Acquisition of an SEM with quantitative X-ray detectors to research Geology-Climate-Biology connections

获取带有定量 X 射线探测器的 SEM，用于研究地质-气候-生物学之间的联系

• 批准号: 1832844
• 负责人: Rita Economos
• 金额: $ 42.03万
• 依托单位: Southern Methodist University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-05-01 至 2021-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1832844&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; SEM; quantitative; ray; detectors

The award will permit the acquisition of a new Scanning Electron Microscope with X-ray detectors that will facilitate and accelerate research into relationships among geology, climate and biology in the rock record, at anthropologic sites and in areas of active chemical remediation. It will be used to investigate chemical variations at the micro-scale. Geological applications include studying large historic and prehistoric volcanic eruptions that emit sulfur that causes global cooling over multiple years. We will also analyze fossils to investigate ancient life at the cellular level. Environmental engineering applications include using synthetically produced materials and induced mineral growth to remove toxic metals from water. Anthropology applications include investigating the relationship between humans and the landscape by learning from charcoals what were the critical sources of fuel for cooking fires, and also how fires in the landscape impacted these peoples. Volcanic hazard assessment, water contamination remediation and understanding the relationship between the environment and native pasts and cultures all have clear positive impacts on national interests. These are only a few examples of many future research projects to be realized through the new Scanning Electron Microscope. This instrument will promote the progress of currently NSF funded research in Geobiology and Low Temperature Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems, Earth-Life Transitions, in addition to NSF Archaeology, Office of Polar Programs, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and Engineering and Education Centers.The instrument to be purchased is a tungsten filament Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which will be outfitted with energy dispersive (EDS) and wavelength dispersive (WDS) quantitative geochemical detectors and a 3 color cathodoluminescence detector. This instrument will be a unique and regional resource. It will support cutting-edge, fundamental research into geology-climate-biology connections and other science and engineering projects. The improved beam density at lower voltages of modern SEM instruments allows for micro-geochemical applications (EDS/WDS) at high spatial resolutions. The proposed SEM can achieve a resolution of 3-4 nm, allowing imaging of microscopic fossil cellular features on the order of 100-500 nm and can definitively identify taxon sources of sedimentary and anthropogenic charcoals. SMU has a long history of running successful, productive electron beam and X-ray instrumentation. The acquisition of the proposed SEM with X-ray detection will make SMU a regional hub for these technologies. This will lead to numerous research education opportunities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该合同将允许购买一种带有X射线探测器的新型扫描电子显微镜，这将促进和加快在岩石记录、人类学遗址和活跃的化学修复领域对地质、气候和生物之间关系的研究。它将被用来研究微观尺度上的化学变化。地质学应用包括研究历史上和史前的大型火山喷发，这些火山喷发释放的硫磺会在多年内导致全球变冷。我们还将分析化石，在细胞水平上研究古代生命。环境工程应用包括使用合成材料和诱导矿物生长来去除水中的有毒金属。人类学的应用包括通过从木炭中了解烹饪火的关键燃料来源是什么，以及景观中的火灾如何影响这些人，来调查人类与景观之间的关系。火山灾害评估、水污染补救以及了解环境与土著历史和文化之间的关系，都对国家利益产生了明显的积极影响。这些只是未来通过新的扫描电子显微镜实现的许多研究项目中的几个例子。这台仪器将促进目前NSF资助的地球生物学和低温地球化学、沉积地质和古生物学、自然与人类耦合系统的动力学、地球-生命转变等领域的研究进展，此外，NSF极地计划办公室、本科生项目研究经验和工程与教育中心也将推动这方面的研究。将购买的仪器是钨丝扫描电子显微镜(SEM)，将配备能量色散(EDS)和波长色散(WDS)定量地球化学探测器和三色阴极发光探测器。这一工具将是一种独特的地区性资源。它将支持地质学-气候-生物学联系的尖端基础研究以及其他科学和工程项目。现代扫描电子显微镜在较低电压下改进的束流密度允许在高空间分辨率下进行微观地球化学应用(EDS/WDS)。所提出的扫描电子显微镜可以达到3-4 nm的分辨率，可以成像100-500 nm量级的微观化石细胞特征，并可以明确地识别沉积和人为木炭的分类单元来源。SMU在成功运行电子束和X射线仪器方面有着悠久的历史。收购拟议的具有X射线探测功能的扫描电子显微镜将使SMU成为这些技术的区域枢纽。这将带来大量的研究教育机会。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。