MRI: Acquisition of a High-Sensitivity Low-Energy Ion Scattering (HS-LEIS) Spectrometer with Multiple Reactive Environment Transfer for Interrogating Surfaces and Interfaces

材料通过其表面与环境相互作用。有关材料表面特性的知识对于设计具有目标特性的下一代材料至关重要，这些目标特性涵盖化学，光学，电子，热，机械，生物和其他应用。离子散射光谱学的最新发展为材料的顶部原子层提供了前所未有的分辨率和灵敏度，这对诸如光化学中的催化反应性、涂层渗透性或电荷传输等行为影响最大。该项目涉及购买一台高灵敏度低能离子散射光谱仪，这将是大落基山脉地区及其许多研究人员的重要资源。 该仪器将促进在研究催化、原子层沉积和涂层、光化学、固态结构和界面等领域建立新的合作。 该项目的研究人员将创建一个新的年度，基于网络的表面科学研讨会，以连接该地区的地理分散的研究人员。作为一种公共资源，该仪器将推动当地学术、政府和工业机构的科学任务。离子散射光谱可以通过测量低能量非破坏性离子从样品表面原子反冲期间的动量转移来实现真正的原子层表面灵敏度。这种方法在其他技术中脱颖而出，如X射线光电子能谱法，它探测材料的近表面区域到几纳米的深度。最近的硬件进步，主要是在离子光学，离子散射光谱的检测灵敏度提高了三个数量级以上的旧的传统分析仪。这种“高灵敏度”的离子散射光谱仪仍然很少使用;拟议的仪器将是北美第二个类似的仪器。它也将是唯一一个能够从液体反应环境中转移样品的设备，为理解暴露于溶剂的表面（如电化学系统）开辟了新的前沿。该仪器将用于研究催化、原子层沉积和涂层、光化学和固态结构中的各种关键表面特性。该奖项反映了NSF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。

Materials interact with their environment through their surfaces. Knowledge about the surface properties of materials is crucial to designing the next generation of materials with targeted characteristics spanning chemical, optical, electronic, thermal, mechanical, biological, and other applications. Recent developments in ion scattering spectroscopy provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity for the top atomic layer of materials, which most critically affects behaviors such as catalytic reactivity, coating permeability, or charge transport in photovoltaics. This project involves the acquisition of a high-sensitivity low-energy ion scattering spectrometer, which will be a vital resource for the greater Rocky Mountain Region and its many researchers. The instrument will stimulate the establishment of new collaborations in studying catalysis, atomic layer deposition and coatings, photovoltaics, and solid state structure and interfaces, among other areas. The project researchers will create a new annual, web-based surface science symposium to connect the geographically diffuse researchers of the region. As a publicly available resource, the instrument will advance the scientific missions of local academic, government, and industrial institutions. Ion scattering spectroscopy can achieve true atomic layer surface sensitivity by measuring momentum transfer during the recoil of low energy, non-destructive ions off of the surface atoms of a sample. This methodology stands out amongst other techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which probe the near-surface region of materials to a depth of several nanometers. Recent hardware advances, mainly in ion optics, have improved the detection sensitivity of ion scattering spectroscopy by three orders of magnitude over older conventional analyzers. This "high sensitivity" ion scattering spectroscopy is still sparingly accessible; the proposed instrument will be only the second comparable instrument in North America. It also will be the only one to have capabilities to transfer samples from liquid reaction environments, opening new frontiers in understanding surfaces exposed to solvents, such as in electrochemical systems. The instrument will be used to study a wide array of critical surface properties in catalysis, atomic layer deposition and coatings, photovoltaics, and solid-state structure.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.