MRI: Acquisition of a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope for Research in Northern New England

该项目由主要研究仪器（MRI）和建立计划以刺激竞争研究（EPSCoR）共同资助。非技术描述：该主要研究仪器奖支持购置一台先进的扫描透射电子显微镜（STEM），该显微镜位于达特茅斯学院电子显微镜设施内的专用实验室中。虽然位于达特茅斯，但STEM为新英格兰北部地区的研究和教学提供了机会，包括新罕布什尔大学、佛蒙特大学和缅因-奥罗诺大学，这是该领域唯一的显微镜。远程监控和操作功能便于非现场用户访问，包括主要本科院校（PUI）的全州网络中的课程和项目。STEM支持本科生、研究生和博士后的教学和研究培训，并通过达特茅斯大学和新罕布什尔大学的项目，以及通过全州PUI IDeA生物医学研究卓越网络的远程培训和推广，扩大女性和代表性不足群体在生物学、化学、工程和材料科学领域的参与。许多研究项目旨在为社会带来直接利益，解决能源生产和储存、气体传感、先进材料和催化剂等关键需求。技术描述：获得的STEM具有高亮度场发射枪，能够在20 kV至200 kV范围内工作，并配备了能量色散x射线光谱仪（EDS）。显微镜使许多需要高分辨率成像和元素分析的项目，以及生物和光束敏感标本的断层扫描和低剂量成像成为可能。它使研究能够回答有关结构、形成、性质和相互作用的基本问题，以及广泛的先进材料，如高熵合金、金属间化合物、多孔有机材料、渐进形成的金属板、au- mnal和NiFe永磁体、质子交换膜细胞、辐射损伤检测的硅器件、SiGeSn合金、Na-S电池材料、单独的纳米颗粒和嵌入多孔薄膜。新型锂电池材料、纳米晶合金和纳米层合材料、二维过渡金属二硫族化合物、非氧化物陶瓷、生物分子标本和生物材料。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 Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).Non-technical Description:This Major Research Instrumentation award supports the acquisition of an advanced scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), which is housed in a purpose-built laboratory within the Electron Microscope Facility at Dartmouth College. While located at Dartmouth, the STEM serves regional research and teaching opportunities over Northern New England including at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Vermont, and the University of Maine-Orono, where it is the only microscope of its kind. The remote monitoring and operation capabilities facilitate access for off-site users, including for courses and projects in statewide networks of primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI). The STEM supports teaching and research training of undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, and broadens the participation of women and under-represented groups in biology, chemistry, engineering, and materials science through programs at Dartmouth and the University of New Hampshire, and through remote training and outreach via statewide PUI IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. Many of the research projects are designed to yield direct benefits to society, addressing critical needs including energy production and storage, gas-sensing, advanced materials, and catalysts.Technical Description:The acquired STEM has a high-brightness field emission gun capable of operating from 20 kV to 200 kV, and is equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The microscope makes possible many projects requiring high-resolution imaging and elemental analysis, as well as tomography and low-dose imaging for biological and beam-sensitive specimens. It enables research to answer fundamental questions regarding the structure, formation, properties, and interactions of a wide range of advanced materials such as high-entropy alloys, intermetallic compounds, porous organic materials, incrementally-formed sheet metal, tau-MnAl and NiFe permanent magnets, proton-exchange membrane cells, silicon devices for radiation damage detection, SiGeSn alloys, Na-S battery materials, nanoparticles alone and embedded in porous thin films, novel Li battery materials, nanocrystalline alloys and nanolaminates, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, non-oxide ceramics, and biomolecular specimens and biomaterials.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.