Critical Need for Powder X-ray Diffractometer

目前的建议是一个台式粉末x射线衍射系统。x射线衍射系统将用于表征块状材料和纳米材料，以获得有关(i)材料形成、（ii）纯度、（iii）晶体尺寸、（iv）合成可重复性和(v)结构细节的信息。该设备将主要支持三个研究项目，重点是设计、合成和表征用于地下水和城市污水修复（吸附、催化和传感）、化学战剂解毒、药物输送、光动力治疗和太阳能转换的新材料。这些材料包括新型稀土金属有机框架（RE-MOFs）、镧系掺杂纳米粒子、染料敏化光电极和半导体。除了支持三位申请人的研究项目外，该设备还将支持我们部门专注于生物柴油生产、生物地球化学和有机半导体的研究项目。该设备支持的研究活动对材料化学、纳米化学、绿色化学、环境化学和可持续性等领域具有重要意义。该设备将使人们更好地了解化学结构和性质，这对于为上述相关应用设计和生产下一代材料是必不可少的。研究预计将导致更安全、更高效的废水净化、士兵和平民防护设备、药物输送、癌症治疗和可持续能源的商业材料。大部分研究都集中在利用稀土元素合成新材料上，而加拿大是世界上稀土元素储量最大的国家之一。几个省政府最近投资了数百万美元在加拿大开采稀土元素，联邦政府预计在不久的将来也会投资。重要的是，该设备对于培养化学领域的下一代高素质人才也至关重要。

The present proposal is for a benchtop powder X-ray diffraction system. The X-ray diffraction system will be used to characterize bulk materials and nanomaterials to gain information about (i) material formation, (ii) purity, (iii) crystallite size, (iv) synthetic reproducibility, and (v) structural details. This equipment will primarily support three research programs that are focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of novel materials for applications in groundwater and municipal wastewater remediation (adsorption, catalysis, and sensing), detoxification of chemical warfare agents, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and solar energy conversion. The materials include novel rare earth metal-organic frameworks (RE-MOFs), lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, dye-sensitized photoelectrodes, and semiconductors. In addition to supporting the research programs of the three applicants, the equipment will also support research programs in our department focused on biodiesel production, biogeochemistry, and organic semiconductors. The research activities supported by this equipment are significant for the field of materials chemistry, as well as nanochemistry, green chemistry, environmental chemistry, and sustainability. The equipment will allow for a better understanding of chemical structure and properties, which is imperative for designing and producing the next generation of materials for the relevant applications mentioned above. Research is expected to lead to commercial materials for safer and more efficient wastewater purification, protective equipment for soldiers and civilians, drug delivery, cancer treatment, and sustainable energy. Much of the research is focused on using rare-earth elements to synthesize new materials, and Canada has among the largest reserves of rare-earth elements in the world. Several provincial governments have recently invested millions of dollars to mine rare-earth elements in Canada, with a federal investment expected in the near future. Importantly, this equipment is also critical for training the next generation of high qualified personnel in the field of chemistry.