MRI: Acquisition of an X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer for Advancing Multidisciplinary Research and Education in Quantum Mechanics, Nanotechnology, Biosensors, and Energy Storage

这一奖项来自重大研究仪器计划和既定的激励竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)，支持阿拉巴马农业和机械大学获得最先进的高性能X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)，以推进新兴和未来技术的多学科研究和发现，同时通过扩大代表不足的少数族裔男女的参与来促进多样性。该仪器在表征表面、纳米材料、薄膜和功能界面材料方面具有出色的能力。它将支持教职员工和学生在量子力学、纳米技术、生物传感器以及能量收集和储存方面的研究活动。它还将帮助本科生和研究生掌握人物刻画技术，以及发展出色的分析和解释技能。此外，通过阿拉巴马农业和机械大学的许多外展和暑期研究项目，XPS将对教育和培训产生重大影响。这些计划有利于K-12教育、高中衔接计划，以及将2年制社区大学学生转到4年制STEM学位计划。因此，该仪器还将提高STEM劳动力的招聘率、保留率和毕业率。通过主要研究仪器计划和EPSCoR计划的这一奖项，阿拉巴马农业和机械大学将获得最先进的高性能X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)，以促进新兴和未来技术的多学科研究和发现，同时通过扩大未被充分代表的少数民族男女的参与来促进多样性。该项目旨在推进多学科研究和教育，通过扩大代表不足的少数群体的参与来促进多样性，并提高毕业于STEM劳动力的学生的分析和解释技能。高性能X射线光电子能谱仪将在以下方面加强研究活动：1)研究和操纵量子点以促进能量收集和存储；2)研究和设计用于下一代生物传感技术的带隙减少的纳米复合聚合物；3)开发纳米结构金属等离子体电极作为增强型太阳能电池透明导体，用于高效地将光转化为电能；4)合成和表征用于人体界面应用的有机和有机金属非线性材料；5)用于固体和微阵列生物传感器动态应变传感的聚合物薄膜光栅传感器的纳米图案化；以及6)X射线和伽马射线探测材料的接触-半导体界面中载流子传输和收集的纳米级研究。除了这些主要研究项目外，XPS还将支持北阿拉巴马州和附近地区的其他研究项目以及教育和培训活动。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive research (EPSCoR) supports Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University to acquire a state-of-the-art high-performance X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) to advance multidisciplinary research and discovery in emerging and future technologies, while promoting diversity by broadening the participation of underrepresented minority men and women. The instrument has excellent capabilities in characterizing surfaces, nanomaterials, thin films, and functional interface materials. It will support faculty and student research activities in quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, biosensors, and energy harvesting and storage. It will also aid undergraduate and graduate students in characterization techniques, and in developing excellent analytical and interpretational skills. In addition, the XPS will have significant impacts on education and training through the many outreach and summer research programs at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. These programs benefit K-12 education, high school bridge programs, and transfer of 2-year community college students to 4-year STEM degree programs. Thus, this instrument will also enhance recruitment, retention and graduation rates into the STEM workforce.With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation program and the EPSCoR program Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University will acquire a state-of-the-art high-performance X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS) to advance multidisciplinary research and discovery in emerging and future technologies, while promoting diversity by broadening the participation of underrepresented minority men and women. The project is to advance multidisciplinary research and education, promote diversity by broadening the participation of underrepresented minority groups, and enhance the analytical and interpretational skills of students graduating into the STEM workforce. The high-performance X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer will enhance research activities in: 1) study and manipulation of quantum dots for advancing energy harvesting and storage; 2) investigation and engineering of reduced bandgap nanocomposite polymers for next-generation bio-sensing technologies; 3) development of nanostructured metal plasmonic electrodes as enhanced solar cell transparent conductors for high-efficiency conversion of light to electricity; 4) synthesis and characterization of organic and organometallic nonlinear materials for interface applications with the human body; 5) nanoscale patterning of polymer thin films grating transducers for sensing dynamic strain in solids and microarray biosensors; and 6) nanoscale studies of charge-carrier transport and collection in contact-semiconductor interfaces of materials for X-ray and gamma-ray detection applications. In addition to these primary research programs, the XPS will support other research projects, and education and training activities in North Alabama and nearby regions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.