MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for interdisciplinary undergraduate research at Georgia Gwinnett College

佐治亚州格温尼特学院(GGC)的Neelam Khan教授和他的同事Simon Mwongela获得了来自主要研究仪器(MRI)计划和化学研究仪器(CRIF)计划的这一奖项，他们获得了原子力显微镜(AFM)。在原子力显微镜中，激光束通过悬臂(仅固定在一端的尖端)被引导到表面区域。当悬臂通过与表面相互作用而移动时，激光束的反射被显示在探测器(光电二极管)上。这样，就可以在电子系统的帮助下创建表面的图像。一般而言，原子力显微镜有三种主要能力：测力、成像和操纵。这种显微镜仪器用于研究材料的表面，使研究人员能够获得广泛系统的表面结构、形貌和相互作用力的纳米级细节。该技术提供的图像能够表征各种材料的表面，如聚合物、生物材料和气雾剂。获得关于磁、电和机械性能的信息，这些信息可以导致半导体、脊椎动物视觉颜料和水滤膜等材料的理想性能的改善。该仪器用于本科生承担的研究项目，为未来在高等教育或行业中的职业生涯提供宝贵的现实世界实践培训。该仪器将用于佐治亚州格温奈特学院的研究，特别是在下列领域：(A)鉴定第二至第五类半导体；(B)表征视紫红质--一种视觉色素--在膜表面的堆积；(C)研究导电聚合物膜随生物分子氧化剂的作用；(D)分析天然和合成的黑色素；(E)分析当地对流层气溶胶的单颗粒；以及(F)分析污染物与膜之间的相互作用。

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation (CRIF) Program, Professor Neelam Khan from Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) and colleague Simon Mwongela have acquired an atomic force microscope (AFM). In an AFM a laser beam is directed to a surface area by means of a cantilever (a tip anchored at only one end). As the cantilever is displaced by interacting with the surface a reflection of the laser beam is displayed on a detector (photodiode). In this way an image of the surface can be created with the aid of an electronic system. In general, an AFM has three major abilities: force measurement, imaging and manipulation. This microscopy instrument is used to investigate the surface of materials and enable researchers to obtain nanoscale-level details of surface structure, morphology and interaction forces for a wide range of systems. The technique provides images which enable characterization of surfaces on various materials such as polymers, biological materials and aerosols. Information is obtained on magnetic, electronic and mechanical properties which can lead to improvement in desirable properties for materials such as semiconductors, vertebrate visual pigments and water filtration membranes. The instrumentation is used in research projects undertaken by undergraduates providing invaluable real-world, hands-on training for future careers in higher education or industry. The instrumentation will be used in research at Georgia Gwinnett College especially in areas such as (a) chracterizing semiconductors of groups II-V; (b) characterizing the packing of rhodopsin, a visual pigment, at membrane surfaces; (c) studying conductive polymer film morphology as a function of biomolecular oxidant; (d) analyzing natural and synthetic neuromelanin; (e) analyzing single-particles of local tropospheric aerosols; and (f) analyzing interactions between pollutants and membranes.