MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Probe Microscope System for the Core University Research Resources Laboratory (CURRL) at New Mexico State University

这个奖项给新墨西哥州州立大学（NMSU）是为了收购一个国家的最先进的高分辨率原子力显微镜（AFM）系统。 该仪器将安装在一个易于访问的中央核心设施，支持NMSU主校区和五个卫星社区学院。原子力显微镜是通过相位或力成像来表征纳米尺度表面形貌的不可缺少的工具。 它将加强纳米结构材料的工艺开发和分析，并提供新的资源来探索复杂的物理化学、生物和农业系统的特定和动态相互作用。 来自工程学院的初级和高级教师的多学科小组;艺术和科学;和农业，消费者和环境科学与积极的研究计划将扩大他们的调查和教学到纳米科学和纳米技术通过采用AFM的独特能力。将直接受益于该仪器的具体研究项目包括非金属薄膜形态学（如石墨烯）、金属、金属氧化物、氮化物、碳化物及其纳米复合材料;纳米材料的表面功能化和材料表面的微观结构变化;软生物和农业材料的成像;可寻址阵列平台上的电化学研究;以及材料的光、磁、电特性等。 新的原子力显微镜将不仅影响具体的研究计划，但也有助于催化和促进材料研究和教育在NMSU更广泛的，大学范围内的倡议。位于中心的仪器将显着提高超过一百名教师，工作人员和学生的研究和能力的广度。此外，这种现代AFM包括易于使用和多学科应用的多功能性设计功能，可促进高质量的教育培训，并将用于学生培训，课堂演示和赞助研讨会。 这个项目弥合了教室和研究实验室之间的差距。一个现代原子力显微镜在一个管理的核心设施与建立非正式和正式的多学科用户群的培训相结合，将产生积极的影响纳米科学和显微成像研究和教育在南部新墨西哥州，边境地区，以及超越。

This award to New Mexico State University (NMSU) is for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art high resolution atomic force microscope (AFM) system. The instrument will be installed in a readily-accessible centralized core facility that supports the NMSU main campus and five satellite community colleges. AFM is an indispensable tool in characterizing surface topography on the nanoscale via phase or force imaging. It will enhance process development and analysis of nanostructured materials as well as provide a new resource to probe specific and dynamic interactions of complex physic-chemical, biological, and agricultural systems. A multidisciplinary group of junior and senior faculty from the Colleges of Engineering; Arts and Sciences; and Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences with active research programs will expand their investigations and teaching into nanoscience and nanotechnology by employing the unique capabilities of the AFM. Specific research projects that will directly benefit from the instrument include thin film morphology of nonmetals (such as graphene), metals, metal-oxides, nitrides, carbides, and their nanocomposites; surface functionalization of nanomaterials and microstructural changes in material surfaces; imaging in soft biological and agricultural materials; electrochemical investigation on addressable array platforms; and, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of materials, etc. The new AFM will impact not only the specific research programs, but also help to catalyze and promote a broader, college-wide initiative in materials research and education at NMSU. The centrally-located instrument will significantly enhance the research and breadth of capabilities of more than one-hundred faculty, staff, and students. In addition, this modern AFM includes design features for ease-of-use and versatility for multi-disciplinary applications that facilitate high quality educational training and will be used for student training, classroom demonstrations, and sponsored workshops. This project bridges the gap between the classroom and the research lab. The combination of a modern AFM in a managed core facility with established informal and formal training for a multi-disciplinary user base will have a positive impact on nanoscience and microscopic imaging research and education in southern New Mexico, the borderland region, and beyond.