Upgrade of Scanning Electron Microscopy Facilities at Montana State University: Supporting Research on the Lithosphere, Cryosphere, and Critical Zone

该项目由EAR仪器和设施计划和促进竞争性研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。该项目将提升蒙大拿州立大学成像和化学分析实验室两台扫描电子显微镜的成像和分析能力。新的仪器包括a)用于元素分析和制图的能量色散光谱；B)电子背散射衍射探测器，用于原位微米尺度相识别、晶体取向测定和织构制图；C)阴极发光探测器，用于检测宿主材料中微量激活元素（过渡金属和稀土元素）的小尺度变化和晶体缺陷；d)更新计算机和软件，使先进的图像和光谱处理成为可能。该仪器将为美国国家科学、工程和医学院最近发布的报告《2020年美国国家科学基金会地球科学展望2020-2030》（“地球在时间里”）中定义的研究议程提供手段，并将有助于通过国家纳米技术协调基础设施计划提供分析能力。这些仪器广泛用于地球材料的化学和物理表征，以及相关的工程材料，如半导体和陶瓷。应用程序包括:地质年代学/热年代学、中地壳岩石的变形机制、火成岩过程和火山学、多孔岩石中流体的反应性输运、沉积成岩过程、通过化石骨骼、蛋壳和牙齿表征的恐龙演化、利用低温扫描电镜方法表征雪、冰和冰川结构、地球微生物学和生物矿化过程和产物、矿产资源矿床勘探和矿山环境修复。以及地球物质对人类健康影响的研究。蒙大拿州立大学是一所土地授予机构，旨在为未来的劳动力做好准备，并支持向地区和国家公司转让技术，以支持他们的研究和发展计划。ICAL设施作为学习的纽带，通过K-12班的示范，本科生班的项目和研究经验，研究生论文和论文研究，以及持续的专业发展培训来招募和培养未来的科学家。这种仪器对于早期职业教师的发展至关重要，可以为他们的新兴研究计划做准备。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is jointly funded by the EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This project will upgrade imaging and analytical capabilities of two scanning electron microscopes operated in the Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratory at Montana State University. The new instrumentation includes a) energy dispersive spectrometry for elemental analysis and mapping; b) electron back-scattered diffraction detector for in situ micron-scale phase identification, determination of crystallographic orientation, and textural mapping; c) a cathodoluminescence detector that is used to detect small scale variations of trace activator elements (transition metals and rare earth elements) and crystal defects in host materials; and d) updated computer and software to enable advanced image and spectral processing. This instrumentation will provide the means to address the research agenda defined in the recent National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine report (2020) A Vision for NSF Earth Sciences 2020-2030, "Earth in Time", and will contribute to the analytical capabilities available through the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program. These instruments are broadly used in the chemical and physical characterization of Earth materials, and related engineered materials such as semi-conductors and ceramics. Applications include: geochronology/thermochronology, deformation mechanisms of mid-crustal rocks, igneous processes and volcanology, reactive transport of fluids in porous rocks, sedimentary diagenetic processes, evolution of dinosaurs through characterization of fossil bone, eggshells and teeth, use of cryogenic-SEM methods to characterize snow, ice and glacial textures, geomicrobiology and biomineralization processes and products, exploration for mineral resource deposits and environmental remediation of mines, and studies of impacts of Earth materials on human health. Montana State University is a land grant institution that seeks to prepare the workforce of the future, and also supports technology transfer to regional and national companies to support their research and development programs. The ICAL facility serves as a nexus of learning to recruit and train future scientists through K-12 class demonstrations, undergraduate student class projects and research experiences, graduate student thesis and dissertation research, and continuing professional development training. This instrumentation is essential for early career faculty development to prepare for their emerging research initiatives.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.