The Leeds EPSRC Nanoscience and Nanoequipment User Facility

该提案旨在为外部用户提供重要的“免费使用”途径，让他们能够使用利兹大学最先进的纳米科学设备和纳米科学专业知识。分析将集中在软物质材料上，即专门研究无机纳米系统和无机/有机混合系统（即生物纳米技术）的纳米技术研究人员的访问。在过去的9年里，我们在提供高质量的科学和培训方面的经验已经完善了这个小规模设施的运营策略，我们将继续支持广泛的英国用户，推进高质量的协作科学，并为现有的、维护良好的资本设备提供高的外部利用率。我们将把我们的活动与用户驱动的研究主题结合起来，这些主题映射到EPSRC与物理科学相关的塑造能力计划，以及具有社会重要性的主题。无障碍设施将包括协同（“一站式”）的相互关联的技术组合，用于表征和结构和设备制造：低压扫描电子显微镜（SEM）；（低温）分析透射电镜（TEM）；近环境压力x射线光电子能谱；（冷）聚焦离子束（FIB）和电子束光刻（EBL）以及相关的洁净室访问。我们估计，该设备基础及其固有能力将与EPSRC物理科学相关的51个主题中的50%相关。然而，如上所述，我们的目的是提供软物质材料的专业知识。作为一个团队，我们在混合有机/无机系统领域的纳米计量学研究方面有着良好的记录，并且使用上述新获得的仪器，我们能够通过改进的剂量控制，更快，更灵敏的探测器，特别是在冷冻，水合状态下分析电子束敏感或“软”材料，使我们能够探索近原生状态下软物质系统的分析科学。我们期待新仪器在化学工程、电子工程、机械工程、物理、化学、食品科学、地球与环境、生物科学等领域产生重大影响。我们相信，这种综合分析方法最终将在整体科学理解和产出（在培训、结果、同行评议论文和拨款申请方面）方面提供更有成效的服务，而不是零敲碎打地提供许多单独的专业活动。我们也相信，作为一个集团，我们拥有综合的经验和设施，可以成功和高效地提供全面的综合服务。

This proposal is to provide significant "free at point of use" pump-priming access for external users to state-of-the-art nanoscience equipment and nanoscience expertise at the University of Leeds. Analysis is to be focused on soft matter materials i.e. access for nanotechnology researchers specialising in both inorganic nanosystems and hybrid inorganic/ organic systems / i.e. bionanotechnology. The operational strategy of this small-scale facility has been refined by our experience of delivering high quality science and training over the past 9 years and we will continue to support a broad range of UK users, advance high quality collaborative science, and provide a high external utilisation factor for existing, well maintained capital equipment. We will align our activities with user-driven research themes that map onto the EPSRC Shaping capabilities initiatives relevant to the Physical Sciences, as well as themes of societal importance. Accessible facilities will include a synergistic ("one stop shop") combination of inter-related techniques for both characterisation and structural and device fabrication: low voltage scanning electron microscopy (SEM); (cryo-) analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM); near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); (cryo-) focused ion beam (FIB) and electron beam lithography (EBL) together with associated cleanroom access. We estimate that this equipment base and its inherent capability would be relevant across up to 50% of the 51 themes associated with the EPSRC Physical Sciences. However, as stated above, it is our intention to provide a specialism in soft matter materials. As a group we have a strong track record in Nanometrology research in the area of hybrid organic/inorganic systems and with the newly acquired instrumentation outlined above, we are able to analyse electron beam sensitive or 'soft' materials with improved dose control, with faster, more sensitive detectors and of particular note, in the frozen, hydrated state, enabling us to explore analytical science on soft matter systems in the near-native state. We expect the new instrumentation to make significant impact in Chemical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Food Sciences, Earth & Environment, and Biological Sciences.We believe that this integrated analytical approach will ultimately provide a much more productive service both in terms of overall scientific understanding and also output (in terms of training, results, peer reviewed papers and grant applications), as opposed to the piecemeal provision of many separate specialist activities. We also believe that, as a grouping, we possess the combined experience and facilities to deliver this fully integrated service successfully and efficiently.