With this award from the Chemistry Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program that is cofunded by the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program, Professor Chaoyang Jiang from University of South Dakota and colleagues Dongming Mei, Paul May and Ranjit Koodali will acquire a high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) attachment for elemental analysis and mapping. The proposal is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels, especially in areas such as (a) plasmonic enhancement of near-infrared-to-visible luminescence; (b) thin films by laser assisted chemical vapor deposition; (c) cubic mesoporous materials with varied morphologies; (d) cuprous oxide nanoparticles; (e) fluorinated polymeric materials for air-stable and moisture-resistant flexible optoelectronics; (f) metal-semiconductor hybrid nanocrystals for solar fuels catalysis; (g) dissociation density characterization and wafer processing of ultrapure germanium single crystals; (h) research on the pigments in paintings on historical music instruments; and (i) materials characterization for earth science research.
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is one of the basic tools available for the characterization of materials. A beam of electrons scans the surface of a sample resulting in a microimage of the sample composition. The electron microscope can provide higher resolution and magnification than a microscope using light to probe the material. Characteristic X-rays are produced from interaction with atoms in the sample that when dispersed provide information on the elemental composition (EDS). This instrumentation will provide microscopy training and research opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students across many fields including chemistry, earth sciences and environmental science fields preparing them for the demands of the 21st century workforce in science and technology. The instrumentation will impact research and research training of researchers and students not only at the University of South Dakota but also at neighboring institutions and tribal colleges such as Barrett Eichler, Augustana College; Carl Fictorie, Dordt College (Sioux City, Iowa); and Subodh Singh and Sinte Gleska University.
