Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), a Hispanic Serving Institution, seeks funding to acquire a Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) instrument to enable research in nanoscience in environmental engineering and physical science and to enhance current analytical infrastructure. This instrument will allow researchers in South Texas to conduct research and educational activities of important local, regional and national needs. Multidisciplinary research areas immediately benefiting from the use of the proposed FESEM instrument are in the Departments of Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biology at TAMUK. The FE-SEM will be used in research activities related to the National Science Foundation's mission and focus including 1) adsorption of hazardous air pollutants onto engineered nanomaterials; 2) identification and exposure assessment to manufactured nanoparticles in the environment; 3) characterization of sol-gel derived catalysts applied for green energy; 4) structural characterization of micro and nano fibers from novel flash spinning processes; 5) silica deposition in the calcareous foraminiferan ammonia parkinsoniana; 6) effects of particle aggregation/disaggregation and precipitation on the transport of fine suspended sediments and contaminants in river systems; 7) high performance organic semiconductors for field effect transistors; and 8) characterization of reverse osmosis membrane damage and fouling.
