A Versatile, high-throughput, Analytical Transmission Electron Microscope (VATEM)

电子显微镜允许成像和光谱分辨率达到并包括原子分辨率，是材料表征的关键工具。在透射电子显微镜（TEM）中发现了最高的空间分辨率，它利用非常薄的样品（纳米或10纳米厚度）来最小化光束扩散。术语“TEM”实际上指的是一系列实验技术，包括衍射对比成像、高分辨率TEM （HRTEM）、扫描TEM （STEM）、能量色散x射线（EDX）光谱映射和电子能量损失光谱（EELS）。当前提案的目的是在牛津大学获得一个多功能，高通量，分析TEM （VATEM）。该仪器的目的是它应该是通用的，因此能够解决尽可能广泛的材料科学问题；它应该是最大限度地提高科学交付的高通量；它应该相对容易使用，使研究人员能够体验瞬变电磁法的能力，并在该领域发展专业知识。从从事研究项目的本科生到经验丰富的学者，研究人员都可以访问。长期以来，英国在TEM方法开发和应用方面一直处于世界领先地位，在SuperSTEM （Daresbury）和ePSIC （Diamond Light Source）以及罗莎琳德富兰克林研究所（Rosalind Franklin Institute）等世界领先的能力方面进行了大量投资，提供了具体的高水平能力。这些设施只有在大学卓越中心的仪器配套基础设施下才能持续发展。这里提出的文书将成为支持区域和国家研究的基础设施的重要组成部分。VATEM已被指定用于研究尽可能广泛的样品范围。该仪器将处理的科学组合在本提案中举例说明了能源储存和转换材料、核能材料和纳米材料领域，但潜在的应用范围远不止于此。在储能、光伏、核、催化、抗降解和半导体器件中应用的关键材料都具有由其纳米级结构和化学控制的关键性能。在TEM中可用的成像和光谱学方法可用于确定结构和化学。然而，也存在着一些挑战。许多这样的材料要么对空气敏感，要么对电子束敏感，要么两者兼而有之。MEMS技术的发展进一步允许在各种环境下进行纳米级结构和成分测量，包括冷却，加热，气体，厌氧，液体，光学，电气和机械刺激。该文书的设计就是为了应对这些挑战。VATEM将提供给国内和国际的研究人员，他们可以证明仪器的能力将满足他们的研究需要。

Electron microscopes allow imaging and spectroscopy at resolution up to and including atomic resolution, and are key tools for materials characterisation. The highest spatial resolutions are found in the transmission electron microscope (TEM), which makes use of a very thin samples (nanometres or 10s of nanometres thickness) to minimise beam spreading. The term "TEM", actually refers to a range of experimental techniques, including diffraction contrast imaging, high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), scanning TEM (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy mapping and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS).The aim of the current proposal is to procure a Versatile, high-throughput, Analytical TEM (VATEM) at the University of Oxford. The aim of the instrument is that it should be versatile and therefore able to address the widest possible range of materials science problems; it should be high-throughput maximising the science delivery; and it should be relatively easy to use to enable researchers to experience the capabilities of TEM methods and to develop expertise in the field. It will be accessible to researchers ranging from undergraduates performing research projects to experienced academics.The UK has long been a world-leader in TEM method development and application, with substantial investment in world-leading capabilities such as those at SuperSTEM (Daresbury) and ePSIC (Diamond Light Source) and the Rosalind Franklin Institute which provide specific, high-level capabilities. Such facilities are only sustainable with a supporting infrastructure of instruments located at university centres of excellence. The instrument proposed here will form an important part of that infrastructure supporting regional and national research.The VATEM has been specified to study the widest possible range of samples. The portfolio of science that the instrument will address is exemplified in this proposal in the fields of materials for energy storage and conversion, materials for nuclear energy and nanomaterials, but the potential breadth of application is much greater than this. Materials critical for applications in energy storage, photovoltaic, nuclear, catalytic, degradation resistant and semiconductor devices all have key properties controlled by their structure and chemistry at the nanoscale. The imaging and spectroscopy methods available in a TEM can be used to determine structure and chemistry. There are, however, a number of challenges. Many such materials are either air-sensitive, electron-beam sensitive, or both. Developments in MEMS technology further allows nanoscale structure and composition measurements under a variety of environments including cooling, heating, gases, anaerobic, liquids, optical, electrical and mechanical stimuli. The instrument has been designed to address these challenges.The VATEM will be available researchers national and internationally who can demonstrate that the instruments capability will be meet a need in their research.