MRI: Acquisition of a Novel Raman and Fourier-Transform Infared Microscope for Research and Education in Bio-Materials, Nanoscience, and Forensics

这笔赠款提供支持，以建立一个国家的最先进的组合显微拉曼和傅里叶变换红外（FTIR）设施在中央佛罗里达大学。虽然传统上只有一个单一的光谱技术-无论是拉曼或红外-已与显微镜相结合，新的Jobin Yvon LabRam-IR仪器提供完整的和高度具体的振动光谱指纹，并增加了上级空间分辨率，由于其共焦光学。它还包括一个近红外激光器，这是必不可少的拉曼研究的细胞和材料，这是荧光或强烈吸收在可见光区。智能的优点是来自光谱和空间探测亚微米精度的材料的能力。分子如何与其化学环境相互作用的详细知识将促进我们对膜蛋白和药物细胞相互作用的理解。它将使我们能够确定分子结构如何决定自组装，超分子尺寸，纳米粒子的化学行为以及光电器件的特性。在法证方面，它将加快侦查犯罪现场证据和鉴定危险材料。在行星科学方面，它将推动分析与小行星和行星的地球化学演变有关的矿物组合的新方法。下一代仪器的更广泛的影响将是新的跨学科合作和研究与教育的整合，无论是在本科生和研究生水平。拉曼/傅里叶变换红外显微镜将大大加强资助和计划的研究工作，以及与工业和少数民族机构的伙伴关系。它将促进法医学研究，从而可能导致发现隐藏爆炸物的更有效方法。该跨学科设施将为高级学生学习和将研究成果转移到工业领域提供综合光谱学资源。该奖项支持在中央佛罗里达大学在Alfons Schulte博士的指导下购买组合拉曼和傅里叶变换红外显微镜，建立一个跨部门的重点，在原位分子表征和成像的材料在微米和纳米尺度。该仪器将成为分析生物和人造纳米结构、光学材料和半导体器件的独特工具。它将在法医应用中实现非破坏性痕迹检测，特别是对极少量的爆炸物和危险生物材料。在行星科学方面，它将建立分析矿物组合的新方法，并有助于阐明小行星和行星的地球化学演变。新仪器的更广泛的影响将是新的跨学科合作和研究与教育的整合，无论是在本科生和研究生水平。它将汇集不同学科的教师，并鼓励大学研究人员，政府组织和行业之间的合作。来自UCF和少数民族机构的学生将通过参与尖端研究受益，并将他们的专业知识带到佛罗里达I4走廊的高科技公司。

This grant provides support to establish a state-of-the-art combined micro-Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) facility at the University of Central Florida. While traditionally only a single spectroscopic technique - either Raman or Infrared - has been coupled with microscopy, the novel Jobin Yvon LabRam-IR instrument provides complete and highly specific vibrational spectral fingerprinting and adds superior spatial resolution due to its confocal optics. It also includes a near-infrared laser, which is essential for Raman studies of cells and materials, which are fluorescent or strongly absorbing in the visible region. The intellectual merit is derived from the ability to spectrally and spatially probe materials with sub-micron precision. The detailed knowledge of how molecules interact with their chemical environment will advance our understanding of membrane proteins and drug-cell interactions. It will allow us to determine how molecular structure determines self-assembly, supramolecular size, chemical behavior of nanoparticles, and properties of optoelectronic devices. In forensics it will accelerate the detection of crime scene evidence and identification of hazardous materials. In planetary science it will advance new methodologies for analysis of mineral assemblages relevant to the geochemical evolution of asteroids and planets. The broader impact of the next generation instrumentation will be new cross-disciplinary collaborations and the integration of research and education, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Raman / FTIR microscope will greatly strengthen funded and planned research efforts as well as partnerships with industry and minority institutions. It will enable research in forensics which may lead to more efficient methods to detect concealed explosives. The interdisciplinary facility will provide an integrated spectroscopy resource for advanced student learning and transfer of research findings into the industrial sphere.This award supports the acquisition of a combined Raman and Fourier-Transform Infrared microscope at the University of Central Florida, under the direction of Dr. Alfons Schulte, to create an interdepartmental focus for in-situ molecular characterization and imaging of materials on the micro- and nano-scale. The instrumentation will be a unique tool for the analysis of biological and man-made nanostructures, optical materials, and semiconductor devices. It will enable non-destructive trace detection in forensics application, particularly with minuscule amounts of explosives and hazardous biological materials. In planetary science it will establish new methodologies for analysis of mineral assemblages and help to shed light on the geochemical evolution of asteroids and planets. The broader impact of the novel instrumentation will be new cross-disciplinary collaborations and the integration of research and education, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It will bring together a diverse group of faculty across disciplines and encourage collaborations between university researchers, government organizations, and industry. Students from UCF and minority institutions will benefit through involvement in cutting edge research and bring their expertise to high-tech companies in the Florida I4-corridor.