Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring for Characterization of Novel Materials

资金要求石英晶体微量天平与耗散监测（QCM-D）和相关的外围设备，这种设备是迫切需要推进材料研究内外的达尔豪西大学的过程工程和应用科学系。所要求的QCM-D需要确定吸附到目标传感器表面的新型材料的质量，厚度和粘弹性，这将提供有关纳米级表面相互作用和材料结构的有价值的信息。如果没有这些基础数据，就不可能完全了解材料特性对后续应用性能的影响，这限制了我们以明智的方式设计最佳材料的能力。据申请人所知，达尔豪西大学目前没有QCM-D系统。因此，我们没有能力在流动条件下表征纳米级表面相互作用，在纳米级上测量粘弹性，观察新型纳米复合材料的逐层组装，量化环境条件对薄膜的影响，或测量和优化水凝胶加载和释放行为。没有这些能力，我们仅限于必须用于推断这些属性的替代测量，这引入了不必要的可变性并限制了对相关机制的基本理解。所要求的QCM-D需要研究和优化各种新型材料，包括用于水处理和提高石油采收率的设计水溶性聚合物，功能性生物聚合物膜，溶液处理光电子和生物质衍生水凝胶。QCM-D将允许更深入地了解控制材料性能的表面相互作用和材料特性，从而有可能操纵结构-特性-功能关系，以开发新材料，解决当前的全球挑战，包括确保所有人获得清洁水，促进新材料的可持续发展和生产，并为所有人提供清洁和负担得起的能源。鉴于所要求的系统的多功能性，预计许多研究人员和高素质的人员将受益于获得QCM-D。在申请人的研究小组中，至少有10名博士生，12名硕士生，12名本科生和一名博士后将有机会在未来5年内进行尖端材料研究。此外，与达尔豪西大学内外的研究人员的现有合作将进一步扩大所需设备的影响，特别是对于新的生物医学工程应用。

Funds are requested for a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and related peripherals; this equipment is urgently needed to advance materials research within and beyond the Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science at Dalhousie University. The requested QCM-D is required to determine the mass, thickness, and viscoelastic properties of novel materials adsorbed to target sensor surfaces, which will provide valuable information about surface interactions and material structures at the nanoscale level. Without these fundamental data, it is impossible to fully understand the impact of the materials' properties on the subsequent application performance, which limits our ability to work towards optimally designed materials in an informed manner. To the best of the applicants' knowledge, there is not currently a QCM-D system available at Dalhousie University. As such, we do not have the capacity to characterize nanoscale surface interactions under flow conditions, measure viscoelastic properties on a nanoscale, observe layer-by-layer assembly of novel nanocomposite materials, quantify the effects of ambient conditions on thin films, or measure and optimize hydrogel loading and release behaviour. Without these capabilities, we are limited to surrogate measurements that must be used to infer these properties, which introduces unnecessary variability and limits fundamental understanding of the related mechanisms. The requested QCM-D is needed to investigate and optimize a variety of novel materials including designed water-soluble polymers for water treatment and enhanced oil recovery, functional biopolymeric films, solution-processed optoelectronics, and biomass-derived hydrogels. The QCM-D would allow for a deeper understanding of the surface interactions and material properties that govern material performance, making it possible to manipulate structure-property-function relationships for the development of novel materials that address current global challenges including ensuring the availability of clean water for all, promoting the sustainable development and production of new materials, and providing clean and affordable energy for all. Given the versatility of the requested system, it is anticipated that many researchers and highly qualified personnel will benefit by having access to the QCM-D. Within the applicants' research groups, at least 10 PhD candidates, 12 MASc candidates, 12 undergraduate students and a postdoctoral fellow will have an opportunity to perform cutting-edge materials research within the next 5 years. Additionally, existing collaborations with researchers within and beyond Dalhousie University will further the impact of the requested equipment, especially for novel Biomedical Engineering applications.