Acquisition of Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (IR-VASE)
Abstract
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act for 2014 allocated $10.7M to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) and to enhance their research and education capabilities in scientific areas relevant to the defense mission. The FY 2014 program supports the acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation to augment existing capabilities and to develop new capabilities that will facilitate greater participation in DoD research programs and encourage more students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This proposal from Principal Investigator, Dr. Jorge Almodovar, requests support for the acquisition of an Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (IR-VASE) to support research and educational endeavors in the fields of bio/nanomaterials, polymer physics, surface chemistry, and materials engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at MayagŸez (UPRM). This powerful and versatile instrument is the most accurate for optically characterizing surfaces in the infrared spectrum. It provides accurate optical constants, film thickness, chemical information, semiconductor doping levels, and phonon absorption spectra. It has the capability to study liquid/solid interfaces, common in both biology and chemistry applications. The instrument comes with unique accessories that expand its usability including a thermal stage, a stage for liquids & pastes, and a translational stage. This acquisition will augment ongoing UPRM research initiatives across multiple departments (Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, General Engineering, and Chemistry) and disciplines related to polymer nanostructures, protein/material interactions, surface modifications, thin-film biomaterials, and nanocomposites, while providing a novel tool to facilitate innovative research for current and future faculty. This cutting-edge technology will allow the development of novel research at the nano/bio interface. The IR-VASE unit will be the first one in the island, advancing the research efforts in Puerto Rico by expanding the capabilities of material characterization. This acquisition is fundamental for the development of novel materials at UPRM. The instrument will broaden the research experiences of graduate and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups by involving them in state-of-the-art research, using equipment heretofore unavailable in Puerto Rico. It will also enhance undergraduate and graduate education by impacting a number of interdisciplinary courses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510031
Entities
People
- Jorge Almodóvar
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez