MRI: Acquisition of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to Enhance Surface Science and Nanochemistry at Saint Francis University

MRI：圣弗朗西斯大学购买原子力显微镜 (AFM) 以增强表面科学和纳米化学

• 批准号: 1919589
• 负责人: Edward Zovinka
• 金额: $ 8.32万
• 依托单位: Saint Francis University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-09-01 至 2022-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1919589&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Atomic; Force; Microscope

This award is funded by the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and Chemical Instrumentation (CRIF) programs. Professor Edward Zovinka from Saint Francis University and colleague Rose Clark are acquiring an atomic force microscope (AFM). The microscope is a powerful tool for studying the surface of a material. It uses a very small probe which scans across a surface to measure the forces between the probe and the surface. This produces an image of the surface with information on the structure of the surface, its properties and on materials adsorbed on the surface. The AFM data provides basic understanding of complicated surface phenomenon at the atomic level. The research projects supported by this award are interdisciplinary involving analytical chemistry (surface science), biophysical chemistry (protein electrochemistry), and inorganic/environmental analysis. The acquisition supports the educational goals of the faculty to train undergraduates to use major research instrumentation and to develop skills in data collection and interpretation. The instrument is also used in an outreach program to high school students to encourage them to pursue STEM fields. Several collaborators are involved in the research projects using this atomic force microscope. One project involves the use of the microscope to characterize surfaces in acid mine drainage (AMD) processes. The goal is to better understand armoring of calcite and aluminum removal from AMD effluent. Another project uses the AFM to better understand new peptide self-assembled monolayers. In this project peptide self-assembled monolayers (SAMS) are employed to bind to cytochrome c. The researchers are working to develop new insights into the surface microenvironment and how it influences formal potential and kinetic mechanisms of proteins, paving the way for development of more advanced electrochemical biosensors.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.

该奖项由主要研究仪器（MRI）和化学仪器（CRIF）项目资助。圣弗朗西斯大学的爱德华·佐文卡教授和同事罗斯·克拉克正在购买一台原子力显微镜 (AFM)。显微镜是研究材料表面的强大工具。它使用一个非常小的探头扫描整个表面来测量探头和表面之间的力。这会生成表面图像，其中包含有关表面结构、其特性以及表面吸附材料的信息。 AFM 数据提供了对原子水平上复杂表面现象的基本了解。该奖项支持的研究项目是跨学科的，涉及分析化学（表面科学）、生物物理化学（蛋白质电化学）和无机/环境分析。此次收购支持了教师的教育目标，即培训本科生使用主要研究仪器并培养数据收集和解释的技能。该工具还用于针对高中生的推广计划，以鼓励他们追求 STEM 领域。 一些合作者参与了使用这种原子力显微镜的研究项目。一个项目涉及使用显微镜来表征酸性矿山排水 (AMD) 过程中的表面。目标是更好地了解 AMD 废水中方解石的铠装和铝的去除。另一个项目使用 AFM 来更好地了解新的肽自组装单层。在该项目中，肽自组装单层 (SAMS) 用于与细胞色素 c 结合。研究人员正致力于对表面微环境及其如何影响蛋白质的形式势和动力学机制提出新的见解，为开发更先进的电化学生物传感器铺平道路。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过评估被认为值得支持利用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准。