MRI-R2: Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Research and Research Training at UNC

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。北科罗拉多大学化学系、地球科学系、生物系、物理系和人类学系将获得一台配备能谱仪（EDS）的扫描电子显微镜（SEM），以支持这些系的研究活动。这种仪器将使材料科学、地质学、生物学、人类学和环境方面的项目取得重大进展。项目的例子包括：1)研究矿物锆石如何为山带的形成提供重要信息；2)测定金属间物质的元素组成；3)研究表面单层的形成和稳定性，以研究特定的受体-分析物相互作用；4)阐明几种丝状真菌对硒的吸收和分布。5)研究古代石器和骨制工具上的切割和磨损痕迹，以帮助确定它们的用途和功能；6)研究植物细胞结构对温度胁迫的作用。此外，SEM将在大学的一些推广和教育活动中发挥作用，包括学前教育K-12教师的教育，以及与拉勒米县社区学院和格里利/韦尔德县法医实验室的持续合作。扫描电子显微镜是一种广泛使用的技术，用于提供样品表面的图像。图像是用电子束扫描表面得到的。能量色散光谱与扫描电镜相结合，提供元素分析，即样品的化学表征。SEM/EDS的收购将完全整合到教师的研究项目中，并将被来自各种科学学科的研究生使用。北科罗拉多大学开展的广泛的教育和推广活动将使大量公众成员了解扫描电镜成像在帮助回答科学中的重要问题方面的效用。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program, the Departments of Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Biology, Physics and Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado will acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to support research activities in these Departments. This instrumentation will enable significant advances in projects focused on materials science, geology, biology, anthropology and the environment. Examples of projects include: 1) the investigation of how the mineral zircon can provide critical information regarding the formation of mountain belts, 2) the determination of elemental composition in intermetallic materials, 3) the investigation of monolayer formation and stability on surfaces, with respect to studying specific receptor-analyte interactions, 4) the elucidation of the uptake and distribution of selenium in several filamentous fungi, 5) the study of the tool cut and wear marks on ancient stone and bone tools to help in determining their use and function, and 6) the study of plant cell structure as a function of temperature stress. In addition, the SEM will feature in a number of outreach and education activities of the University, including the education of pre-service K-12 teachers, and ongoing collaborations with Laramie County Community College and the Greeley/Weld County Forensic Laboratory. Scanning electron microscopy is a widely used technique for providing an image of a sample surface. The image is obtained from scanning the surface with a beam of electrons. Energy dispersive spectroscopy is combined with a SEM to provide elemental analysis i.e. chemical characterization of the sample. The SEM/EDS acquisition will be fully integrated into faculty members' research programs, and will be used by research students from a wide variety of science disciplines. The wide-ranging education and outreach activities carried out by the University of Northern Colorado will expose a large number of members of the public to the utility of SEM imaging in helping to answer important questions in science.