MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to Enhance Surface Science and Nanochemistry at Saint Francis University

该奖项由主要研究仪器（MRI）和化学仪器（CRIF）项目资助。圣弗朗西斯大学的爱德华·佐温卡教授和他的同事罗斯·克拉克正在研制一台原子力显微镜。显微镜是研究材料表面的有力工具。它使用一个非常小的探针，扫描一个表面来测量探针和表面之间的力。这产生了一个表面的图像，其中包含了表面的结构、性质和表面上吸附的材料的信息。原子力显微镜数据提供了在原子水平上对复杂表面现象的基本认识。该奖项支持的研究项目是跨学科的，涉及分析化学（表面科学）、生物物理化学（蛋白质电化学）和无机/环境分析。此次收购支持了学院的教育目标，即培养本科生使用主要的研究仪器，并培养数据收集和解释的技能。该仪器还用于一个面向高中生的拓展项目，鼓励他们追求STEM领域。几位合作者参与了使用这种原子力显微镜的研究项目。一个项目涉及使用显微镜来表征酸性矿井排水过程中的表面。目的是更好地了解方解石的装甲和铝的去除从AMD出水。另一个项目使用原子力显微镜来更好地理解新的肽自组装单层。在这个项目中，肽自组装单层（SAMS）被用来结合细胞色素c。研究人员正在努力对表面微环境及其如何影响蛋白质的形式电位和动力学机制进行新的见解，为开发更先进的电化学生物传感器铺平道路。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemical Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. Professor Edward Zovinka from Saint Francis University and colleague Rose Clark are acquiring an atomic force microscope (AFM). The microscope is a powerful tool for studying the surface of a material. It uses a very small probe which scans across a surface to measure the forces between the probe and the surface. This produces an image of the surface with information on the structure of the surface, its properties and on materials adsorbed on the surface. The AFM data provides basic understanding of complicated surface phenomenon at the atomic level. The research projects supported by this award are interdisciplinary involving analytical chemistry (surface science), biophysical chemistry (protein electrochemistry), and inorganic/environmental analysis. The acquisition supports the educational goals of the faculty to train undergraduates to use major research instrumentation and to develop skills in data collection and interpretation. The instrument is also used in an outreach program to high school students to encourage them to pursue STEM fields. Several collaborators are involved in the research projects using this atomic force microscope. One project involves the use of the microscope to characterize surfaces in acid mine drainage (AMD) processes. The goal is to better understand armoring of calcite and aluminum removal from AMD effluent. Another project uses the AFM to better understand new peptide self-assembled monolayers. In this project peptide self-assembled monolayers (SAMS) are employed to bind to cytochrome c. The researchers are working to develop new insights into the surface microenvironment and how it influences formal potential and kinetic mechanisms of proteins, paving the way for development of more advanced electrochemical biosensors.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.