| NSF Org: |
PHY Division Of Physics |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 17, 2010 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | November 16, 2011 |
| Award Number: | 0963317 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Kathleen McCloud
kmccloud@nsf.gov (703)292-8236 PHY Division Of Physics MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2010 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2013 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $347,069.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $347,069.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| ARRA Amount: | $347,069.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
35 E 12TH ST HOLLAND MI US 49423-3626 (616)395-7316 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
35 E 12TH ST HOLLAND MI US 49423-3626 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | ACADEMIC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTU |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The award supports the renovation of the research infrastructure of VanderWerf Hall on the campus of Hope College. VanderWerf Hall was constructed in 1964, housing the departments of Physics and Mathematics. VanderWerf Hall now houses four departments: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics. Each of these four departments is active in original research (about 30 faculty members); each research program involves researchers working with undergraduate students (about 50 per year). The research areas to be enhanced by the award range from development of electrodeposition of magnetic thin films and layered structures to fundamental nuclear physics to mathematical biology, among many others. The building's research space has evolved over the last 45 years, cannibalizing classrooms and installing enough equipment to perform research, but lacking a cohesive focus to design and even space for some departmental research efforts. Updating and renovating the scientific research spaces in VanderWerf Hall will transform cramped, inadequate facilities into safer environments and will broaden participation in research by improving access by everyone to research facilities, allowing increased use of equipment, and allowing increased access to research by undergraduate students.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This project supported renovation of seven research spaces in the VanderWerf/VanZoeren science facilities at Hope College:
- Civil Engineering Laboratory (Dr. Jeffery Brown)
- Hope College Ion Beam Analysis Laboratory (Dr. Graham Peaslee and Dr. Paul DeYoung)
- Materials Characterization Laboratory (Dr. Graham Peaslee, Dr. Jennifer Hampton and Dr. Mary Anderson)
- Microwave Research Laboratory (Dr. Stephan Remillard)
- Nuclear Science Laboratory (Dr. Paul DeYoung and Dr. Graham Peaslee)
- Radiodating Laboratory (Dr. Graham Peaslee and Dr. Paul DeYoung)
- Surface Science Laboratory (Dr. Jennifer Hampton)
In addition to the faculty researchers directly impacted through renovation of their laboratories, a significant number of chemistry, biology and geology faculty research programs have been impacted by the project due to their use of equipment in the Ion Beam analysis laboratory, Radiodating laboratory and Materials Testing laboratory. In addition, dozens of undergraduate researchers a year work directly in the research programs housed in these labs or use the multi-user facilities mentioned above.
Some specific examples of research results that were made possible by this rennovation project include:
- Identification of the sources of sediment which has led to the current eutrophic state of Lake Macatawa. Suspended sediment samples were collected throughout the watershed after a significant rainfall has occurred using sediment traps.
- Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM/EDS) and Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) results demonstrate that there is elemental variation between sites, as well as between sample collections; these results are reproducible and have been supported by analysis of sediment phosphate content.
- Color analysis using cathodolumnescence imaging has shown promise in differentiating subtle differences between areas of the watershed. Varying characteristics of sediment contribute to each site’s unique sediment color fingerprint. Using Principle Component Analysis of the red, blue and green colors from cathodolumnescence imaging of the sediment produced statistical variations in sediment colors that can serve as a finger print for sediment from several sub-watersheds within the Macatawa watershed.
- Measurements of sediment fingerprinting of radioisotopes such as 137Cs and 210Pb in the Lake Macatawa watershed have proven useful in identifying the source of sediments flowing into the watershed after major rain events.
- Nanoporous thin films are interesting candidates to catalyze certain reactions because of their large surface areas. This specific project focuses on the deposition of Ni and NiCu thin films on a gold substrate and further explores the catalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Depositions are created using controlled potential electrolysis, a process where the potential at which the metal alloy deposition occurs is set and the length of time or total charge of the deposition is adjusted. Samples are then dealloyed using either DC potential amperometry with an applied constant potential or cyclic voltammetry for linear sweeping. Before and after the dealloying, all the samples are characterized using multiple techniques. Electrochemical capacitance measurements allow comparisons of sample roughness. HER measurements characterize the reactivity of the sample with respect to the specific catalytic reaction. Other methods for characterizing the samples include scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The use of SEM allows images to be taken of the deposition to determine the change in the structure pre- and po...
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