MRI: Acquisition of a Photo-Induced Force Microscope for High Resolution Nanoscale Spectroscopic Imaging and Analysis

下一代材料和工艺的开发需要先进的纳米级成像和化学分析工具。传统的光谱和显微技术无法提供具有高空间分辨率的分子水平信息，限制了研究人员创造具有前所未有功能的高性能材料的能力。为了弥合纳米级表征的这一关键差距，该重大研究仪器奖支持伦斯勒理工学院购买和安装光诱导力显微镜（PiFM）。该仪器将使复杂纳米材料的红外吸收光谱和化学绘图具有优于10纳米的空间分辨率。PiFM支持的研究项目将提高对自然系统的理解，并开发在医疗保健，计算，能源转换和存储以及材料/环境可持续性方面具有高影响力应用的新材料，化学品和工艺。PiFM仪器将安装在生物技术和跨学科研究中心（CBIS）CBIS显微镜核心，这是一个多用户设施，提供专家仪器培训，并访问来自美国东北地区学术，工业和非营利部门的内部和外部用户。此外，PiFM将成为教育下一代科学家现代纳米表征模式的重要工具，将成像与化学分析相结合。为此，PiFM也将被纳入为K-12，本科生和研究生设计的实践学习体验中。在这项重大研究仪器奖的支持下，伦斯勒理工学院的生物技术和跨学科研究中心（CBIS）将获得并安装一台光诱导力显微镜（PiFM）。该仪器将被放置在一个多用户仪器设施开放给学术，工业和非营利研究人员通过远程或现场访问。PiFM是在过去十年中开发和商业化的一个尖端平台，它将非接触式原子力显微镜与近场光学现象的机械检测相结合，以生成富含分子信息的无标记高分辨率图像。PiFM的空间分辨率为5 - 10 nm，使其成为迄今为止可用于分子振动光谱成像的最高分辨率技术。PiFM将实现以下活动：可视化表面结合（大）分子的化学功能和构象的空间分布和演变;非破坏性地表征有机和无机材料中的纳米级结构域和界面;观察疾病或新型材料制造过程导致的材料中的局部分子变化。PiFM将支持三个主题类别的正在进行的研究项目：1）表面改性和界面现象，2）纳米级界面和结构，以及3）化学不均匀材料。示例项目包括：用于生物医学表面功能化的蛋白质涂层的开发，用于聚合物解聚和再循环的酶的优化，具有高选择性和通量的过滤膜的设计，用于高性能微电子学的半导体薄膜和铁电体的研究，糖尿病引起的骨脆性机制的阐明，作为超灵敏FET基传感器中的半导体膜的金属聚合物共混物的合成，开发具有高体内相容性和弹性的生物电子材料，以及其他多学科高影响力研究领域。将提供开放式展示和研讨会，从周边地区招募新用户。此外，PiFM还将被纳入本科生研究培训计划和K-12教育推广活动。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。

The development of next-generation materials and processes requires advanced tools for nanoscale imaging and chemical analysis. Conventional spectroscopy and microscopy techniques are unable to provide molecular-level information with high spatial resolution, limiting the ability of researchers to create high-performance materials with unprecedented functionality. To bridge such a critical gap in nanoscale characterization, this Major Research Instrumentation award supports Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the acquisition and installation of a photo-induced force microscope (PiFM). The instrument will enable infrared absorption spectroscopy and chemical mapping of complex nanomaterials with better than 10-nanometer spatial resolution. Research projects supported by the PiFM will enhance the understanding of natural systems and develop new materials, chemicals, and processes that have high-impact applications in healthcare, computing, energy conversion and storage, and materials/environmental sustainability. The PiFM instrument will be installed in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) CBIS Microscopy Core, a multiuser facility that provides expert instrument training and access to internal and external users from academic, industry, and non-profit sectors in the U.S. Northeast region. Additionally, the PiFM will be a crucial tool for educating the next generation of scientists in modern nanoscale characterization modalities that integrate imaging with chemical analysis. To that end, the PiFM will also be incorporated into hands-on learning experiences designed for K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students.With support from this Major Research Instrumentation award, the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will acquire and install a photo-induced force microscope (PiFM). The instrument will be placed in a multiuser instrumentation facility open to academic, industry, and non-profit researchers via remote or on-site access. Developed and commercialized within the past decade, PiFM is a cutting-edge platform that integrates non-contact atomic force microscopy with mechanical detection of near-field optical phenomena to generate label-free high-resolution images rich in molecular information. The spatial resolution of PiFM is 5 - 10 nm, making it the highest resolution technique available to date for molecular vibrational spectroscopic imaging. The PiFM will enable activities such as: visualizing the spatial distribution and evolution of chemical functionality and conformation of surface-bound (macro)molecules; characterizing nanoscale domains and interfaces in organic and inorganic materials non-destructively; and observing localized molecular alterations in materials resulting from disease or from novel materials fabrication processes. The PiFM will support ongoing research projects in three thematic categories: 1) Surface Modification and Interfacial Phenomena, 2) Nanoscale Interfaces and Structures, and 3) Chemically Inhomogeneous Materials. Example projects include: development of protein coatings for biomedical surface functionalization, optimization of enzymes for polymer depolymerization and recycling, design of filtration membranes with high selectivity and flux, study of semiconducting thin films and ferroelectrics for high performance microelectronics, elucidation of bone fragility mechanisms caused by diabetes, synthesis of metallopolymer blends as semiconducting films in ultra-sensitive FET-based sensors, development of bioelectronic materials with high in vivo compatibility and resilience, and other areas of multidisciplinary high-impact research. Open house showcases and workshops will be offered recruit new users from the surrounding region. Additionally, the PiFM will also be incorporated into undergraduate research training programs and K-12 educational outreach activities.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.