The development of a statewide collaborative program to develop nanostructured materials requires a collection of specialized characterization tools. However, no one New Mexico institution has the resources to be able to afford every tool it requires to support its nano research. In order to enhance the capabilities and competitiveness of New Mexico nano researchers, it is imperative that they have access to most of these characterization tools.

The most appropriate instrumentation to characterize structure, composition and properties on the nanoscale include high-resolution microscopes (TEMs, and SEMs), scanning probe microscopes (STMs, AFMs and IFMs), surface analysis tools (auger and XPS spectrometers), nano-indentors, diffractometers (XRD, SANS and SAXS) and highly specialized surface characterization probes such as SNL’s Atom Tracker. Additional Instrumentation is available via collaborative proposals to the DOE CINT program operated jointly by Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories.

Oversight for the development and operation of the Distributed Materials Characterization Network is provided by a steering committee, which reports to the EPSCoR Executive Director. The Steering Committee consists of one representative from each of the three major New Mexico research universities, UNM, NMSU and NMT. The site representatives are:

UNM Prof. Abhaya Datye (datye@unm.edu) Tel: (505) 277-0477
NMT Prof. Bhaskar Majumdar (majumdar@nmt.edu) Tel: (505) 835 5152
NMSU Prof. Seamus Curran (shay@physics.nmsu.edu) Tel: (505) 646-1933

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