Correlative Analysis of Crystals in 3D

3D 晶体相关分析

• 批准号: EP/X014614/1
• 负责人: Bo Chen
• 金额: $ 318.74万
• 依托单位: University of Leicester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX014614%2F1
• 关键词: Correlative; Analysis; Crystals; 3D

The performance of any crystalline material depends greatly upon its crystal properties, such as crystallographic orientation. Crystalline materials include metals, alloys and ceramics, all of which are high-value strategically important materials. Materials characterisation is crucial to the understanding of key processes in a range of functional and structural materials that have applications across many industrial sectors. We request funding for a ZEISS Hercules package of CrystalCT and Crossbeam 350 with femtosecond (fs)-laser in correlative configuration, integrated and running on one powerful software platform. This new equipment represents a game changer for materials characterisation; it will enable numerous capabilities, including 3D non-destructive and high throughput crystallographic and microstructural imaging using laboratory-based X-ray source, access to deeply buried regions of interest as well as performing correlative analysis of crystals in 3D on large volumes of materials.This equipment, a 3D crystallographic imaging system, will bring new capabilities to the Midlands region, becoming the only combination system in the UK capable of capturing isotropic voxel dimensions at sub-micron resolution, and will, for the first time, enable a transformative workflow for both multi-modal and multi-scale characterisation of crystalline materials, at length scale from centimetres to nanometres. The requested equipment has a strong demand at local, regional and national levels due to its unique capabilities for correlative 3D imaging of crystals. By working closely with multi-disciplinary research teams within the University of Leicester, and our regional and national partner organisations, we have identified three Core Areas with competitive regional and national strengths. It is anticipated that the proposed research topics that this equipment will support will be elevated to internationally competitive levels.Micro-CT (also called micro computed tomography) is a 3D imaging technique that uses X-rays to look inside a material slice by slice. Absorption contrast tomography, the working principle describing how a conventional micro-CT works, measures density differences in a material, such as porosity, inclusions, defects, etc. However, it cannot not reveal the grain microstructure, defined by crystallographic orientations, which is key to almost any metallic materials' properties and performance. The combination of absorption and diffraction unravels a complete picture of grain microstructure which can then be linked to help researchers understand the defect formation mechanisms. In this sense, the stand-alone CrystalCT system is already an exceptional micro-CT. The unique correlative configuration of the CrystalCT and Crossbeam 350 with fs-laser is even more exciting as it enables the 3D grain imaging across the length-scales of centimetres to nanometres.The equipment will be managed through a committee to oversee strategic issues, primarily focusing on making businesses aware of the research capabilities of this instrument, as well as growing a diverse and inclusive user base. Ultimately, supporting this equipment proposal will allow us to provide significant societal and economic benefit to the UK.

任何晶体材料的性能在很大程度上取决于其晶体性质，如晶体取向。晶体材料包括金属、合金和陶瓷，所有这些都是高价值的战略重要材料。材料表征对于理解在许多工业部门应用的一系列功能和结构材料的关键过程至关重要。我们申请资助蔡司Hercules系列CrystalCT和Crossbeam 350，采用相关配置的飞秒（fs）激光，集成并运行在一个强大的软件平台上。这一新设备代表了材料表征的游戏规则改变者;它将实现许多功能，包括使用实验室X射线源的3D非破坏性和高通量晶体学和微观结构成像，进入深埋的感兴趣区域，以及在大量材料上进行3D晶体相关分析。该设备，3D晶体学成像系统，将为中部地区带来新的功能，成为英国唯一能够以亚微米分辨率捕获各向同性体素尺寸的组合系统，并将首次实现晶体材料多模态和多尺度表征的变革性工作流程，长度从厘米到纳米。所要求的设备在地方、区域和国家一级有很大的需求，因为它具有晶体相关3D成像的独特能力。通过与莱斯特大学的多学科研究团队以及我们的区域和国家合作伙伴组织密切合作，我们确定了三个具有竞争力的区域和国家优势的核心领域。预计该设备将支持的拟议研究课题将提升到具有国际竞争力的水平。微型CT（也称为微型计算机断层扫描）是一种3D成像技术，使用X射线逐层观察材料内部。吸收对比断层扫描是描述传统微型CT工作原理的一种技术，它测量材料中的密度差异，如孔隙率、夹杂物、缺陷等。然而，它无法揭示由晶体学取向定义的晶粒微观结构，这是几乎所有金属材料特性和性能的关键。吸收和衍射的结合揭示了晶粒微观结构的全貌，然后可以将其联系起来，帮助研究人员了解缺陷形成机制。从这个意义上说，独立的CrystalCT系统已经是一个特殊的微型CT。CrystalCT和Crossbeam 350配备飞秒激光器的独特相关配置更令人兴奋，因为它可以实现厘米到纳米尺度的3D颗粒成像。该设备将通过一个委员会进行管理，以监督战略问题，主要侧重于让企业了解该仪器的研究能力，以及发展多元化和包容性的用户群。最终，支持这一设备提案将使我们能够为英国提供重大的社会和经济效益。