QUERY: Integrated quantum and electron microscopy for nanoscale imaging and sensing

这项工作将开创一种新形式的显微镜，将基于金刚石传感器的量子显微镜集成在电子显微镜使用的实验平台内，提供独特的对比度，将纳米级结构和化学成分与物质的磁性，氧化和电子状态以前所未有的细节相关联。这将通过整合两个局部探针来实现，即金刚石中的氮空位自旋活性缺陷和电子束，以映射相同独特纳米结构或单个分子的功能和结构特征。由电子束促进并同时成像的化学反应也将被原位成像，从而能够准确预测键解离事件并控制化学反应。QUERY项目将为实施用于原位研究的集成量子和电子显微镜测量平台奠定基础。这种独特的测量工具将解决材料科学前沿的表征挑战，为复杂材料的合理设计打开大门，并实现量子，自旋电子，磁性和电子材料和器件的有针对性的设计。利用QUERY的时间分辨测量将能够在单分子水平上研究化学反应，并发现打破和建立化学键的新方法。最终，这项工作将促进下一代材料的应用，以提高英国在电力转换、储能、清洁催化、数据存储、微电子和药物开发等具有巨大技术重要性的领域的全球地位。

This work will pioneer a new form of microscopy that will integrate quantum microscopy based on diamond sensors within experimental platforms used in electron microscopy providing unique contrast to correlate nanoscale structure and chemical composition with magnetic, oxidation and electronic states of matter with unprecedented detail. This will be achieved by integrating two local probes, namely Nitrogen Vacancy spin active defects in diamond and an electron beam to map functional and structural features of the same unique nanostructure or single molecule. Chemical reactions promoted by and simultaneously imaged by electron beams will also be imaged in situ enabling accurate predictions of bond dissociation events and control of chemical reactions.The QUERY project will lay the foundation for implementation of an integrated quantum and electron microscopy measurement platform for in situ studies. This unique measurement tool will tackle characterisation challenges at the frontier of materials science, opening the door for rational design of complex materials and enable the targeted design of quantum, spintronic, magnetic, and electronic materials and devices. Time-resolved measurements utilising QUERY will enable the study of chemical reactions at the single-molecule level, and discovery new ways of breaking and making chemical bonds. Ultimately this work will facilitate the application of next generation materials to advance the UK's global position in areas of enormous technical importance including power conversion, energy storage, clean catalysis, data storage, microelectronics and drug development.