MRI: Acquisition of a Next Generation Pulsed Laser Deposition System for Thin Film and Nanomaterials Research at North Carolina A & T State University

这项主要研究仪器（MRI）拨款为获得下一代脉冲激光沉积系统提供资金，用于薄膜和纳米材料研究。 脉冲激光沉积系统将为专注于开发用于生物医学植入应用的金属和陶瓷生物材料、用于数据存储设备的自组装磁性纳米颗粒的合成以及嵌入纳米颗粒的高温超导薄膜的合成的研究项目提供直接和重大的推动。第一个研究领域与2008年在北卡罗来纳州农业和技术州立大学由国家科学基金会资助的革命性金属生物材料工程研究中心直接相关。该沉积系统的独特之处在于在同一个腔室中提供激光烧蚀和直流磁控溅射，并能够通过光学发射光谱系统原位诊断等离子体中存在的物质，以及通过反射高能电子衍射系统原位表征薄膜和纳米结构材料的结构。研究生和本科生的时尚。它还将被纳入北卡罗来纳州农业技术州立大学机械工程系目前在研究生和本科生阶段提供的薄膜技术、纳米科学和纳米工程课程。由于脉冲激光沉积系统的操作简单，激光羽流和基板加热平台的红光具有视觉吸引力，该设施还将用于小学，初中和高中学生和教师访问校园的教育和推广活动。

This Major Resesarch Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding for the aquisition of a next generation pulsed laser deposition system for thin film and nanomaterials research. The pulsed laser deposition system will provide immediate and significant boost to the research projects focused on the development of metallic and ceramic biomaterials for biomedical implant applications, synthesis of self-assembled magnetic nanoparticles for data storage devices, and synthesis of high-temperature superconducting thin films embedded with nanoparticles for superconductive electronics. The first research area is directly related to the Engineering Research Center on Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials funded by the National Science Foundation in 2008 at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The uniqueness of the proposed deposition system lies in the provision for laser ablation and direct current magnetron sputtering in the same chamber and capabilities of in situ diagnosis of species present in the plasma by an optical emission spectroscopy system and in situ structural characterization of thin film and nanostructured materials by a reflection high energy electron diffraction system.The instrumentation will be used directly in a hands-on fashion by both graduate and undergraduate students. It will also be incorporated into courses on thin film technology and nanoscience and nanoengineering offered currently at graduate as well as undergraduate levels in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Due to simplicity of operation of pulsed laser deposition system and the visual attractiveness of laser plume and red glow of the substrate heating platform, the facility will also be used for the education and outreach activities for elementary, middle, and high school students and teachers visiting the campus.