MRI: Acquisition of a multifunctional x-ray diffractometer (XRD) for research (materials and geology) and education

MRI：购买多功能 X 射线衍射仪 (XRD)，用于研究（材料和地质学）和教育

• 批准号: 1920356
• 负责人: Sara Callori
• 金额: $ 25万
• 依托单位: University Enterprises Corporation at CSUSB
• 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 2020-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1920356&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; multifunctional; ray; diffractometer

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant will support the acquisition of a multifunctional x-ray diffractometer, enhancing research and student training at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). This system will be used across a broad range of disciplines. In physics and chemistry, it will contribute to research on the development of new technological materials, including novel magnetic and ferroelectric systems. In geology, it will be an important tool in student and faculty research, primarily for the identification and characterization of rocks and minerals. Work performed using this instrument will significantly enhance the research infrastructure at CSUSB, particularly by furthering access to many experimental techniques (e.g. powder and thin film diffraction, reflectometry) applicable to a wide range of sample types (e.g. thin films, powders, polymers). CSUSB is an undergraduate-focused university and a qualifying Hispanic- and Minority-Serving Institution; thus, acquisition of this instrument will broaden participation of students from underrepresented demographics in state-of-the-art research, with a long-term impact of increasing diversity in STEM fields. Additionally, the ability to provide access to an advanced x-ray diffraction system will support the development of local collaborations with many institutions, including community colleges, other four-year universities, and local industries. Many of these education institutions and industries also serve minority populations that are underrepresented in the physical sciences, compounding the impact of this instrumentation in the development of a diverse STEM pipeline in the local area.The diffractometer will be utilized for a variety of x-ray scattering techniques. Some of the major features of the instrument include a precision sample positioning stage and Eulerian cradle, enabling the performance of powder, thin film, and grazing incidence diffraction and reflectometry. A Ge monochromator and pixel area detector will allow for high-resolution scanning and rapid collection of reciprocal space maps, and a multi-position automatic sample chamber will permit the rapid and automatic collection of powder diffraction patterns. These capabilities for rapid data collection and multi-sample analysis will significantly augment the team's research productivity, allowing time for more projects and broader impact of the machine. The diffractometer will enhance research output at CSUSB's NSF-CREST funded Center for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM). The focus of the work will include: engineering novel ferroelectric and magnetic properties into single-crystal oxide thin films using epitaxial strain and multilayer geometry; optimizing organic ferroelectrics through preparation as thin films and novel polymer composites; and the identification and characterization of rocks and minerals in field and laboratory studies in geology.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.

这笔重大研究仪器 (MRI) 拨款将支持购买多功能 X 射线衍射仪，加强加州州立大学圣贝纳迪诺分校 (CSUSB) 的研究和学生培训。该系统将用于广泛的学科。在物理和化学方面，它将有助于新技术材料的开发研究，包括新型磁性和铁电系统。在地质学中，它将成为学生和教师研究的重要工具，主要用于岩石和矿物的识别和表征。使用该仪器进行的工作将显着增强 CSUSB 的研究基础设施，特别是通过进一步获取适用于各种样品类型（例如薄膜、粉末、聚合物）的许多实验技术（例如粉末和薄膜衍射、反射计）。 CSUSB 是一所以本科生为重点的大学，也是一所合格的拉美裔和少数族裔服务机构；因此，获得这一工具将扩大代表性不足的学生对最先进研究的参与，并对 STEM 领域日益多样化产生长期影响。此外，提供先进 X 射线衍射系统的能力将支持与许多机构（包括社区学院、其他四年制大学和当地工业）的当地合作的发展。许多这些教育机构和行业还为在物理科学领域代表性不足的少数群体提供服务，从而加剧了该仪器对当地多样化 STEM 管道发展的影响。衍射仪将用于各种 X 射线检测散射技术。该仪器的一些主要功能包括精密样品定位台和欧拉支架，可实现粉末、薄膜和掠入射衍射和反射测量的性能。 锗单色仪和像素区域探测器将允许高分辨率扫描和快速收集倒易空间图，多位置自动样品室将允许快速自动收集粉末衍射图案。这些快速数据收集和多样本分析的功能将显着提高团队的研究生产力，为更多项目和机器的更广泛影响留出时间。该衍射仪将提高 CSUSB 的 NSF-CREST 资助的先进功能材料中心 (CAFM) 的研究成果。该工作的重点将包括：利用外延应变和多层几何结构将新颖的铁电和磁性特性设计到单晶氧化物薄膜中；通过制备薄膜和新型聚合物复合材料来优化有机铁电体；该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。