Acquisition of a High-Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope for Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Research

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With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, Norbert F. Scherer and colleagues at the University of Chicago will acquire a high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope (S/TEM) for interdisciplinary nanoscience research. The STEM will be used to study systems in nano-physics, nano-chemistry, and nano-biology. Some of the applications include characterization of nanocrystals; diblock copolymer used for making nanoparticle array wires; phase separation and structure studies for electroactive diblock copolymers; hemoglobin fiber formation and sickle cell anemia; genome-scale genetic analysis and fabrication of nano-structured materials with novel properties; biomembranes; high resolution e-beam writing using photoresists; and new direct methods of pattern formation. Much of the research at the forefront of structural and cell biology and nanoscience requires routine characterization of specimens by a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM). High-end TEM is unsurpassed in terms of image resolution and ease of interpretation. In addition, with new capabilities such as tomography, electron microscopy is entering a new era in which its application can visualize molecular structure with (near-) atomic resolution.