MRI: Acquisition of a Small-angle X-ray Scattering Instrument

非技术：纳米科学是整个南卡罗来纳州的主要研究重点。该州有三所研究密集型大学，包括南卡罗来纳州大学（USC），克莱姆森大学和南卡罗来纳州医科大学，此外还有许多研究活跃的教学学院。拟议的小角X射线散射（SAXS）仪器满足了区域对纳米级表征能力的需求，并已收到6所大学20多名教职员工的书面承诺，将立即使用该工具。SAXS仪器建立了一个名为南卡罗来纳州SAXS中心（SCSC）的开放式区域设施，该中心位于中心位置，以支持HBCU和PUI的负担得起的访问。该仪器使新兴的研究计划，从最近聘请的教师，并广泛支持许多联邦资助的软物质物理，工程，生物科学和纳米材料化学计划。SCSC支持近200名本科生和研究生的教育。SAXS的能力正在被纳入现有的教育计划，以及新的南加州大学本科和研究生课程的纳米表征。南加州大学的一个新的暑期项目向HBCU的学生介绍了SAXS，包括南卡罗来纳州州立大学、克拉夫林大学和本尼迪克特学院。此外，工业研究合作伙伴使用SAXS仪器来加速他们的研究，从而增强当地经济，促进学术界与工业界的密切合作，并增加南卡罗来纳州毕业生的招聘。建立南卡罗来纳州SAXS中心改变了全州的纳米级研究能力，特别是关于嵌段共聚物、导电聚合物、纳米复合材料、纳米颗粒、生物颗粒、蛋白质溶液/界面，中孔材料和用于能量装置的纳米材料。要研究的科学问题都需要纳米结构信息，例如纳米复合材料的长程有序或纳米颗粒的形状和大小。以前当地缺乏SAXS仪器，大大减缓了许多联邦资助项目的科学研究。SAXS采集包括多个样品台和多个可配置的探测器，以支持从固体、糊状物和液体的透射和反射模式下的小角散射到广角散射的各种测量方法。温控环境室、流动池和毛细管载物台可满足广泛用户群的各种实验需求。SCSC支持远程仪器使用的24/7网络访问，并将通过在线数据托管促进结果的传播。用户友好的软件包指导训练有素的本科生，研究生和资深科学家在SAXS分析。SCSC增强了正在进行的基础研究，并支持各种应用，如各向异性纳米颗粒的光致发光，燃料电池的高性能膜，可持续的热塑性弹性体和动态纳米胶囊的药物输送。来自南卡罗来纳州SAXS中心的加速结果改变了聚合物、纳米复合材料、能源材料、生物科学和物理科学的高级研究计划。

Non-technical: Nanoscience is a major research focus across South Carolina. The state has three research-intensive universities including the University of South Carolina (USC), Clemson University, and the Medical University of South Carolina, in addition to numerous research-active teaching-colleges. The proposed small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) instrument fills a regional need for nanoscale characterization capabilities and has written commitments from more than 20 faculty members across 6 universities to put the tool to immediate use. The SAXS instrument establishes an open regional facility called the South Carolina SAXS Center (SCSC) that is centrally located to support affordable access from HBCUs and PUIs. The instrument enables emerging research programs from recently hired faculty and broadly supports numerous federally funded programs on soft-matter physics, engineering, biological sciences, and nanomaterials chemistry. SCSC supports the education of nearly two hundred undergraduate and graduate students. The SAXS capabilities are being incorporated into existing educational programs as well as into new USC undergraduate and graduate courses on nanoscale characterization. A new summer program at USC introduces SAXS to students of HBCUs, including South Carolina State University, Claflin University, and Benedict College. In addition, industrial research partners use the SAXS instrument to accelerate their research that enhances the local economy, promotes close academic-industry collaboration, and increases the hiring of South Carolina graduates.Technical: Establishing the South Carolina SAXS Center transforms statewide nanoscale research capabilities, especially regarding block copolymers, conductive polymers, nanocomposites, nanoparticles, bioparticles, protein solutions/interfaces, mesoporous materials, and nanomaterials for energy devices. The scientific problems to be studied all require nanoscale structural information such as the long-range order of nanocomposites or the shape and size of nanoparticles. The previous lack of local access to a SAXS instrument had significantly slowed the scientific research of numerous federally funded projects. This SAXS acquisition includes several sample stages and multiple configurable detectors to support a diverse range of measurement methods from small- to wide-angle scattering in both transmission and reflection modes from solids, pastes, and liquids. The temperature controlled environmental chamber, flow cell, and capillary stage enable the diverse experimental needs of the broad user base. SCSC supports 24/7 cyber-access for remote instrument use and will promote the dissemination of results with online data hosting. The user-friendly software packages guide trained undergraduates, graduates, and senior scientists in SAXS analysis. SCSC enhances ongoing fundamental studies and supports diverse applications such as photovoltaics from anisotropic nanoparticles, high-performance membranes for fuel cells, sustainable thermoplastic elastomers, and drug delivery from dynamic nanocapsules. Accelerated results from the South Carolina SAXS Center transform advanced research programs on polymers, nanocomposites, energy materials, biological sciences, and physical sciences.