MRI: Acquisition of an Analytical Transmission Electron Microscope for High-resolution, Rapid Nanoscale Compositional Mapping of Earth, Planetary, and Advanced Materials

这一奖项来自主要研究仪器项目和数学和物理科学局多学科活动办公室，支持亚利桑那大学(UA)购买高分辨率、分析性的透射电子显微镜(TEM)。透射电子显微镜支持科学家表征纳米尺度的天然和先进材料的组成和结构特性，这些特性对多个联邦资助的研究项目具有重要意义。从提供太阳系和行星起源洞察的行星材料，到广泛影响下一代电子、光学和能源收集技术的纳米材料，这些技术对国家利益至关重要。这一地区独一无二的研究仪器是美国西南部地区现代测量科学的展示窗口，为学生群体多样化和服务不足的大学服务。在获得电子显微镜的同时，亚利桑那州大学还开设了一门新的电子显微镜本科课程；(B)每年举办一次电子显微镜讲习班，以扩大区域用户基础；(C)举办一系列研讨会，以促进该仪器所有用户之间的跨学科互动。通过该设施实现的研究、培训、技术开发、教育和推广工作是形成牢固的合作伙伴关系和指导关系的焦点，以促进STEM领域的招聘和保留，并培训下一代高技能科学家，以支持美国经济中高科技行业的发展。亚利桑那大学(UA)的高分辨率、分析性透射电子显微镜(TEM)专门配置为提供关于各种材料的快速、原子尺度的化学和结构信息。该仪器在几分钟内就能获得纳米级的元素地图。显著改善X射线计数统计的增强措施导致：(A)元素测绘得到加强；(B)扫描电子显微镜和能量色散X射线光谱学/电子能量损失光谱学中的漂移伪影可以忽略不计；(C)高分辨率成像的空间连贯性得到改善。受新仪器影响的不同研究项目包括：太阳系前星尘颗粒和星周材料；用于太阳能驱动燃料形成的催化剂尖端半导体纳米棒；光伏中的电接触和钙钛矿活性层；金属陶瓷中的晶界；纳米柱磁隧道结；氧传导电解液；太阳能水分解材料；高压地面材料；3D打印材料；作为新电子材料的量子点；以及光子材料。这些活动中的每一项都受到缺乏常规仪器的限制，这些仪器结合了纳米尺度上的元素组成的快速测绘和透射电子显微镜成像。这一最先进的仪器在表征和材料研究之间建立了必要的反馈回路，并使跨学科科学和学生培训成为可能。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate supports the acquisition of a high-resolution, analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM) by the University of Arizona (UA). The TEM suppports scientists in characterizing nanoscale compositional and structural properties of natural and advanced materials of significance for multiple federally funded research projects. These range from planetary materials providing insight into the origins of our solar system and planet, to nanomaterials broadly impacting the next generation of electronic, optical, and energy-harvesting technologies central to the national interest. This regionally unique research instrument is a showcase for modern measurement science in the US Southwest region and serves universities with diverse and underserved student populations. The TEM acquisition is accompanied at UA by: (a) the development of a new undergraduate course in electron microscopy; (b) annual electron microscopy workshops to expand the regional user base; and (c) a symposium series to stimulate cross-disciplinary interactions between all users of this instrument. The research, training, technology development, education and outreach efforts enabled by this facility serve as a focal point for forming robust partnerships and mentoring relationships that promote recruitment and retention in STEM fields and training the next generation of highly skilled scientists to support growth of the high-tech sector in the US economy.The high-resolution, analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM) at the University of Arizona (UA) is specifically configured to provide rapid, atomic-scale chemical and structural information on a wide range of materials. The instrument acquires elemental maps in minutes at nanometer length scales. Enhancements that dramatically improve X-ray counting statistics lead to: (a) enhanced elemental mapping; (b) negligible drift artifacts in scanning TEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy/electron energy-loss spectroscopy; and (c) improved spatial coherence for high-resolution imaging. The diverse research programs impacted by the new instrument include the characterization of: presolar stardust grains and circumstellar materials; catalyst-tipped semiconductor nanorods for solar-driven fuel formation; electrical contacts and perovskite active layers in photovoltaics; grain boundaries in metallic ceramics; nanopillar magnetic tunnel junctions; oxygen-conducting electrolytes; solar water splitting materials; high-pressure terrestrial materials; 3D-printing materials; quantum dots as new electronic materials; and photonic materials. Each of these activities has been limited by the lack of routine access to instrumentation that combines rapid mapping of elemental composition on nanometer length scales with TEM imaging. This state-of-the-art instrument establishes the essential feedback loop between characterization and materials research, and enables cross-disciplinary science and student training.