MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscope to Enhance Research Collaborations and Educational Needs among Colleges and Universities in the New England Area

该奖项由重大研究仪器(MRI)和化学仪器(CRIF)计划资助。马萨诸塞大学波士顿分校的Niya Sa教授及其同事Robyn Hannigan、Michelle Foster、Nolan Flynn(韦尔斯利学院)和Sarah Soltau(布里奇沃特州立大学)获得了具有能量色散X射线光谱(EDS)能力的高分辨率扫描电子显微镜(HRES SEM)。扫描电子显微镜/能谱仪将一束电子束聚焦在样品上。电子与表面相互作用，产生材料的可视图像，并识别其化学元素。这些图像揭示了材料的细节，如表面纳米颗粒的大小和形状或表面粗糙度。这样的图像有助于了解材料的属性。其中一个应用是研究硅作为锂离子电池潜在更好的负极材料的用途。另一项研究是研究二氧化钛，这是一种半导体，用于染料敏化太阳能电池，以提高效率。该仪器位于一个共享设施中，供当地其他机构使用，包括布里奇沃特州立大学、韦尔斯利学院、伊曼纽尔学院、巴德学院、伦斯勒理工学院和邦克山社区学院。它加强了研究生和本科生在研究性课程教学中的培训。扫描电子显微镜是一种强大的分析工具，可以定性和半定量地鉴定各种物种的化学成分。它正被用于许多重要的研究领域。与能源有关的项目包括研究硅作为锂离子电池的负极材料和二氧化钛作为染料敏化太阳能电池的支撑材料。人们正在进行多价离子电池的研究，以了解如何从非水电解液中沉积镁。随着水环境中温度和酸化的变化，研究的重点是碳酸盐结构(双壳类和甲壳类贝壳)的生物矿化。由纳米尺度上至少一维的金属颗粒组成的薄膜具有新颖的物理化学性质，目前正在研究中。潜在的用途是信息存储、生物传感和化学传感，以及多相催化剂的应用。其他研究试图洞察在受控条件下金属纳米颗粒在基质中的分布和组织。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 is funded by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemical Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. Professor Niya Sa from University of Massachusetts Boston and colleagues Robyn Hannigan, Michelle Foster, Nolan Flynn (Wellesley College) and Sarah Soltau (Bridgewater State University) have acquired a high resolution, scanning electron microscope (HRes SEM) with the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) capability. A SEM/EDS focuses a beam of electrons at a sample. The electrons interact with the surface to produce a visual image of the material and identify its chemical elements. These images reveal details of the material such as the size and shape of nanoparticles on the surface or surface roughness. Such images help to understand the properties of the material. One application is investigating the use of silicon as a potentially better anode material for a lithium ion battery. Another study is investigating titanium dioxide, a semiconductor, which is used in dye sensitized solar cells to improve their efficiency. The instrument is in a shared use facility available to other institutions in the local region including Bridgewater State University, Wellesley College, Emmanuel College, Bard College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Bunker Hill Community College. It enhances the training of graduate and undergraduate students in research course instruction. The scanning electron microscope is a powerful analytical tool for identifying chemical composition qualitatively and semi-quantitatively of various species. It is being used in a number of important research areas. Energy related projects include investigations of silicon as an anode material for Li ion batteries and titanium dioxide as a support material for dye sensitized solar cells. Multivalent ion battery research is being pursued to learn how magnesium can be deposited from non-aqueous electrolytes. Research is focusing on the biomineralization of carbonate-based structures (bivalve and crustacean shells) as temperature and acidification changes in the aqueous environment. Thin films composed of metal particles with at least one dimension on the nanometer scale possess novel physicochemical properties which are being investigated. Potential uses are in information storage, biosensing and chemical sensing, as well as in heterogeneous catalyst applications. Other research seeks insights into distribution and organization of metal nanoparticles in a matrix under controlled conditions.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.