MRI: Acquisition of a powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) system to enhance research at a primarily undergraduate institution.

该主要研究仪器项目（MRI）将支持在丹尼森大学购买台式粉末x射线衍射仪（XRD）系统。该仪器将用于至少五位丹尼森学院教员的研究。研究的范围包括开发用于有机电子和太阳能电池的新型液晶，用于疾病检测的新型生物传感器，用于产生太阳能燃料的新型催化剂，以及了解与植物水化控制相关的蜡层中的水输送。丹尼森大学主要是一所本科院校，这意味着新仪器支持的研究只由教师直接指导的本科生研究人员进行。本科生将被培养为粉末XRD的独立用户，获得重要的实践经验和增强的研究训练。此外，该仪器将被纳入科学课程的几个课程，包括普通化学、无机化学、材料化学和地球科学课程。在丹尼森的课程中使用尖端设备，提高了学生对基础科学在技术创新和为国家面临的许多关键问题寻找解决方案方面所起关键作用的认识。ADX-8000粉末XRD系统具有紧凑的台式设计和先进的功能，例如结合了ALTK-450变温（VT）阶段，将对该部门在功能材料研究的各个领域的多个正在进行的研究领域产生重大而直接的影响。这些包括：(1)研究新型柱状液晶材料，这些材料有可能作为一系列有机电子应用的组件，包括低成本光伏发电；(2)低成本太阳能转换研究，发展混合金属氧化物纳米材料；(3)有序有机硅酸盐材料的研究，研究其作为生物化学活性材料和传感器的潜力；(4)模拟自然边界层的蜡层复相行为研究。

This Major Research Instrumentation program (MRI) award will support the acquisition of a bench-top powder X-ray diffractometer (XRD) system at Denison University. This instrument will be used in the research of at least five faculty members at Denison. The breadth of the research includes development of new types of liquid crystals for use in organic electronics and solar cells, novel bio-sensors for disease detection, new catalysts for the generation of solar fuels, and understanding water transport in waxy layers related to hydration control in plants. Denison University is a primarily undergraduate institution, meaning that the research supported by the the new instrument is carried out exclusively with undergraduate researchers mentored directly by faculty. Undergraduate students will be trained as independent users of powder XRD, gaining significant hands-on experience and enhanced research training. In addition, the instrument will be incorporated into several classes in the science curriculum, including classes in general chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, and geoscience. The use of cutting edge equipment across Denison's curriculum promotes an increased student awareness of the critical role fundamental science plays in technological innovation and in finding solutions for many of the critical issues facing the Nation.With a compact bench top design and advanced capabilities such as incorporation of the ALTK-450 variable temperature (VT) stage, the ADX-8000 powder XRD system will have significant and immediate impact on multiple ongoing research areas in the department in diverse areas of functional materials research. These include (1) research in novel columnar liquid crystalline materials with potential to serve as components in a range of organic electronic applications, including low-cost photovoltaics; (2) research on low-cost solar energy conversion, with the development of mixed metal-oxide nanomaterials; (3) research in well-ordered organo-silicate materials with the potential to serve as biochemically active materials and sensors; (4) research on the complex phase behavior of wax layers mimicking natural boundary layers.