Acquisition of Transmission Electron Microscope Facility for Nanomaterials and Device Research at Norfolk State University
Abstract
We are requesting for the acquisition of the following instrumentation: Hitachi HT7700 TEM with High Resolution ExaLens The cost to DoD of this equipment is $499,900.00 including installation and training. We request funds to acquire a Hitachi HT7700 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) with High Resolution ExaLens for the purposes of research and education at Norfolk State University (NSU). This facility will provide students and researchers from Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and the Center for Materials Research (CMR) with unique opportunities to work in the following cutting edge areas of modem interdisciplinary nanotechnology: (a) nanomaterials based renewable energy devices, including quantum dots and 11nnoc1ystals, (b) nanostructured materials for energy storage, and (c) high performance electronic/optic and biomedical devices. We will study crucial fabrication issues of the materials, surface and interface morphology, strains in the interfaces, inter and intra grain boundary defects, self-assembly of nanostructures, and the related phenomena. Detailed understanding of these phenomena requires analysis of the materials at the atomic level. Currently NSU laboratories are equipped with growth, fabrication, and testing equipment. However the critical piece of equipment for research at extremely high resolution is missing. In order to obtain maximum benefits form the high electron resolution microscopy the T EM will be operated with high-capacity. The equipment will be installed at the facility of Center for Renewable Energy and Advanced Materials (CREAM) in the Engineering Department at NSU. This equipment will be primarily utilized by all research groups at NSU, however other organizations in the region will greatly benefit by sharing the machine time. Strong collaboration will be pursued with Dr. Jarrett H. Vella, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson, OH-45433, USA. Email: jarret.vella.2 @us.af.mil. The intellectual merit of the proposal: This machine will advance knowledge in the multidisciplinary fields of engineering, material science, physics, chemistry, biology and nanotechnology. The study of renewable energy generation, storage and utilization has a tremendous societal impact: it involves cutting edge research into the fast-paced development of nanotechnologies and provides strong insight into understanding the fundamental and applied aspects of nanotechnology. Our research in energy materials will provide new insight into innovative energy devices and power efficient sensors and optoelectronics. It will provide basic understanding of structural, microscopic, surface and interface engineering of nanostructures and devices. The project supports a variety of educational related activities, including training of undergraduate and graduate students in STEM. The broader impacts of the proposal: Acquisition of this equipment will help NSU to enhance the STEM programs that includes engineering, Ph.D. program in Materials Science and bring it to a level of high national standards. Our goal is to provide this opportunity to uniquely train our undergraduate, graduate (MS and Ph.D.) students to position themselves on the forefront of changing technology in nanotechnology. While this machine will open exciting research avenues, it also offers the potential of a novel tool for education. Acquisition of the TEM will not only strengthen our major ongoing research and educational efforts in the field of nanotechnology but also will directly impact many students, over 80% of them belong to the minority groups underrepresented in the fields of material science and engineering. This will impact research on new generations of advanced engineering materials, as well as on research and education, in the growing and emerging area of energy and biotechnology of national interest, greatly impacting the quality of training for a large number of African Americans in this field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710352
Entities
People
- Kyo Song
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Norfolk State University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense