Award Abstract #0619607
MRI: ACQUISITION OF A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ELECTRON MICROSCOPE FOR STUDIES AT THE NANO/MICRO SCALE IN THE MATERIAL AND LIFE SCIENCES

NSF Org:	ECCS Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	September 13, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	September 13, 2006
Award Number:	0619607
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Rajinder P. Khosla ECCS Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	September 1, 2006
Expires:	August 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$375000
Investigator(s):	Shubhra Gangopadhyay gangopadhyays@missouri.edu (Principal Investigator) Judy Wall (Co-Principal Investigator) Gabor Forgacs (Co-Principal Investigator) Kattesh Katti (Co-Principal Investigator) Sheila Grant (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	University of Missouri-Columbia 310 JESSE HALL COLUMBIA, MO 65211 573/882-7560
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0206000 Telecommunications
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ELECTRON MICROSCOPE FOR

STUDIES AT THE NANO/MICRO SCALE IN THE MATERIAL AND LIFE SCIENCES

The objective of this proposal is the acquisition of an Environmental Field Emission Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscope (E-FE-S/TEM) to address broad research and educational needs in nanotechnology, materials science, and life sciences at the University of Missouri. The instrument includes both SEM and STEM imaging with a suite of analytical components and E-beam lithographic patterning down to 20 nm. The approach to accomplishing the objective will be to integrate the instrument into the existing campus Electron Microscopy Core Facility, which will maintain and provide access to the equipment.

The E-FE-S/TEM will allow researchers to image biological cells, antibodies, peptides, etc. without altering their properties. It will also allow users to pattern, image and analyze semiconductors with nanoscale features. Sample projects requiring this instrument include: biomolecule-mediated fabrication of nanoarrays, formation of protein nanopores on cell membrane, micro-DNA synthesis and analysis systems, and metal particle induced giant permittivity.

The instrument will enable scientists to advance our understanding of the natural world and to fabricate devices at the nanoscale in ways not possible with other approaches and instruments. It will be used to train new scientists in the use of tools that will benefit engineering, the environment, and the life sciences. New fields of study, such as biosensor development, will be opened up through use of this instrumentation. It is likely that numerous advances that will benefit society will be developed with the aid of this equipment. Among the anticipated advances are those that would improve national security, the environment, and public safety.

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