Requisition of a Cypher ES Atomic Force Microscope
Abstract
This DURIP award provides funds for the Principal Investigator to purchase a high-resolution, high-speed atomic force microscope, accessories (e.g. fluid cells, environmental control, noise reduction module, etc.) and services (i.e. two days of installation and training). The instrument will be the first of its kind at the Performing Institution (Washington University in St. Louis) and the surrounding area, and will support both Department of Defense (DoD)-funded, and non-DoD-funded, research efforts. The DoD-funded research efforts that the instrument will support are being conducted by four Principal Investigators and address the development of synthetic protein materials, the development of optical sensors capable of sensing the polarization and spectral properties of tissues, the study of the interaction of various biomolecules with nanostructured surfaces, and the exploration of the manipulation of nanoscale objects near a high-quality photonic resonator for applications in optical communication, ultra-sensitive bio/chemical sensing, environmental monitoring, and energy. At least four other Principal Investigators at Washington University in St. Louis will utilize the instrument for DoD-related, but not DoD-funded, research. Beyond its value to the specific research efforts in which it will be used, the proposed equipment will also play an important role in the science and technology education of the undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows performing the research activities with the equipment. Additionally, the requested instrumentation will be used in two graduate-level courses at Washington University in St. Louis: Molecular Biochemical Engineering (Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering (EECE 595C), taught by the Principal Investigator on this grant application, and Soft Nanomaterials (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) 5606). In the Molecular and Biochemical Engineering course, the students will be trained to have hands-on experience with this high-resolution, high-speed atomic force microscope, and in the Soft Nanomaterials course the students will learn the operation, methods, and applications of the instrument. Finally, the mechanism, protocols, and procedures of how to operate this instrument will be posted online to allow a wider array of students to learn about the instrument.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612564
Entities
People
- Fuzhong Zhang
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Washington University in St. Louis