MRI: Acquisition of a Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope for Undergraduate Research and Training in Materials Chemistry and Geological Science and STEM Activities in Grades 7-12

MRI：购买一台台式扫描电子显微镜，用于 7-12 年级材料化学和地质科学以及 STEM 活动的本科生研究和培训

• 批准号: 0722607
• 负责人: David Sarno
• 金额: $ 7.08万
• 依托单位: CUNY Queensborough Community College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2010-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0722607&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Tabletop; Scanning; Electron

General abstractMany natural and man-made phenomena which we take for granted are dependent upon the size and shape of objects that are too small to be seen by the human eye. Natural processes can produce extremely tiny, highly organized structures that are less than 1000 times the thickness of a human hair, yet lead to remarkable properties. Humans are doing their best to learn how to mimic nature. The ability to accurately and consistently create objects on this scale is predicted to revolutionize medicine, electronics, manufacturing, building materials, and even fashion. We are proposing the acquisition of a scanning electron microscope that will magnify objects by up to 10,000 times, allowing us to see some of these important structural details. This microscope fits on a standard tabletop, can be operated with minimal training, and has few maintenance requirements. It is ideal for use in undergraduate research at community colleges, which are attended nationally by nearly 44% of science and engineering graduates. It will be used in many divisions of science and technology, including the development of efficient methods for creating biosensors applicable to human health issues such as diabetes management. A second project will explore new methods for producing tiny metal particles that will increase the efficiency of important chemical conversions. A third project will examine the structures that influence the properties of gem-quality pearls. Outreach projects in biology and electrical and computer engineering technology will also be developed for local students and teachers in grades 7-12. The electron microscope is integral to all of this work because it can reveal the structural origin of the useful properties of synthetic and natural materials. Further, the hands-on experiences made possible with this instrument are expected to inspire more students to enter and remain in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.Technical abstractWe are proposing the acquisition of a benchtop scanning electron microscope (SEM) and sputter coater. These instruments will be used by several investigators for research and teaching in chemistry, geology, biology, and electrical and computer engineering technology (ECET). The first project explores the influence of molecular structure and reaction conditions on the nanoscale morphology of the conducting polymer polyaniline and its ring-substituted derivatives. Using these materials, we will develop a one-pot method to fabricate an enzyme-based biosensor composed of a conductive polymer matrix with embedded metal nanoparticles. Glucose/glucose oxidase is our preliminary target, but we will extend this work to other enzyme-substrate systems. The second project is the novel synthesis of biodegradable polysilyl esters catalyzed by the formation of metal nanoparticles. Dispersible, polymer-stabilized palladium nanoparticles are also being investigated as catalysts in the chemo-selective reduction of conjugate double bonds. The third project will characterize the gemological nature of pearls sold in the New York gem trade, including features such as color, luster, surface perfection, sphericity, etc. These are related to the pearls' microstructure, which is easily investigated by microscopy and whose origin depends on variations in the amounts of mineral matter (aragonite and calcite), organic material (the protein conchiolin), and water. Ready access to SEM will allow us to optimize reaction conditions to produce nanostructures with useful properties and will uncover the physiochemical origin of macroscopic properties in naturally occurring materials. This particular electron microscope requires minimal training to operate and has few maintenance and facilities needs, making it ideal for undergraduate research in nanoscience/technology at a community college, as well as for outreach projects in biology and ECET for local students and teachers in grades 7-12. The hands-on experiences made possible with this instrument are expected to inspire more students to enter and remain in STEM fields.

一般摘要我们认为理所当然的许多自然和人造现象都取决于物体的大小和形状，而这些物体太小而无法被人眼看到。自然过程可以产生极其微小、高度组织化的结构，其厚度不到人类头发厚度的 1000 倍，但却具有非凡的特性。人类正在尽最大努力学习如何模仿自然。准确、一致地创造如此规模的物体的能力预计将彻底改变医学、电子、制造、建筑材料甚至时尚。我们提议购买一台扫描电子显微镜，将物体放大达 10,000 倍，使我们能够看到一些重要的结构细节。该显微镜适合安装在标准桌面上，只需最少的培训即可操作，并且几乎不需要维护。它非常适合社区学院的本科生研究，全国有近 44% 的科学和工程毕业生就读于社区学院。它将用于许多科学技术领域，包括开发有效的方法来创建适用于糖尿病管理等人类健康问题的生物传感器。第二个项目将探索生产微小金属颗粒的新方法，这将提高重要化学转化的效率。第三个项目将研究影响宝石级珍珠特性的结构。还将为当地 7 至 12 年级的学生和教师开发生物学、电气和计算机工程技术的外展项目。电子显微镜是所有这些工作不可或缺的一部分，因为它可以揭示合成和天然材料有用特性的结构起源。此外，通过该仪器获得的实践经验预计将激励更多的学生进入并留在科学、技术、工程和数学领域。技术摘要我们建议购买一台台式扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 和溅射仪涂布机。这些仪器将被多名研究人员用于化学、地质学、生物学以及电气和计算机工程技术 (ECET) 的研究和教学。第一个项目探讨了分子结构和反应条件对导电聚合物聚苯胺及其环取代衍生物纳米级形貌的影响。使用这些材料，我们将开发一种一锅法来制造由嵌入金属纳米颗粒的导电聚合物基质组成的酶基生物传感器。葡萄糖/葡萄糖氧化酶是我们的初步目标，但我们会将这项工作扩展到其他酶底物系统。第二个项目是通过金属纳米粒子的形成催化可生物降解的聚硅酯的新合成。还研究了可分散的、聚合物稳定的钯纳米颗粒作为共轭双键化学选择性还原的催化剂。第三个项目将表征纽约宝石贸易中出售的珍珠的宝石学性质，包括颜色、光泽、表面完美度、球形度等特征。这些特征与珍珠的微观结构有关，可以通过显微镜轻松研究，并且其起源取决于矿物质（文石和方解石）、有机物质（贝壳蛋白）和水含量的变化。随时使用 SEM 将使我们能够优化反应条件，以生产具有有用特性的纳米结构，并将揭示天然材料中宏观特性的物理化学起源。这种特殊的电子显微镜需要最少的操作培训，几乎不需要维护和设施，非常适合社区学院纳米科学/技术的本科生研究，以及当地 7 年级学生和教师的生物学和 ECET 外展项目-12。该工具带来的实践经验预计将激励更多学生进入并留在 STEM 领域。