales as potential sources of oil and natural gas by estimating the peak burial temperatures of petroleum source rocks using the illite crystallinity index method. In addition to the above mentioned projects in physics and geosciences, the x-ray diffractometer will also contribute to several research projects in the Chemistry department including Forensic Chemistry, nano surface processes, self assembly of mono-layers on template surfaces, solid state phase transformations catalytic surface chemistry and materials chemistry. The x-ray diffractometer will also be used to enhance undergraduate education through laboratory instruction as well as through undergraduate research projects. X-ray diffraction experiments will be implemented in advanced physics laboratory courses and upper level geology courses. Besides Towson University, several other institutions in the vicinity are expected to benefit from this instrument via collaborative research.This proposal requests funds to acquire an x-ray diffractometer for analyzing the structural properties of materials in the form of thin films, powders and single crystals. This instrument will be a key component of research projects in several multidisciplinary areas such as Materials Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nanotechnology, Geosciences and Chemistry at Towson University. The materials physics projects focus on the development of novel materials for technological applications such as electronic sensors for sensing temperature and magnetic field and nano-structured photonic materials for optical communications and computing. The development of these novel materials involve studies of their crystal structure by x-ray diffraction using the proposed instrument. The x-ray diffractometer will also form a vital component in several geology research projects. The projects include characterization of trace elements in fine-grained sediments to study the evolution and dynamics of geological systems and evaluating the potential of organic-rich shales as source rocks for oil and natural gas by estimating the peak burial temperatures of petroleum source rocks. The x-ray diffractometer will also contribute to several research projects in the Chemistry department including Forensic Chemistry. In addition to its use in research projects, the x-ray diffractometer will be used to enhance undergraduate education through laboratory instruction as well as through undergraduate research projects. X-ray diffraction experiments will be implemented in advanced physics laboratory courses and upper level geology courses. Besides Towson University, several other institutions in the vicinity are expected to benefit from this instrument via collaborative research.