Award Abstract #0216109
MRI: Acquisition of a Shared Scanning Probe Microscope Facility to Improve Research and Education

NSF Org:	CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	July 26, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	July 26, 2002
Award Number:	0216109
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Robert M. Wellek CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	August 1, 2002
Expires:	July 31, 2005 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$220000
Investigator(s):	Guangzhao Mao gzmao@eng.wayne.edu (Principal Investigator) Yang Zhao (Co-Principal Investigator) Stephanie Brock (Co-Principal Investigator) Paul Van Tassel (Co-Principal Investigator) Howard Matthew (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Wayne State University 5057 Woodward Detroit, MI 48202 313/577-2424
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0308000 Industrial Technology
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, 1414, 1189, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT

A Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) facility for the improvement of research and student learning at Wayne State University (WSU) will be established through this grant. The major instrument to be purchased, Dimension 3100 SPM with Nanoscope IV control station, will be shared among researchers from five departments spanning two colleges. This investment addresses a critical need for surface characterization in many projects funded by the National Science Foundation at WSU and provides an advanced tool for materials study in our undergraduate and graduate curricula.

Nanoscale science and engineering has emerged as a principal research thrust at WSU as evidenced by well-funded efforts in 1) nanoparticles, nanostructures, and devices for optical and magnetic applications, 2) protein, tissue, and biomaterial coating and engineering, and 3) encapsulation using biological or biologically inspired materials. In each of these domains, the SPM technique is an indispensable tool for elucidating and comprehending structure at the nanometer scale. The establishment of a centralized SPM laboratory with an additional SPM instrument with new, state-of-the-art features should allow us to build on our current strengths in interfacial and nanostructured materials research, increase individual research productivities, and foster collaborative research.

A laboratory dedicated to SPM research will be established in the WSU College of Engineering to house the Dimension 3100 SPM and the current Nanoscope IIIa SPM. This laboratory will be made accessible to all principal investigators and other users. The computers will be networked so that the SPM image files can be easily accessed. This updated SPM facility will complement other existing material characterization instrumentation such as NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, optical microscopy and spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. A microscopist at the postdoctoral level will be hired in order to oversee the installation, maintenance, and training of researchers

The estimated number of researchers and students impacted by this proposal annually consists of 11 senior users, 5 postdoctoral associates, 20 graduate students, and over 100 undergraduate students. The impacted external research funding amounts to approximately $1,000,000 annually.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.