MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope for Materials Science Research and Student Training

非技术描述：该重大研究仪器(MRI)奖支持购买快速扫描、高分辨率原子力显微镜(AFM)。该仪器是加州州立大学长滩分校(CSULB)专注于材料科学研究的多用户成像中心的核心。该中心开启了通过成像在十亿分之一米的长度尺度上合作探索新合成材料的可能性。许多研究小组的研究、培训、教学和推广都集中在与二维材料、曲面磁性结构和用于疾病检测的便携式诊断传感器相关的项目上。南加州州立大学为资质较好的少数族裔学生提供服务的地位有助于在重要的小特征技术领域提供宝贵的早期经验和技能。研究结果由具有代表总体背景的指导学生通过可访问的高分辨率图像向公众传播。技术描述：所获得的AFM仪器结合了快速扫描、高分辨率纳米材料成像以及高稳定性、重复性和可靠性，用于液体中的测量。该仪器的先进功能是基于超短、高频悬臂梁和较小的高强度激光光斑。悬臂梁的稳定性通过使用二次较短波长的激光来光热激发尖端明确定义的悬臂梁部分来增强。它允许对干燥和液体环境中的表面形态进行动态研究。利用这些新的原子力显微镜特性，研究小组专注于以下目标：1)双热生长金属有机薄膜中针孔的减少；2)表面清洁悬浮石墨烯的增强电子性能；3)曲面磁性表面的磁手性效应；4)用于连接环聚合物移位的纳米孔制造；5)功能化纳米片的缺陷映射；以及6)电化学电池中的表面动力学。

Nontechnical Description:This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a fast-scanning, high-resolution atomic force microscope (AFM). This instrument is at the core of a multi-user imaging center focused on materials science research at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). This center opens the possibility to collaboratively explore newly synthesized materials at the length scale of one billionth of a meter via imaging. The research, training, teaching, and outreach of many research groups focus on projects related to two-dimensional materials, curved magnetic structures, and portable diagnostic sensors for disease detection. CSULB’s position of serving a well-qualified pool of underrepresented minority students lends itself towards giving valuable early experiences and skills in important small feature technology areas. The research results are disseminated to the public via accessible high-resolution images by mentored students with backgrounds representative of the overall population.Technical Description:The acquired AFM instrument combines fast scanning, high-resolution nanomaterial imaging with high stability, reproducibility, and reliability for measurements in liquids. This instrument's advanced features are based on ultra-short, high-frequency cantilevers and smaller, high-intensity laser spots. The cantilever's stability is enhanced by using a secondary shorter wavelength laser to photothermally excite only the well-defined cantilever portion of the tip. It allows for dynamic studies of surface morphology in dry and liquid environments. Taking advantage of these new AFM features, the research groups focus on the following objectives: 1) pin hole reduction in bithermally grown metalorganic thin films; 2) enhanced electronic properties of surface cleaned suspended graphene; 3) magnetochiral effects of curved magnetic surfaces; 4) nanopore fabrication for linked-ring polymer translocation; 5) defect mapping of functionalized nanosheets; and 6) surface dynamics in electrochemical cells.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.