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

该项目由EAR仪器和设施计划和既定的激励竞争性研究计划(EPSCoR)共同资助。该项目将升级蒙大拿州立大学成像和化学分析实验室操作的两台扫描电子显微镜的成像和分析能力。新仪器包括a)用于元素分析和测绘的能量色散光谱分析；b)用于原位微米级物相鉴定、晶体取向测定和织构测绘的电子背散射衍射检测器；c)阴极发光检测器，用于检测微量激活剂元素(过渡金属和稀土元素)和主体材料中晶体缺陷的小范围变化；以及d)更新计算机和软件，以实现先进的图像和光谱处理。该仪器将提供手段，以满足最近的国家科学、工程和医学研究院报告(2020)《美国国家科学基金会地球科学展望2020-2030》中确定的研究议程，并将有助于通过国家纳米技术协调基础设施计划提供的分析能力。这些仪器广泛用于地球材料以及半导体和陶瓷等相关工程材料的化学和物理表征。应用领域包括：地质年代学/热年代学、地壳中部岩石的变形机制、岩浆作用和火山学、多孔岩石中流体的反应迁移、沉积成岩作用、通过对化石骨骼、蛋壳和牙齿的刻画确定恐龙的进化、利用低温扫描电子显微镜方法表征雪、冰和冰川的结构、地球微生物学和生物矿化过程及产品、勘探矿产资源矿藏和矿山环境补救以及研究地球材料对人类健康的影响。蒙大拿州立大学是一家土地赠与机构，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，以支持他们的研发计划。通过K-12课程演示、本科生课程项目和研究经验、研究生论文和论文研究以及持续的专业发展培训，ICIC设施作为学习招募和培训未来科学家的纽带。该奖项反映了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。

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.