MRI: Acquisition of a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope to Advance Multidisciplinary Research and Education

来自重大研究仪器计划的这一奖项支持伊利诺伊州立大学(ISU)购买具有二次电子(SE)、背向散射电子(BSE)和阴极发光(CL)成像以及能量色散X射线光谱(EDS)能力的变压场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)。该仪器使伊利诺伊州立大学(ISU)的五个系和伊利诺伊州中部附近的四所机构(伊利诺伊州卫斯理大学、密利金大学、布拉德利大学和伊利诺伊大学斯普林菲尔德分校)的研究和教学活动受益。该仪器的新功能，如高分辨率低电压和低真空成像、EDS和CL，使用户能够增强和扩大物理、材料科学、生物、化学和地质方面的尖端研究活动。将为本科生(主要是)、硕士和博士生提供研究经验。计划每年将FESEM-EDS-CL整合到几门课程中，有150多名本科生参加。该项目还包括与普通公众接触的外联工作，包括与当地的K-12教育工作者和社区的学生合作。具有EDS和CL能力的高分辨率可变压力FESEM将促进纳米科学、材料科学、物理、生物、化学、地质等领域以问题为导向的尖端研究项目，预计将有五个机构的25个实验室。在低电压和可变压力下的超高分辨率成像能力、BSE成像和使用EDS的元素识别提供了表征小至2纳米尺寸的材料的机会。科学家将能够在低电压和低压下以低于5 nm的分辨率成像嵌段共聚物模板和无机纳米结构；以低于2 nm的分辨率执行相关的FESEM-光学显微镜成像；用于药物输送系统的新型亚10 nm聚合物、金属及其复合材料、基于表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)的传感器件和光学响应催化剂。几个生物科学和生物化学研究小组受益于执行支助股和附近机构的能力。每年大约有25名本科生、6名硕士和2名博士生使用FESEM进行研究。女性和任职人数不足的少数群体将受益于在执行支助股招募和培训少数群体的现有举措。此外，该仪器将使两名职业生涯早期的女性教职员工受益。外展工作包括与当地的K-12教育工作者和社区中的学生合作。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。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation program supports the acquisition of a variable-pressure field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with secondary electron (SE), backscatter electron (BSE), and cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) capabilities at Illinois State University (ISU). The instrument benefits research and teaching activities across five departments at Illinois State University (ISU) and four nearby institutions in central Illinois (Illinois Wesleyan University, Millikin University, Bradley University, and University of Illinois – Springfield). The new capabilities of the instrument such as as high-resolution low-voltage and low-vacuum imaging, EDS, and CL allow the users to enhance and expand cutting-edge research activities in physics, material sciences, biology, chemistry, and geology. Research experiences for undergraduates (majorly), and masters and PhD students will be facilitated. There is a plan to integrate the FESEM-EDS-CL in several courses annually, attended by over 150 undergraduate students. The project also includes outreach efforts to engage the general public, including partnering with local K-12 educators and students in the community. The high-resolution variable pressure FESEM with EDS and CL capabilities will facilitate problem-driven cutting-edge research projects in nanoscience, materials science, physics, biology, chemistry, geology with an anticipated 25 laboratories across five institutions. The ultra-high resolution imaging capability at low voltages and variable pressure, BSE imaging and elemental identification using EDS provide opportunity to characterize materials as small as sub-2 nm dimension. Scientists will be able to image block copolymer templates and inorganic nanostructures with sub 5-nm resolution at low voltage and low pressure; perform correlated FESEM-Optical Microcopy imaging with sub-2 nm resolution; new types of sub-10 nm polymers, metals, and their composites for drug-delivery systems, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)-based sensing devices, and optically responsive catalysts. Several biological sciences and biochemistry research groups benefit from the capability at ISU and nearby institutions. About 25 undergraduates, 6 MS, and 2 PhD students would use the FESEM for research per year. Females and underrepresented minorities will benefit through existing initiatives to recruit and train minorities at ISU. Moreover, the instrument will benefit two early-career female faculty. Outreach efforts include partnering with local K-12 educators and students in the community.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.