MRI: Acquisition of a Lab-Scale Instrument for X-ray Absorption Fine Structure

该合同将支持购买实验室规模的x射线吸收光谱（XAS）仪器。XAS测量通常使用专门的同步加速器x射线源进行，但最近的进展使XAS数据可以使用本地实验室规模的仪器收集。这是一个改变游戏规则的进步，有可能加速材料的发现和创新。XAS提供了使用其他常见光谱技术很难甚至不可能获得的关键信息。该仪器将在以下方面发挥关键作用：(a)原子精确催化剂，(b)二氧化碳转化和化学品合成的高性能电催化剂，(c)先进电池，(d)含有贵重铂族金属和稀土元素的复杂自然系统，以及(e)先进电子和磁性材料。XAS表征将提供关键缺失的结构细节，一旦理解，将使下一代材料的开发成为可能。俄亥俄州立大学、邻近大学和公司的研究人员社区将有机会使用该仪器。XAS数据将加速材料的发现，使可持续和节能的催化材料能够从大气中去除二氧化碳。PI和该团队将提供培训，参加外联活动，并将该仪器的使用纳入课程组成部分，以培养未来几代科学家。总的来说，该仪器将对俄亥俄州立大学及其周围的科学界产生广泛的影响。该项目将获得一台用于x射线吸收光谱（XAS）的实验室规模仪器，包括x射线吸收近边缘光谱（XANES）和扩展x射线吸收精细结构光谱（EXAFS）。该仪器将用于回答有关许多不同类型材料的合成-结构-功能关系的基本问题。这包括提供含有成对催化位点的生物激发催化材料的关键和经常缺失的表征，以及钙钛矿的氧化还原特性的关键见解，钙钛矿是二氧化碳还原或氨合成的电催化剂。除催化作用外，该仪器还将为地球化学材料中铂和其他稀土元素的配位提供重要见解，从而实现稀土元素的提取，了解不同土壤样品中的复杂化学成分，并为废物修复提供基础。它还将有助于表征新的电子和磁性材料，这些材料有可能使室温超导体以及电池和储能材料中的电极和电解质结构克服目前对钴的依赖。此外，x射线发射模式将使模型蛋白的结构表征成为可能，这些模型蛋白正在被研究作为小分子活化的催化剂。该仪器将有助于表征有可能实现室温超导体的先进电子和磁性材料。总的来说，实验室规模的仪器将加速材料的发现。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

This award will support the acquisition of a lab-scale instrument for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). XAS measurements are typically performed using specialized synchrotron X-ray sources, but recent advances have enabled XAS data to be collected using a local, lab-scale instrument. This is a game-changing advance that has the potential to accelerate materials discovery and innovation. XAS provides key information that is difficult to impossible to acquire using other common spectroscopic techniques. The instrument will be critical in characterizing (a) atomically precise catalysts, (b) high-performance electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion and synthesis of chemicals, (c) advanced batteries, (d) complex natural systems containing precious platinum group metals and rare earth elements, and (e) advanced electronic and magnetic materials. XAS characterization will provide key missing structural details that, when understood, will enable the development of next generation materials. A community of researchers at Ohio State, neighboring universities, and companies will have access to the instrument. The XAS data will accelerate material discovery to enable sustainable and energy efficient catalytic materials for removing CO2 from the atmosphere. The PI and the team will provide training, participate in outreach events, and incorporate the use of this instrument into curricular components to foster future generations of scientists. Overall, the instrument will have a broad impact on the scientific community at and around Ohio State.This project will acquire a lab-scale instrument for performing X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), including X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS). The instrument will be used to answer fundamental questions about synthesis-structure-function relationships for many different types of materials. This includes providing the critical and often missing characterization of bio-inspired catalytic materials containing paired catalytic sites as well as key insights into the redox properties of perovskites that are electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction or ammonia synthesis. Beyond catalysis, the instrument will provide critical insights on the coordination of platinum and other rare earth elements in geochemical materials to enable extraction of rare earth elements, to understand complex chemistry in diverse soil samples, and to provide a basis for waste remediation. It will also facilitate characterization of new electronic and magnetic materials that have the potential to enable room temperature superconductors as well as electrode and electrolyte structure in batteries and energy storage materials to overcome the current reliance on cobalt. Additionally, the X-ray Emission mode will enable structural characterization of model proteins that are being investigated as catalysts for small molecule activation. The instrument will help to characterize advanced electronic and magnetic materials that have the potential to enable room temperature superconductors. Overall, the lab-scale instrument will accelerate materials discovery.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.