Acquisition of an Automated Digital Transmission Electron Microscope

本基金支持康涅狄格大学材料科学研究所购置一台自动数字200千伏透射电子显微镜（TEM）。新的TEM将作为中心用户设施运行，与康涅狄格大学现有的TEM相比，将提供大大增强的功能，包括：超高分辨率物镜（Cs0.6mm），提供优于0.19纳米的点对点分辨率；用于平行电子能量损失光谱（PEELS）和电子能谱成像（ESI）的图像滤波器；能够以数字方式获取图像的多扫描电荷耦合器件相机；全自动微处理器控制，允许远程操作。已经确定了五个关键的研究项目，这些项目将最大限度地利用该仪器。研究领域包括：工程合金中的界面结构和缺陷介导的界面过程，硅酸盐岩石中矿物反应和结构演变的动力学研究，坚韧陶瓷的微观结构演变，PEELS/ESI作为金属和合金中磁性结构的探针，以及无机螺旋的合成和表征。该仪器还将彻底改变康涅狄格大学TEM和相关主题的课堂教学，允许教师通过校园网远程操作将传统教材与显微镜的实时输出结合起来。这项拨款支持康涅狄格大学材料科学研究所购置一台最先进的自动数字透射电子显微镜。新的显微镜将作为一个中心用户设施，并将为研究人员提供以下关键功能：原子分辨率成像允许直接研究材料的晶体结构，能量过滤将揭示材料中元素的分布，全自动计算机控制允许在互联网上使用该仪器。这台新仪器将对康涅狄格大学的各种研究项目产生巨大影响。其中包括新材料的开发，如航空航天合金、坚韧陶瓷和多孔半导体，纳米结构磁性材料和矿物反应的研究。该仪器的远程控制能力也将对教学和推广产生革命性的影响。在课堂上使用显微镜的实时输出将使康涅狄格大学的教授能够更有效地教授这一具有挑战性的主题。同样，如果在因特网上向高中生和其他人作报告时使用该工具，它将作为一种强有力的视觉辅助工具，通过吸引来自代表性不足群体的研究生，有助于正在进行的促进多样性的努力。

0079002AindowThis grant supports the acquisition of an automated digital 200-kilovolt transmission electron microscope (TEM) by the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut. The new TEM will be operated as a central user facility and will offer greatly enhanced capabilities as compared with the existing TEM at University of Connecticut including: ultra-high resolution objective lens (Cs0.6mm) giving better than 0.19 nanometer a point-to-point resolution; image filter for parallel electron energy-loss spectrometry (PEELS) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI); multi-scan charge-coupled device camera enabling images to be acquired digitally; and fully automated microprocessor control allowing remote operation. Five key research programs have been identified which will make most use of the instrument. The research areas are: interfacial structure and defect-mediated interfacial processes in engineering alloys, kinetic studies of mineral reactions and textural evolution in silicate rocks, microstructural evolution in tough ceramics, PEELS/ESI as a probe of magnetic structure in metals and alloys, and synthesis and characterisation of inorganic helices. The instrument will also revolutionise classroom teaching of TEM and related topics at the University of Connecticut by allowing faculty to combine conventional teaching materials with live output from the microscope via remote operation over the campus network.%%%This grant supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art automated digital transmission electron microscope by the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut. The new microscope will serve as a central user facility and will offer the following key features to researchers: imaging at atomic resolution allowing the crystal structure of materials to be studied directly, energy filtering which will reveal the distribution of elements in materials, and fully automated computer control allowing the instrument to be used across the internet. The new instrument will have a dramatic impact on a wide variety of research programs at the University of Connecticut. These include development of new materials such as aerospace alloys, tough ceramics, and porous semiconductors, studies of nanostructured magnetic materials and of reactions in minerals. Remote control capability of the instrument will also have a revolutionary impact on teaching and outreach. The use of live output from the microscope in the classroom will enable professors at University of Connecticut to teach this challenging topic more effectively. Similarly, when operated over the internet in presentations to high school students and others, the instrument will act as a powerful visual aid which will assist in the ongoing efforts to promote diversity by attracting graduate students from under-represented groups.