Acquisition of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope Integrated Nanolaboratory for Research and Education in Nanomaterials, Energy Transport and Biological Structures

凯斯西储大学获得的主要研究仪器奖提供资金，用于获得多功能高分辨率成像、操作和表征工具，以充分开发一个扫描电子显微镜集成纳米实验室，能够对单个纳米结构进行耦合的机械、热或电测量。提出的研究仪器包括一个高分辨率的场发射枪SEM和一个微输送气体注入系统，这将有助于纳米级结构的运输、定位和组装。此外，拟议的扫描电镜将与专门的加载/测试设备集成，这将允许纳米机械拉伸，同时测量热或电性能。为了获得纳米级样品，电子束诱导沉积（EBID）工艺将与所需的微气体注入系统结合使用。拟议的ESEM集成纳米实验室由一套独特的工具组成，具有无与伦比的能力，代表了对当前操作和诊断资源的根本升级，并将支持CWRU的无数研究和开发活动。与核磁共振项目的目标一致，该仪器将(1)增加CWRU及其合作机构的科学家、工程师和学生对纳米尺度表征的现代研究仪器的使用，(2)使纳米科学研究能够整合到学生的项目和论文中。实验课程和“纳米技术百科全书”；以及(3)在未来纳米级表征设备开发方面，促成研究人员和私营部门仪器开发商之间的伙伴关系。拟议活动的智力价值：获得ESEM集成纳米实验室将为科学界带来目前不存在的能力：能够准确定位和抓住样品，并在执行高分辨率成像的同时，对纳米结构和某些生物材料的耦合机械、热或电学特性进行测量。这些材料的改进表征方法有望导致对所涉及的潜在物理的更好的基本理解，并且对纳米材料和纳米技术领域的进一步发展至关重要。毫无疑问，使pi及其合作者能够进行这项独特的研究，将使CWRU及其合作机构能够继续开展成熟的前沿研究项目。拟议活动的更广泛影响：拟议仪器的采购预计将带来重大进展，并扩大目前的研究和培训范围。特别是，SEM集成纳米实验室支持的研究团队，其努力交叉多个传统学科。将来自科学、工程和医学学科的多学科团队聚集在一起，将大大加快研究进展，促进研究与培训的整合，并加快研究成果向实际应用的转变。此外，独特的集成纳米实验室的可用性将为我们的工业合作伙伴、俄亥俄州的合作学术机构和几个国家实验室的研究人员开辟新的沟通渠道。这将鼓励高级人员、博士后和研究生以及部门和大学系列研讨会的研究人员的交流，从而进一步传播研究思想和成果。拟议的SEM集成纳米实验室也将为本科生、研究生和博士后提供实验室体验和培训的机会。此外，建议的仪器将集成到成像实验和纳米尺度机械或运输测量项目的实验课程中。通过讲座和实践经验，学生将了解拟议的SEM集成纳米实验室的工作原理，并将发展对纳米结构独特特征的理解。此外，这些设备将提供给乌尔苏拉学院艺术与科学系的学生和研究人员，乌尔苏拉学院位于俄亥俄州佩珀派克，是一所全女子学院，以及田纳西州纳什维尔菲斯克大学自然科学与数学系的暑期实习生和交换生，菲斯克大学是一所以非洲裔美国人为主的大学。

Abstract This Major Research Instrumentation award to Case Western Reserve University provides funds to acquire a versatile high-resolution imaging, manipulation and characterization tool to fully develop a Scanning Electron Microscope Integrated Nanolaboratory capable of coupled mechanical and thermal or electrical measurements of individual nanostructures. The proposed research instrumentation comprises a high resolution Field Emission Gun SEM with in-situ nanomanipulators and a micro-delivery gas injection system that will facilitate transportation, positioning and assembly of nanoscale structures. Moreover, the proposed SEM will be integrated with specialized loading/testing apparatus that will allow nanomechanical straining while simultaneously measuring thermal or electrical properties. To grip the nanoscale specimens an electron beam induced deposition (EBID) process will be used in conjunction with the requested micro gas-injection system.The proposed ESEM Integrated Nanolaboratory consists of a unique suite of tools with unmatched capabilities and represents a fundamental upgrade to the current manipulation and diagnostic resources and will support a myriad of research and development activities at CWRU. In line with the goals of the MRI program, the instrumentation will (1) result in the increased use of modern research instrumentation focused on nanoscale characterization by scientists, engineers and students at CWRU and our partner institutions, (2) enable integration of nanoscience research into student projects and theses, laboratory courses and an "Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology;" and (3) lead to partnerships between researchers and private sector instrument developers with regard to future nanoscale characterization device development.Intellectual merit of the proposed activity: The acquisition of the ESEM Integrated Nanolaboratory will bring the scientific community a capability that does not currently exist: the ability to accurately position and grip samples and conduct measurements of the coupled mechanical and thermal or electrical properties of nanostructures and certain biological materials while simultaneously performing high resolution imaging. Improved characterization methods for these materials is expected to lead to a better fundamental understanding of the underlying physics involved and is critical to further developments in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Enabling the PIs and their collaborators to perform this unique research, will undeniably put CWRU and its partner institutions in a position to continue well-established programs on cutting-edge research.Broader impacts of proposed activity: The acquisition of the proposed instrumentation is expected to lead to significant advances and expand the current scope of research and training. In particular, the SEM Integrated Nanolaboratory stands to support research teams whose efforts intersect more than one traditional discipline. Bringing together multi-disciplinary teams at CWRU from the science, engineering and medical disciplines will significantly accelerate research progress, foster integration of research and training, and hasten the transition of research findings to practical applications. Moreover, availability of the unique integrated nanolaboratory will open new lines of communication with researchers at our industrial partners, our partner academic institutions within the state of Ohio and several National Laboratories. This will encourage exchange of senior personnel, and post-doctoral and graduate students as well as researchers for departmental and university seminar series, leading to a further dissemination of research ideas and results. The proposed SEM Integrated Nanolaboratory will also provide an opportunity for laboratory experience and training for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students. Additionally, the proposed instrumentation will be integrated into the laboratory courses for imaging experiments and for nanoscale mechanical or transport measurement projects. Through lectures complemented by hands-on experience, the students will learn about the workings of the proposed SEM Integrated Nanolaboratory and will develop an understanding of the unique characteristics of nanoscale structures. Moreover, the equipment will be made available to students and researchers at the Department of Arts and Sciences at Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, OH, which is an all women's college, and to summer interns and exchange students from the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Fisk University, Nashville, TN, a predominantly African American university.