DOD HBCUMI Instrumentation: Acquisition of a High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope for Graduate Research and Educational Training in Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
Abstract
This instrumentation proposal requests funding for the acquisition of a High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM) for graduate research and teaching at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). A conventional transmission electron microscope provides the best means for imaging particles with at least one dimension smaller than fifty nanometers. The proposed microscope would feature a high-resolution digital imaging capability with a scanning tunneling electron microscope (STEM) image observation device that provides the ability to focus the electron beam to a fine spot with a typical spot size smaller than one fifth of a nanometer, providing the atomic-scale resolution. The ability to analyze materials at the atomic-scale makes it possible to engineer atomic structure at the molecular level. This allows for the development of meta-materials (engineered materials) that are lighter, more durable, and mechanically stronger, and have superior optical, electrical, and thermal properties. Therefore, this new microscope will establish the necessary infrastructure to discover, understand, and exploit new material systems for power and energy technologies, low-density thermal and mechanical systems, electronics, and photonics that are of immediate interest to the Department of Defense (DoD) research programs and are expected to create revolutionary capabilities for the future DoD mission needs. The proposed electron microscope will provide research and educational training in six DoD-aligned research areas, which are listed below. 1.Precise and well-ordered dimensional multi-functional hierarchical complex systems with new properties using the molecular level self-assembly. 2.Optoelectronics and photonics that focus on improving and understanding fundamentals of optoelectronic and photonic materials, and devices. 3.Creating novel free-standing two-dimensional materials and heterosystems with superior electronic, photonic, magnetic, and thermal properties 4.Design, synthesis, and processing of low-density materials and three-dimensional complex systems for extreme environments. 5.Developing low-cost, flexible, lightweight, and easily processable solar and thermal energy harvesting and generating organic, hybrid, and polymeric systems. 6.Modeling and simulations at nanoscale. The research and teaching enabled by the TEM facility will have broader impacts across a variety of fields, including nanoscience, nanotechnology, chemistry, physics, and materials and polymer sciences. The HR-TEM with high-resolution STEM imaging capability will provide results that could not be produced by other means and will have an impact not only on the scientific community but also on the development of emerging new materials. The research results produced using this microscope will be disseminated through publications, invited talks, and conference presentations. It will also have a direct impact on the growth of undergraduate and graduate educations in Nanoscience, Nanoengineering, and Chemistry. The acquisition of a new TEM will enable a number of other developments by (1) providing research experience to UNCG Middle College high school students, undergraduate internship students, students from Appalachian counties, and underrepresented minority students (2) enabling UNCG to make the TEM available to other universities in the Triad region, and (3) drawing in local industries that eventually will make a direct contribution to transforms North CarolinaÕs economy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910522
Entities
People
- Hemali Rathnayake
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro