MRI: Development of an infrared scanning near-field optical microscope (IR s-SNOM) for broadband nano-imaging and -spectroscopy

在主要研究仪器项目（MRI）的支持下，化学研究仪器项目（CRIF）以及MPS多学科活动办公室（OMA）的支持下，科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的Markus Raschke教授及其同事Steven Cundiff、Prashant Nagpal、Thomas Perkins和Sean Shaheen正在开发一种用于宽带纳米成像和光谱学的红外扫描近场光学显微镜（IR s-SNOM）。该仪器提供具有纳米空间分辨率、高光谱分辨率和单分子灵敏度的振动和化学红外成像数据。该仪器用于研究聚合物共混物、嵌段共聚物、液晶和生物膜中的分子自组织和纳米级相分离；光合作用中的能量和电荷传递；有机和无机光伏。该奖项不仅允许开发新仪器，还为仪器开发方面的早期职业科学家提供培训。仪器开发工作正在应用于以下项目：(a)研究有机光伏和电化学晶体管中的耦合和传输，(b)实现膜蛋白结构和功能的无标签访问，(c)研究用于太阳能燃料发电的纳米生物混合材料的亚带间转换，以及(d)通过局部探针振动溶剂变色探测分子间耦合和动力学。红外s-SNOM的技术创新可能会导致软物质和量子材料在成像技术中的新发现。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) and support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program (CRIF) as well as the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA), Professor Markus Raschke from the University of Colorado Boulder and colleagues Steven Cundiff, Prashant Nagpal, Thomas Perkins, and Sean Shaheen are developing an infrared scanning near-field optical microscope (IR s-SNOM) for broadband nano-imaging and spectroscopy. The instrument provides vibrational and chemical infrared imaging data with nanometer spatial resolution, high spectral resolution and single molecule sensitivity. This instrument is to enable the study of molecular self-organization and nanoscale phase separation in polymer blends, block-copolymers, liquid crystals, and biomembranes; energy and charge transfer in photosynthesis; and organic and inorganic photovoltaics. The award not only allows for the development of a new instrument but also provides training to early career scientists in instrumentation development.The instrument development effort is being applied to projects such as: (a) studying coupling and transport in organic photovoltaics and electrochemical transistors, (b) achieving label-free access of structure and function of membrane proteins, (c) investigating inter-sub-band transitions in nano-bio-hybrid materials for solar fuel generation, and (d) probing intermolecular coupling and dynamics through local probe vibrational solvatochromism. The technical innovation in IR s-SNOM may lead to new discoveries in soft-matter and quantum materials of utility to imaging technologies.