MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Platform for Surface Measurements in Extreme and Complex Environments

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will support the acquisition of a state-of-the-art surface analysis instrument that allows scientists to precisely analyze the chemical composition of material surfaces, enabling breakthroughs across energy, manufacturing, aerospace, and biotechnology. Many of today’s most pressing challenges, such as improving battery performance in extreme temperatures, designing longer-lasting materials for space and defense, or understanding how biological molecules interact with surfaces, depend on what happens at material interfaces that are only a few atoms thick. Unfortunately, researchers in Oklahoma and the surrounding region currently lack access to a modern, broadly available system capable of such measurements. This project addresses this critical gap by acquiring an advanced surface analysis instrument to be housed in a shared characterization facility at the University of Tulsa that will serve academic, industrial, and regional users, accelerating discovery and innovation in multiple fields. The impact of this project extends beyond research. The new capability will directly support education by training undergraduate and graduate students in advanced materials characterization techniques. Ensuring that students are able to appropriately apply these surface analysis techniques is essential to support a well-trained scientific and engineering workforce. The project also includes innovative educational components, such as virtual reality-based training modules that make complex scientific tools accessible to a broader audience. By enabling research on sustainable manufacturing, new energy technologies, and materials for extreme environments, this project support the regional and national competitiveness by promoting scientific progress and supporting areas relevant to national defense and infrastructure resilience. This award supports the acquisition of a research-grade X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) system with advanced capabilities, including in situ measurements over a wide temperature range (approximately −100 °C to 800 °C), Auger electron spectroscopy for surface mapping, and a high-temperature reaction cell. These capabilities will enable quantitative, high-resolution analysis of surface composition under realistic operating conditions. The system will be used to address key scientific questions in several areas: (i) evolution of surface chemistry during additive manufacturing and sintering of metals, including in situ heating studies of phase formation, (ii) molecular adsorption and chemical state identification in surface-bound biological systems, (iii) interfacial phenomena in advanced batteries, including real-time characterization of solid electrolyte interphases across extreme temperatures, (iv) formation and degradation of protective coatings on ceramic matrix composites under oxidative and high-temperature conditions, and (v) tribological and interfacial behavior of materials subjected to mechanical and thermal stress. Methodologically, the project combines spectroscopic analysis, temperature-controlled experiments, and sequential reaction-cell exposures with computational interpretation and complementary characterization techniques. The expected outcomes include new mechanistic understanding of surface-driven processes and improved materials design strategies. This instrument will also expand the research capabilities of the region in advanced surface science. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.