MRI: Acquisition of a Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Research in Advanced Materials, Energy, and Environment

非技术性：该项目将获得与扫描电子显微镜（FIB-SEM）集成的双束聚焦离子束，以支持南达科他州矿业与技术学院及周边地区的研究和教育。该系统结合了纳米级材料的图案化和高分辨率成像和分析能力的处理。该系统将实现金属、陶瓷和聚合物的高分辨率表征、操作和纳米加工。该系统将对东道机构和该区域的研究活动产生直接和重大的影响。该仪器还将支持培训计划，并将通过支持当地小企业来影响区域经济发展。它将被纳入外联活动，以扩大代表性不足群体的学生对STEM的参与。该系统的运行和维护将由工程和采矿实验站管理。EMES是一个多用户的设施，为大学和部落学院在南达科他州以及区域企业，和州，部落，联邦政府。技术：FIB-SEM将使众多的新材料研究能力，将支持一个令人兴奋的时代的研究增长在南达科他州。该系统与能量色散X射线光谱仪和电子背散射衍射探测器相结合，将能够对先进材料进行高分辨率的化学和晶体分析。FIB能力还将使金属、陶瓷、聚合物和生物材料（例如，介导微生物细胞附着以有效降解生物质的多酶复合物的3D成像）。来自SD的三个研究机构（SDSMT，南达科他州州立大学和南达科他州大学），多个主要本科大学（例如，黑山州立大学）和两所部落学院（Oglala Lakota学院、Sinte Gleska大学）预计将使用该系统进行研究和教育活动。FIB-SEM还将影响七个活跃的机构和全州范围的研究中心/实验室，其中大部分集中在先进材料和制造领域。新设备将补充以前的MRI资助的设备收购，这些设备将共同构成一个不断发展的最先进的材料表征多用户设施（EMES），这将对SDSMT从STEM中代表性不足的群体中有竞争力地招募有才华的教师和学生的能力产生积极影响。 FIB-SEM将支持顶点工程设计项目，并将整合到SDSMT的研究生和本科生课程中，每年影响290名学生。此外，还将引入一门新课程，以培养学生对先进材料表征的FIB-SEM理论和应用的认识。FIB-SEM将被整合到研究生和本科生研究培训计划中，包括两个NSF本科生研究经验（REU）网站计划和最近资助的NSF国家研究培训计划。关于前者，该系统将支持一个研究项目，该项目涉及对美洲原住民（NA）文物的文化和科学分析，作为REU计划的一部分进行，以促进NA学生参与和培训STEM研究。FIB-SEM也将被纳入正在进行的STEM外展计划，旨在吸引SD的大量NA人口（包括K-12学生/教师和部落学院教师和学生），以提高FIB-SEM的认识和访问。最后，该系统将支持多个区域性的技术型初创公司。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。

Nontechnical:The project is to acquire a dual-beam focused ion beam integrated with scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) to support research and education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and in the surrounding region. The system combines nanoscale materials patterning and processing with high-resolution imaging and analytical capabilities. The system will enable high resolution characterization, manipulation, and nanofabrication of metals, ceramics, and polymers. The system will provide an immediate and significant impact to research activities at the host institution and in the region. The instrumentation will also support training programs and will impact regional economic development by supporting local small enterprises. It will be integrated into outreach activities to broaden participation in STEM by students from underrepresented groups. Operation and maintenance of the system will be managed by the Engineering and Mining Experiment Station. EMES is a multi-user facility that serves universities and tribal colleges in South Dakota as well as regional enterprises, and state, tribal, and federal governments.Technical:The FIB-SEM will enable numerous new materials research capabilities that will support an exciting era of research growth in South Dakota. Coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscatter diffraction detectors, the system will permit high resolution chemical and crystallographic analysis of advanced materials. The FIB capability will also enable tomographic imaging and analysis of metals, ceramics, polymers, and biological materials (e.g., 3D imaging of multi-enzyme complexes that mediate microbial cell attachment for efficient biomass degradation). More than 35 faculty from SD’s three research institutions (SDSMT, South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota), multiple primarily undergraduate universities (e.g., Black Hills State University), and two tribal colleges (Oglala Lakota College, Sinte Gleska University) are expected to use the system for research and educational activities. The FIB-SEM will also impact seven active institutional and state-wide research centers/laboratories, the majority of which are focused in the area of advanced materials and manufacturing. The new equipment will complement previous MRI-funded equipment acquisitions that together will comprise a growing state-of-the-art materials characterization multi-user facility (EMES) that will positively impact SDSMT’s ability to competitively recruit talented faculty and students from underrepresented groups in STEM. The FIB-SEM will support capstone engineering design projects and will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate courses at SDSMT, impacting 290 students on an annual basis. Further, a new course will be introduced to train students on the theory and application of FIB-SEM for advanced materials characterization. The FIB-SEM will be integrated into graduate and undergraduate research training programs, including two NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Site programs and a recently funded NSF National Research Traineeship program. Regarding the former, the system will support a research project that involves cultural and scientific analysis of Native American (NA) artifacts, conducted as part of a REU program to facilitate engagement and training of NA students in STEM research. The FIB-SEM will also be integrated into ongoing STEM outreach programs intended to engage SD’s large NA population (including K-12 students/teachers and tribal college faculty and students) to increase awareness and access of the FIB-SEM for this underserved population. Finally, the system will support multiple regional tech-based start-up companies.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.