Queen's University Belfast Imaging and Patterning Centre

贝尔法斯特女王大学（Queen’s University Belfast，简称QUB）在利用显微镜和微加工能力进行世界级学术研究和支持本地和跨国行业需求方面有着骄人的记录。然而，我们的校级场发射枪透射电子显微镜（FEGTEM）和聚焦离子束显微镜（FIB）现在已经超过15年的历史，并迅速接近其使用寿命的终点。迫切需要更换和更新这些仪器，本申请中寻求的大部分设备基金（约150万英镑）将用于此目的。剩余的资金（约36万英镑）将用于改进我们的大学级微加工设施，通过调试具有亚微米特征分辨率的直写激光光刻和3D打印工具。所寻求的设备将共同构成QUB成像和模式中心（IPC），该中心将以开放获取模式运行（访问优先级和用户访问费用由新的IPC管理委员会设定）。昆士兰大学已经拥有相关的学术专业知识、设施管理人员和训练有素的技术人员来支持这些机器的运行，并就如何最好地帮助促进他们的研究向一般用户提供建议。因此，IPC的运行将使即使是新手用户也能够申请（并获得）设施时间，并通过设备使用和数据解释得到支持。新设备将支持正在进行的物理、化学、电气和电子、机械、航空航天和土木工程领域的世界级研究。此外，在推动其跨学科全球研究所（GRIs）和开创性研究计划（PRPs）的过程中，它将作为支持未来十年机构研究战略关键方面的基石能力。在此背景下，IPC将支持：(i)最大PRP的材料、催化和绿色化学方面（“可持续能源”：520万英镑的投资）；（ii）与我们的GRI“电子、通信和信息技术（ECIT）”相关的设备和传感器研究；（iii）我们的PRP“先进医疗技术”的生物材料方面，以及（iv）我们的PRP“应用和跨学科辐射研究中心”（CIARR）的辐射-物质相互作用特征。IPC还将帮助确保我们至少在未来十年继续在学校结构定义的相关传统学科内提供前沿研究。

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has a proud track record in using microscopy and microfabrication capabilities to both generate world-class academic research and support the needs of local and multinational industry. However, our university-level Field Emission Gun Transmission Electron Microscope (FEGTEM) and Focused Ion Beam (FIB) microscopes are now over 15 years old and rapidly approaching the end of their working lives. There is a pressing need to replace and refresh these instruments and the major part of the equipment fund sought in this application (~£1.5M) will be used for this purpose. The remaining funds (~£360k) will be used to improve our university-level microfabrication facilities, by commissioning a direct-write laser lithography and 3D printing tool with submicron feature resolution capability. Together, the equipment sought will constitute the QUB Imaging and Patterning Centre (IPC) which will run on an open access model (with access priorities and user access fees set by a new IPC management board). QUB already has relevant academic expertise, facility managers and trained technicians to support the running of these machines and advise general users on how they might best help facilitate their research. The IPC will hence be run such that even novice users will be able to apply for (and be granted) facility time and be supported through equipment use and data interpretation.The new equipment will underpin a large portfolio of ongoing world-class research across Physics, Chemistry, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. In addition, it will act as a cornerstone capability in supporting key aspects of the institutional research strategy for the next decade as it pushes forward its interdisciplinary Global Research Institutes (GRIs) and Pioneering Research Programmes (PRPs). In this context the IPC will underpin: (i) materials, catalysis and green chemistry aspects of the largest PRP ("Sustainable Energy": £5.2M of investment); (ii) devices and sensors research associated with our GRI in "Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT)"; (iii) biomaterials aspects of our PRP in "Advanced Technologies for Healthcare" and (iv) characterisation of radiation-matter interactions in our PRP "Centre for Applied and Interdisciplinary Radiation Research" (CIARR). The IPC will also help ensure that we continue to deliver cutting-edge research within relevant conventional academic disciplines defined by our School structures for at least the next decade.