MRI: Acquisition of a cathodoluminescence (CL) detector for nanoscale defect and impurity analysis in a shared-user facility

MRI：采购阴极发光 (CL) 探测器，用于在共享用户设施中进行纳米级缺陷和杂质分析

• 批准号: 2216253
• 负责人: Yolande Berta
• 金额: $ 18.45万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2216253&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; cathodoluminescence; CL; detector

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a member of the NSF-supported Southeastern Nanotechnology Infrastructure Corridor (SENIC), an initiative for invigorating advances in nanotechnology. The designed-for-nanoscale research-grade cathodoluminescence detector is installed in a Georgia Tech shared-user analytical facility accessible to academic researchers, small and large companies, and NSF-supported training activities for educators and the public. Underserved minority, female, and assistant professors rely on this instrument, to further their advancements in nanotechnology. Researchers external to Georgia Tech employing the detector include those at Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university, and members of the University System of Georgia, namely Kennesaw State University, University of Georgia and nearby Georgia State University, a minority-serving institution. Other institutions within the state of Georgia access the detector through the scientific instrument-sharing project called the Georgia Research Alliance Core Exchange. The research projects, academic courses, training, and outreach exercises that tie in this sensitive detector provide opportunities for female and minority students to master technical skills. The number of students exposed to the techniques through academic instruction alone is well over 100 per year. The principal investigator leading the training activities has over 30 years’ experience with hands-on training of students and researchers. Cathodoluminescence (CL) occurs when natural and synthetic semiconducting materials emit light (luminescence) during high energy electron bombardment. The intensity and wavelength of the emitted light can be used to measure the physical structure, chemical composition, and nature of defects in a semiconducting material. When a CL detector is coupled to an electron microscope, measurements are possible down to the nanometer (10^(-9) m) scale. This novel approach is useful for a wide range of scientific and engineering applications, including: 1. determining the optical properties and defect structure of wide-bandgap semiconductors (e.g. GaN) for improving semiconductor fabrication and properties; 2. optimizing luminescence properties of ceramic polycrystalline materials (e.g. SiC) for miniaturizing electronic devices; 3. measuring the effects of radiation on extraterrestrial materials for the purpose of planning future space exploration, and 4. studying the structure and composition of natural materials for predicting the terrestrial occurrence of economically critical mineral resources, and refining climate and tectonic models of Earth.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.

佐治亚理工学院是nsf支持的东南纳米技术基础设施走廊（SENIC）的成员，SENIC是一项促进纳米技术进步的倡议。专为纳米级研究级阴极发光探测器安装在佐治亚理工学院的共享用户分析设施中，可供学术研究人员、大小公司和nsf支持的教育工作者和公众培训活动使用。服务不足的少数族裔、女性和助理教授依靠这个仪器来进一步推进纳米技术的研究。佐治亚理工学院以外的研究人员使用这种探测器，包括克拉克亚特兰大大学（Clark Atlanta University）的研究人员，这是一所历史悠久的黑人大学，以及佐治亚大学系统的成员，即肯尼索州立大学（Kennesaw State University）、佐治亚大学（University of Georgia）和附近的佐治亚州立大学（Georgia State University），这是一所少数族裔服务机构。乔治亚州的其他机构通过名为“乔治亚研究联盟核心交换”的科学仪器共享项目访问该探测器。与这个敏感探测器相关的研究项目、学术课程、培训和外展活动为女性和少数民族学生掌握技术技能提供了机会。仅通过学术指导接触这些技术的学生人数每年就远远超过100人。领导培训活动的首席研究员在学生和研究人员的实践培训方面拥有30多年的经验。阴极发光（CL）发生在天然和合成半导体材料在高能电子轰击下发光（发光）。发射光的强度和波长可以用来测量半导体材料的物理结构、化学成分和缺陷的性质。当CL检测器与电子显微镜耦合时，可以测量到纳米（10^(-9)m）尺度。这种新颖的方法对于广泛的科学和工程应用是有用的，包括：确定宽带隙半导体（例如GaN）的光学特性和缺陷结构，以改善半导体的制造和性能；2. 优化用于电子器件小型化的陶瓷多晶材料（如SiC）的发光性能；3. 3 .测量辐射对地外物质的影响，以便规划未来的空间探索；研究自然物质的结构和组成，预测具有经济意义的重要矿产资源在陆地的赋存，完善地球气候和构造模型。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。