EPSRC Core Equipment Award 2020: University of Warwick

我们能够快速、常规地获取有关分子、材料和设备在实验室或自然界中产生的组成、结构、形态和功能的信息，这是工程和物理科学（EPS）许多进步和突破的核心。为了有效地实现这一目标，至关重要的是能够低门槛地访问尖端仪器和可扩展的计算资源，以进行模拟、建模和数据处理。本提案中要求的资金将提供新的多用户设备，并在我们的聚合物表征、科学计算、光谱学和x射线衍射研究技术平台（rtp）和华威超快光谱研究中心（WCUS）内对现有设备进行改进和使用寿命，以确保华威大学（UW）的研究人员能够使用最先进的EPS基础设施。华盛顿大学在EPS方面的长期卓越表现牢牢植根于对设备、基础设施、人员和培训的战略投资。所需设备包括：最先进的热重分析（TGA）和差示扫描量热（DSC）机器，以补充我们最近投资的聚合物表征RTP热分析套件。这些技术有助于理解材料的热特性，如分解温度。光谱学RTP中连续波电子顺磁共振（CW-EPR）谱仪的升级改造。CW-EPR允许直接检测顺磁性物质，如自由基，这对于理解一系列应用至关重要。在我们的x射线衍射RTP中替换气室以实现粉末x射线衍射仪（XRD）的原位实验。这使得测量能够模拟材料使用或制备的环境。Taskfarm服务器用于我们的科学计算RTP，以支持小规模的工作，这些工作不适合我们最近在高性能计算（HPC）集群和机房方面的重大投资。这种设备可以进行小规模但长时间的计算。升级光致发光光谱仪，使其具有纳秒级近红外分辨能力。这种方法允许对材料的电子和光学特性进行非接触研究。拟议的设备将用于促进和加强西澳大学的广泛的EPS研究，这些研究属于EPSRC的战略范围，并与西澳大学的研究战略保持一致。新设备将支持来自化学、物理、工程、数学、统计学、计算机科学和WMG的bbbb65个学术小组的研究，这些学术小组在不同领域工作，包括：催化、能源材料、制造、医学成像、纳米粒子、纳米复合材料、聚合物材料、汽车和高效运输、个人护理和卫生、农业科学/食品安全、电力电子、半导体、结构工程和数据科学。通常，这项研究是由两个或多个科学部门的跨学科团队进行的。这项投资也将是促进许多学生和早期职业研究人员培训的基础。我们的rtp有完善的用户培训计划，并由我们的专业rtp教授提供支持，这些计划也提供给外部学者和许多行业合作伙伴。西澳大学致力于确保所要求的设备得到有效管理和维护，并最大限度地利用。访问将在内部通过电子方式和设施网页进行宣传，并通过华威科学服务对外进行宣传。此外，rtprof教授提供的设备和专业知识将作为EPSRC资助的华威分析科学中心的一部分在全国范围内传播，并作为由英国研究中心资助的“技术人员主导的设备共享”人才链的一部分在整个米德兰兹创新（MI）中传播。

Our ability to rapidly and routinely obtain information about the composition, structure, morphology and function of molecules, materials and devices produced in the laboratory, or by nature, is central to many advances and breakthroughs in the Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS). To enable this to happen effectively, it is vital to have low-barrier access to both cutting edge instrumentation and to scalable computational resource for simulation, modelling and data processing. The funds requested in this proposal will provide new multi-user equipment, and add improvements and lifetime to existing equipment, within our Polymer Characterisation, Scientific Computing, Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction Research Technology Platforms (RTPs), and the Warwick Centre for Ultrafast Spectroscopy (WCUS), to ensure that researchers at the University of Warwick (UW) have access to a state-of-the-art infrastructure for EPS. UW's long-term excellence in EPS is firmly rooted in strategic investment in equipment, infrastructure, people and training. The equipment requested includes: 1. State of the art thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) machines to complement our recent investment in the thermal analysis suite in the Polymer Characterisation RTP. These techniques helps understanding of materials thermal properties, such as temperature of decomposition.2. Upgrade of continuous wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (CW-EPR) spectrometer in our Spectroscopy RTP. CW-EPR allows direct detection of paramagnetic species like free radicals, essential for understanding in a range of applications.3. Replacement gas chamber to enable in situ experiments on powder X-ray diffractometers (XRD) in our X-ray Diffraction RTP. This enables measurements that mimic the environments in which materials are used or prepared.4. Taskfarm servers for our Scientific Computing RTP to support small scale work that is unsuitable for our recent significant investment in high performance computing (HPC) clusters and machine room. This equipment enables small scale but long running calculations.5. Upgrade of photoluminescence spectrometer to include nanosecond time resolved capabilities into the near infrared for WCUS. This method allows non-contact study of the electronic and optical properties of materials.The proposed equipment will be used to facilitate and strengthen a wide range of EPS research at UW that falls within EPSRC's strategic remit and aligns to the UW research strategy. The new equipment will underpin the research of >65 academic groups from Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science and WMG, working in diverse fields, including: catalysis, energy materials, manufacturing, medical imaging, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, polymer materials, automotive and efficient transport, personal care and hygiene, agroscience/food security, power electronics, semiconductors, structural engineering and data science. Often this research is carried out in interdisciplinary teams from two or more of the science departments. This investment will also be fundamental to facilitating the training of many students, and early career researchers. Our RTPs have well established programmes of user training and support from our dedicated RTProfs, and these are also offered to external academics and many industry partners. UW is committed to ensuring that the equipment requested is effectively managed and maintained, and that usage is maximised. Access will be advertised internally electronically and via the facility webpages and externally through Warwick Scientific Services. In addition, access to the equipment and expertise provided by our RTProfs will be disseminated nationally as part of the EPSRC funded Warwick Analytical Science Centre and across Midlands Innovation (MI) as part of the 'Technician Led Equipment Sharing' strand of TALENT, funded by Research England.