1. MRI: Acquisition of a State-of-the-Art Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) Instrument for Research and Education Mu-Ping Nieh, University of Connecticut, DMR 1228817 Research Highlight of a Scientific Project : Hybrid Nanocoating from the Co-assembly of Polymer and Clay Many natural nanostructured organic/inorganic hybrids with outstanding properties, such as nacre (Fig 1, Science 2006, 311, 515 ), have been discovered. However, it is very difficult to mimic such a biomineralization process in lab. A new facile process developed in Prof. Luyi Sun’s research group can achieve a highly ordered layered structure via one step co-assembly of nanosheets (e.g., montmorillonite, MMT) and polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, PVA)], leading to excellent barrier performance, superior mechanical properties and outstanding flame retardancy. Figure 2   PVA/MMT thin film The SAXS experiment was conducted on the PVA/MMT composite films, which contain different loadings of MMT (from 20 to 70 wt%), under the fixed-scattering angle (  ) configuration with the sample angle (  ) “rocking” from 10 o to 90 o (Fig 2). The discover (in Fig 3): (a)The spacing, d (inversely proportional to the peak location q*; d ~ 2  /q*) between MMT nanosheets increases with decreased MMT loading, indicative of effective intercalation of PVA between MMT sheets. (b)The maximum orientation [the narrowest rocking curve in Fig 3 (D)] takes place at 50% loading of MMT [Fig 3 (B)]. The result is consistent with the transmission electron microscopic data shown at the upper left corner of each SAXS pattern. Bruker Nanostar Figure 1 Figure 3 (A) (B) (D) MMT 20% MMT 50% MMT 70% 20% loading of MMT 70% loading of MMT 50% loading of MMT rocking curve at the peak position (C) SAXS data provide the information of the global structure from Å to 100 nm and the orientation of materials. It is a good complementary technique to electron microscopy which allows visualization of the local nanostructures of materials. Timeline for implementation of the SAXS instrument at the University of Connecticut Sept. ~ Dec. 2012: Evaluation of the SAXS instruments available on market (with 5 vendors) Dec. 2012: Purchase order of NANOSTAR placed to Bruker Jan. ~ Jun. 2013: Installation and testing of Nanostar at the University of Connecticut July 2013: The first training and demonstration for faculty and students Aug. 2013 ~ May 2014: Nanostar was down for service and trouble-shooting. May ~ Jul. 2014: Validating Nanostar and training key users in Nieh’s group Jul. 2013: The second training for faculty and students Aug. 2013 ~ now: Continuous operation for research and education q*

2. Scientific Impact: (1)In the aforementioned project, through the SAXS structural characterization, a facile, single-step platform to prepare organic/inorganic nanocomposites with a nacre-like structure is validated. Moreover, the composites exhibit excellent properties, including barrier, mechanical, and flame retardant properties. (2)Other than the above research, the SAXS instrument has also been used for the studies of (i) mesoporous nanostructure of iron oxide materials synthesized by one-step soft-templating (by Prof. Steven Suib’s research group) yielding a manuscript submitted to “Chemistry of Materials”, (ii) Nanostructure of ion gels from liquid crystalline block copolymers and gold nanoparticles in ionic liquids (by Prof. Rajeswari Kasi’s research group) published in the “Journal of Materials Chemistry C” in 2015, (iii) the clustering of gold nanoparticles in lipid bilayer (by Prof. Mu-Ping Nieh’s research group). (3)We have applied the SAXS characterization to industrial research projects requested by the companies including Pfizer, KX technologies, Rogers, etc. Broader Impact Educational Impact: (1)More than 15 graduate students have conducted their research projects using Nanostar. (2)Two courses about using SAXS as a potential technique to investigate biological or material nanostructures has been taught by Profs. James Cole and Mu-Ping Nieh to undergraduate and graduate students of the university. A project for the graduate students in the class is to have a hands-on experiment using Nanostar and solve the structures. MRI: Acquisition of a State-of-the-Art Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) Instrument for Research and Education Mu-Ping, Nieh, University of Connecticut, DMR 1228817