Acquisition of Large Stage Atomic Force Microscope for Undergraduate Teaching and Research

James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

Investigators

Abstract

The award from the Instrumentation for Materials Research and the Major Research Instrumentation program will enable James Madison University to acquire a large sample atomic force / scanning tunneling microscope (AFM / STM) for use by undergraduate research students at JMU in materials science and biomaterials oriented projects. These projects include in-situ monitoring of the biodegradation of polymer thin films, electrochemical etching and deposition on III-V semiconductors, determination of the surface ultrastructure on bacterial inclusion bodies, microstructural analysis of protein-DNA interactions, and non-destructive imaging of wafer-scale surface engineering through the use of self assembled monolayers (SAMs). This instrument will be used in the training of undergraduate students and local high school teachers in scanning probe microscopy, surface chemistry and physics and nanotechnology through coursework, experimental modules and demonstrations, and will help prepare future generations of scientists in the study of nanometer-scale phenomena. The award from the Instrumentation for Materials Research and the Major Research Instrumentation program will enable James Madison University to acquire a large sample atomic force / scanning tunneling microscope (AFM / STM) for use by undergraduate research students at JMU in materials science and biomaterials oriented projects. These projects include in-situ monitoring of the biodegradation of polymer thin films, electrochemical etching and deposition on III-V semiconductors, determination of the surface ultrastructure on bacterial inclusion bodies, microstructural analysis of protein-DNA interactions, and non-destructive imaging of wafer-scale surface engineering through the use of self assembled monolayers (SAMs). This instrument will be used in the training of undergraduate students and local high school teachers in scanning probe microscopy, surface chemistry and physics and nanotechnology through coursework, experimental modules and demonstrations, and will help prepare future generations of scientists in the study of nanometer-scale phenomena.