Core Capital 2020

在工程学院和科学学院内分发了公开征求建议书的邀请函，强调纳米材料是一个优先主题。由教师研究领导和领先的纳米材料研究人员组成的高级学者小组对提案进行了审查和排名，以确保今年分配的最大范围和影响。所有设备都为大学的至少一个材料优先领域提供基础多用户支持，有些将支持非常大的研究团队。因此，优先项目承诺在未来十年内对谢菲尔德的广泛材料研究产生持续的积极影响。1.超连续激光器-将为三个独立的实验室提供广泛的光谱可调谐激光，用于研究先进的有机和无机半导体纳米材料和新型光子器件。所要求的可调谐激光系统预计将成为日常表征中不可或缺的工具，但它也将是一个重要的探索工具，使新材料能够使用传统固定频率激光器范围之外的多种光谱方法进行测试。2.小角X射线散射（SAXS）光束线扫描仪这台仪器是一种重要的工具，用于对化学、物理、工程和生物等多种类型的纳米材料进行结构表征。通过提高灵敏度、减少数据采集时间和自动更换样品设施，这些升级将显著提高我们SAXS仪器的生产率。3.氧等离子体清洁器该设备将支持研究人员在一系列纳米材料主题，包括聚合物，薄膜和超薄膜，纳米复合材料，光子材料，石墨烯和2D材料，具有广泛的应用，包括太阳能电池和抗生素。它允许用户清洁/蚀刻基板上的有机污染物和生物膜，促进润湿，并可用于选择性深度蚀刻。还可以改善层的粘附性以促进薄层与基材的结合。扫描电子显微镜该仪器将支持整个科学和工程学院的材料科学和工程研究的全谱。该设备将进行基本的电子成像到纳米分辨率和X射线成分分析。因此，该设备具有现代化的用户友好界面，将作为一种工作工具，使与EPSRC研究组合有关的大量多学科用户群受益。它将取代一个过时的模型，并将有额外的功能，以整合不同形式的成像，停止仪器与标本的意外碰撞，使精细的表面结构和标本在其水合状态的成像。5.多功能摩擦磨损试验机多功能摩擦磨损试验机是进行摩擦学实验的多功能试验机。其核心是，两个组件可以以受控的方式加载和滚动/滑动。这可以复制轴承、密封件、活塞和阀门、车轮/轨道界面、履带/地板接触、机械和人体组织关节、机加工接触和金属成型制造中材料的行为。这项投资将使研究团队能够在真实的时间内探索表面变化，对实验和对人体组织研究有用的规模进行更多的控制。

An open invitation for proposals was circulated within the Faculties of Engineering and Science, highlighting nanomaterials as a priority topic. Proposals were reviewed and ranked by a panel of senior academics, composed of faculty research leads and leading nanomaterials researchers to ensure maximum reach and impact from this year's allocation. All pieces of equipment provide underpinning multi-user support for at least one of the University's materials priority areas, and some will support very large teams of researchers. Thus, the prioritised items promise to make sustained, positive impact across a broad swathe of research in materials in Sheffield for the next decade. 1. Supercontiuum Laser - will provide widely spectrally tunable laser light to three separate laboratories for studies of advanced organic and inorganic semiconducting nano-materials and novel photonic devices. The requested tunable laser system is anticipated to become an indispensable tool in day-to-day characterisation but it will also be an important exploration tool, enabling new materials to be tested using a multitude of optical spectroscopy methods outside the range of conventional fixed frequency lasers. 2. Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) beamline upgradesThis instrument is a vital tool for the structural characterisation of many types of nanomaterials spanning chemistry, physics, engineering and biology. The upgrades will significantly improve productivity of our SAXS instrument through improved sensitivity, reduced data acquisition times and an automatic sample changing facility.3. Oxygen Plasma CleanerThis equipment will support researchers working in a range of nanomaterial topics including polymers, thin and ultra thin films, nanocomposites, photonic materials, graphene and 2D materials, with wide-ranging applications including solar cells and antibiotics. It allows users to clean/etch organic contaminants and bio-films from substrates, promotes wetting, and can be used to selectively depth etch. Adhesion of layers can also be improved to promote bonding of thin layers to a substrate.4. Scanning Electron MicroscopeThis instrument will underpin the full spectrum of materials science and engineering research across the Faculties of Science and Engineering. The equipment will perform basic electron imaging to nm resolution and X-ray compositional analysis. As such, and with a modern user friendly interface, the equipment will function as a work-horse instrument benefiting a large multidisciplinary user base relevant to the EPSRC research portfolio. It will replace an obsolete model and will have additional functionality to integrate different forms of imaging, stop accidental collision of instrumentation with the specimen, enable imaging of fine surface structures and specimens in their hydrated state. 5. Multifunction Tribometer The multi-function tribometer is a versatile test machine for conducting tribological experiments. At its heart, two components can be loaded and rolled/slid against each other in a controlled manner. This can replicate the behaviour of materials in bearings, seals, pistons and valves, wheel/rail interface, shoe tread/floor contact, mechanical and human tissue joints, machining contacts, and metal forming manufacturing. This investment will enable research teams to explore surface changes in real time, have more control over experiments and test at scales useful for human tissue studies.