MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope to Enhance Interdisciplinary Materials Research at Bucknell University

技术摘要原子力显微镜（AFM）的获得将允许巴克内尔大学（一个以本科生为主的机构）科学和工程部门的多个用户将现代表面分析纳入各种研究项目中。原子力显微镜在纳米尺度上对样品形貌成像的能力将被用于研究重要的环境和工业过程。具体的研究项目包括（但不限于）：1.研究具有氧化还原活性的粘土矿物的化学和物理性质以及伴随铁的还原和氧化的变化；2)测定有机气溶胶粒子的化学和物理性质对水蒸气吸收的影响；3)研究光刻胶的物理变化与化学现象的相关性，以便更好地了解浸没光刻中不同工艺参数的影响。AFM具有在接近原子尺度的尺度上成像和操作物质的能力，是纳米科学/纳米技术革命的核心。将原子力显微镜引入巴克内尔大学的本科研究密集型环境将使该大学能够继续为学生面对未来的科学挑战做好准备。此外，化学系为高中教师开设的文学硕士（ma）课程将促进向高中生传播纳米技术的基本原理。在研究中使用原子力显微镜的硕士学生将带着对原子尺度在现代科学中日益重要的作用的第一手知识回到教室。摘要原子力显微镜（AFM）的获得将允许巴克内尔大学（一个以本科生为主的机构）科学和工程部门的多个用户将这种尖端技术纳入各种研究项目中。AFM用于产生材料表面的三维图像，与传统的光学显微镜不同，它可以“看到”比人类头发宽度小一百万倍的特征。在这些极小的长度尺度上，单个分子可以被分辨出来。这种能力将用于获得对重要环境和工业过程的新见解。具体的研究项目包括（但不限于）：1.)研究在环境中发生的化学反应（包括与常见地下水污染物的反应）所导致的粘土矿物变化；2)测定大气小颗粒吸收水分的方式，以便更好地了解云的形成和人类气道中的过程；3)研究用于在计算机芯片上绘制小特征图案的材料，以确定不同加工参数的影响。原子力显微镜具有成像和操纵接近单个原子大小的物质的能力，是纳米技术革命的核心。将原子力显微镜引入巴克内尔大学的本科研究密集型环境将使该大学能够继续为学生面对未来的科学挑战做好准备。此外，化学系为高中教师开设的文学硕士（ma）课程将促进向高中生传播纳米技术的基本原理。在研究中使用原子力显微镜的硕士学生将带着对原子尺度在现代科学中日益重要的作用的第一手知识回到教室。

Technical AbstractThe acquisition of an atomic force microscope (AFM) will allow multiple users within the science and engineering departments at Bucknell University, a predominantly undergraduate institution, to incorporate modern surface analysis into a wide variety of research projects. The ability of AFM to image the topography of a sample on the nanoscale will be utilized to investigate important environmental and industrial processes. Specific research projects include (but are not limited to): 1.) studies of the chemical and physical properties of redox-active clay minerals and the changes that accompany reduction and oxidation of iron species; 2.) determination of the effects of the chemical and physical properties of organic aerosol particles on the uptake of water vapor; and 3.) correlation of the physical changes in photoresists with chemical phenomena in order to better understand the effects of different processing parameters used in immersion lithography. With its abilities to image and manipulate matter at dimensions approaching the atomic scale, AFM is at the core of the nanoscience/nanotechnology revolution. Bringing AFM to the undergraduate research-intensive environment at Bucknell will allow the University to continue to prepare students to face tomorrow's scientific challenges. Additionally, the chemistry department's Master of Arts (M.A.) program for high school teachers will facilitate the dissemination of the fundamental principles of nanotechnology to high school students. M.A. students who use AFM in their research will return to their classrooms with first-hand knowledge of the increasingly important role of the atomic scale in modern science.Non-technical AbstractThe acquisition of an atomic force microscope (AFM) will allow multiple users within the science and engineering departments at Bucknell University, a predominantly undergraduate institution, to incorporate this cutting-edge technique into a wide variety of research projects. AFM is used to produce three dimensional images of the surface of a material, and unlike a conventional optical microscope, it can "see" features up to a million times smaller than the width of a human hair. At these extremely small length scales, individual molecules can be discerned. This capability will be utilized to gain new insight into important environmental and industrial processes. Specific research projects include (but are not limited to): 1.) studies of the changes that occur in clay minerals as a result of chemical reactions that occur in the environment, including reactions with common groundwater contaminants; 2.) determination of the way in which small atmospheric particles take up water in order to better understand cloud formation and processes in human airways; and 3.) studies of the materials used to pattern small features on computer chips in order to determine the effects of different processing parameters. With its abilities to image and manipulate matter at dimensions approaching the size of individual atoms, AFM is at the core of the nanotechnology revolution. Bringing AFM to the undergraduate research-intensive environment at Bucknell will allow the University to continue to prepare students to face tomorrow's scientific challenges. Additionally, the chemistry department's Master of Arts (M.A.) program for high school teachers will facilitate the dissemination of the fundamental principles of nanotechnology to high school students. M.A. students who use AFM in their research will return to their classrooms with first-hand knowledge of the increasingly important role of the atomic scale in modern science.