MRI: Acquisition of a Transmission Electron Microscope for Multi-disciplinary Research and Education

这项主要研究仪器(MRI)奖是为了购买一台JEM-2010全分析透射式电子显微镜(TEM)。JEM-2010是一种多用途高分辨率分析显微镜，具有高分辨率图像观察、微区X射线分析、会聚束电子衍射多功能分析以及原子结构和/或原子成键状态分析等多种功能。主要的透射电子显微镜系统将包括：(I)用于高分辨率电子显微镜成像(HREM)和会聚束电子衍射(CBED)的具有高分辨率极片的TEM，(Ii)扫描透射式电子显微镜(STEM)附件，(Iii)能量色散X射线光谱仪(EDS)，(Iv)带有能量过滤器的电子能量损失光谱仪(EELS)，以及(V)用于数据采集、存储和处理的多通道分析器和支持计算机。该仪器能够对晶体和非晶态结构进行高空间分辨率成像、小束电子衍射以及微米和纳米尺度特征的成分和光谱分析，所有这些都是表征材料结构的必要工具。新设备将使许多新的科学研究成为可能。该仪器将支持各种材料体系的研究，包括纳米材料、半导体、陶瓷、金属、聚合物、生物材料和介孔材料。拟议的研究项目涵盖了与用于制造应用的高性能材料的合成和表征有关的广泛研究领域，而透射电子显微镜将提供一个机会进行高质量的研究，以了解材料的微观结构特性。拟议的透射电子显微镜仪器不仅将刺激与材料表征有关的现有研究项目的生产力，而且将用于教育目的。该仪器将用于本科生和研究生课程，以及针对当地学校少数民族学生的外联计划。因此，它将允许对来自不同背景的未来科学家和工程师进行研究培训，了解当前的电子显微镜技术和最先进的仪器设备。将开设一门实验室课程，主要目的是为学生提供从样品制备到瞬变电磁操作的实践体验。对瞬变电磁仪器的支持还将有助于发展和加强与当地众多行业的创造性合作伙伴关系，包括微电子制造、光学涂层制造、生物医学公司和计算机硬件公司。该项目的成果将在区域和国家会议上以纸质报告的形式传播，并在期刊上发表。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award is to purchase a fully analytical JEM-2010 transmission electron microscope (TEM). The JEM-2010 is a multipurpose high-resolution analytical microscope with wide range of capabilities, such as high-resolution image observation, microarea X-ray analysis, versatile analysis by convergent-beam electron diffraction, and analysis of the atomic structure and/or bonding state of atoms. The primary TEM system will comprise: (i) a TEM with a high resolution pole piece for high resolution electron microscopy imaging (HREM) and convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), (ii) a scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) accessory, (iii) an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), (iv) an electron energy loss spectrometer (EELS) with an energy filter, and (v) a multichannel analyzer and support computers for data acquisition, storage, and processing. This instrument is capable of high spatial resolution imaging of crystalline and amorphous structures, small-beam electron diffraction, and compositional and spectroscopic analyses of micro-and nano-scale features, all necessary tools for characterizing materials structure. Numerous new scientific investigations will be enabled with the new equipment. This instrument will support research in a variety of materials systems including nanomaterials, semiconductors, ceramics, metals, polymers, biomaterials and mesoporous materials. The proposed research projects cover a broad area of research related to synthesis and characterization of high-performance materials for manufacturing applications and TEM will provide an opportunity to conduct high-quality research to understand the microstructural properties of the materials.The proposed TEM instrument will not only stimulate the productivity of the existing research projects related to the characterization of materials but also will be used for educational purposes. The instrument will be used in undergraduate and graduate courses, and in outreach program for minority students from local schools. It will thus allow for research training of future scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds in current techniques of electron microscopy and state-of-the-art instrumentation. A laboratory course will be introduced and the main purpose is to provide students hands-on experience starting from sample preparations to operations of TEM. Support for a TEM instrument will also allow the development and enhancement of creative partnership with the numerous local industries, including microelectronics manufacturing, optical coating manufacturing, biomedical company, and computer hardware company. Results of the project will be disseminated by paper presentation in regional and national conferences, and published in journals.