MRI: Acquisition of Multi-Mode Atomic Force Microscopy System for Research, Education and Outreach

该奖项由重大研究仪器和化学仪器项目资助。来自南伊利诺伊大学卡本代尔的普尼特·科利教授和他的同事赛卡特·塔拉帕特拉、凯尔·普伦基特、法尔汉·乔杜里和塞内塔·班克罗夫特正在获得一台多模原子力显微镜(AFM)。显微镜是研究各种材料表面的有力工具。它使用原子尺度的探头，尖端扫描表面，并测量探头和表面之间的力。这将产生表面的高分辨率图像，其中包含有关其结构和属性的信息。它导致了对原子水平上正在发挥作用的复杂现象的基本理解。这些知识是理解纳米材料和系统的关键物理属性所必需的。其应用的一个例子是，通过光催化方法破坏有机污染物，如二恶烷或多氟烷基物质，合成有效处理受污染水的材料。学生们在研究中使用了这种仪器。它被用于课堂和实验室教学。因此，该仪器的提供不仅大大增强了SIUC校园内学生、教职员工的学习体验，而且还增加了南伊利诺伊州农村地区其他学院和大学的学习体验。该奖项旨在加强各级的研究和教育。原子力显微镜被用来研究有机、无机和生物材料在纳米尺度上的机械性能。电子和神经元电路的三维(3D)结构器件的制造和组装正在研究中。目前正在研究纳米材料合成和设计方面的战略创新，以改进用于能量存储和催化的光电子器件。用于污染物隔离和生物修复以改善水质的材料也是目标。另一项应用涉及为同质上皮干细胞更新设计微环境。这一结果涉及多个领域，包括细胞力学、干细胞生物学和组织工程。这一奖项反映了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 and Chemical Instrumentation programs. Professor Punit Kohli from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and colleagues Saikat Talapatra, Kyle Plunkett, Farhan Chowdhury and Senetta Bancroft are acquiring a multimode atomic force microscope (AFM). The microscope is a powerful tool for studying the surface of various materials. It uses an atomic scale probe in which the pointed tip scans across a surface and measures the force between the probe and the surface. This produces a high-resolution image of the surface with information on its structure and properties. It leads to a basic understanding of complicated phenomenon that are in play at the atomic level. Such knowledge is needed for understanding key physical properties of nanoscale materials and systems. An example of its use is in the synthesis of materials effective for treating contaminated water by photo catalytic methods to destroy organic contaminants such as dioxane or polyfluoroalkyl substances. The instrument is employed by students in their research. It is used in classroom and laboratory instruction. Therefore, the availability of this instrument significantly augments the learning experience of the students, faculty and staff not only at the SIUC campus but also beyond at other colleges and universities in the rural Southern Illinois region. The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. The AFM is used to investigate the mechanical properties at the nanoscale of organic, inorganic, and biological materials. The fabrication and assembly of three dimensional (3D) architectural devices for electronics and neuron circuits is being studied. Strategic innovations in nanomaterials synthesis and design are under investigation for improving opto-electronics devices for energy storage and catalysis. Materials for contaminant sequestration and bioremediation to improve water quality are also targeted. Another application addresses engineering a microenvironment for homogeneous epiblast stem cell renewal. The results have implications in multiple fields including cell mechanics, stem cell biology, and tissue engineering.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.