MRI: Acquisition of Raman Spectrometer to Enable Nanoscale Multi-disciplinary Research and Education in Advanced Materials, Health and Energy

拉曼光谱使研究人员能够识别纳米材料的组成和特征。这项重大研究仪器（MRI）奖将支持收购一个拉曼共聚焦显微镜，以支持新的尖端纳米技术研究在加州州立大学（CSU），奇科，刺激研究和教育活动在工程，材料，能源，计算机科学和医学领域，并受益于600多名学生。这些研究活动可以实现社会效益-从高强度，高效和智能材料到靶向药物输送系统。拉曼共聚焦显微镜的收购将使课程的发展，介绍本科生，其中许多人来自代表性不足的群体，尖端技术领域。该显微镜还将实现跨学科合作，加强CSU，奇科与纽约城市大学和桑迪亚国家实验室的合作，并可能促进与其他研究机构和行业的新伙伴关系。 这些互动提高了CSU，奇科的研究能力，并让学生有机会与其他机构的研究人员合作。拉曼光谱允许通过斯托克斯和反斯托克斯散射分析材料对激光的原子级响应来非破坏性地确定材料的化学成分，并且它是广泛科学领域中材料表征的黄金标准。CSU，奇科学院将使用仪器来推进纳米颗粒的合成和表征，DNA纳米结构的设计，金属有机石墨烯类似物的合成和表征，纳米级半导体材料，设备和纳米传感器的制造和表征，组织工程支架开发的基础研究，以及植物酶的表征。 例如，为了在聚合物-纳米颗粒复合材料的AM/3D打印过程中实现资格和过程控制的突破，研究人员将分析几何缺陷，外部和内部缺陷，微米和纳米级的孔隙率以及内外表面的纹理，以开发用于增强AM打印过程建模的信息。研究人员将使用XRD和XCT扫描来测量晶格结构，分析纳米颗粒聚合物复合材料内部的缺陷，并预测在打印过程中晶格结构可能发生扭曲或断裂的位置。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。

Raman spectroscopy enables researchers to identify the composition and characterization of nanomaterials. This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will support the acquisition of a Raman confocal microscope to support new cutting-edge nanotechnology research at California State University (CSU), Chico, spurring research and educational activities in the fields of engineering, materials, energy, computer science, and medicine and benefitting more than 600 students. These research activities could enable societal benefits -- ranging from high-strength, efficient, and smart materials to targeted drug delivery systems. The acquisition of a Raman confocal microscope will enable the development of coursework introducing undergraduate students, many of whom come from underrepresented groups, to cutting-edge technological fields. The microscope will also enable cross-disciplinary collaborations, enhance CSU, Chico's collaborations with City University of New York and Sandia National Laboratory and may promote new partnerships with other research institutions and with industry. These interactions enhance CSU, Chico's research capabilities and give students an opportunity to work with researchers in other institutions. Raman spectroscopy allows the chemical composition of materials to be determined non-destructively by analyzing their atomic level response to a laser via Stokes and anti-Stokes scattering and it is the gold standard for material characterization in a wide range of scientific fields. CSU, Chico faculty will use the instrumentation to advance fundamental research on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, the design of DNA nanostructures, the synthesis and characterization of metal-organic graphene analogues, the fabrication and characterization of nanoscale semiconductor materials, devices, and nanosensors, scaffold development for tissue engineering, and in characterization of plant-based enzymes. For example, to enable breakthroughs in qualification and process control in AM/3D printing processes of polymer-nanoparticle composite materials, the researchers will analyze geometry flaws, external and internal defects, porosity at the micro- and nano-meter level and the texture of inside and outside surfaces to develop information for enhanced modeling of AM printing processes. Researchers will use XRD and XCT scans to measure the lattice structure, analyze the defects inside nanoparticle-polymer composite materials and predict where a lattice-structure may become distorted or break during printing.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.