EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment Award 2022/23

EPSRC资本奖核心设备奖2022/23

• 批准号: EP/X034844/1
• 负责人: Ann Louise Heathwaite
• 金额: $ 100.02万
• 依托单位: Lancaster University
• 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%2FX034844%2F1
• 关键词: EPSRC; Capital; Award; Core; Equipment

The core-equipment award will be used to support the upgrade and expansion of two underpinning pieces of equipment as part of EPSRC's Invest to Save initiative. The equipment, which complements recent and substantial investment in infrastructure and staff, is i) a high throughput multimode Atomic Force Microscope (mmAFM) and ii) an electroencephalography (EEG) system.i) mmAFM: AFM has been instrumental in the development of nanotechnology; it is a powerful, versatile technique for studying sample surfaces and thin films, providing nanoscale resolution of electrical and thermal transport, topography, nanomechanics and many other properties. AFM works by scanning the surface of the material of interest with a nanoscale or atomically sharp probe. A feedback loop between the probe and sample allows scanning or spectroscopic characterisation of the material. One of the main advantages of AFM over many other surface characterisation techniques is its ability to deliver a wide range of material, environment and characterisation parameters. Historically, one of the limiting factors for AFM is the difficulty of mapping depth-dependent material properties in a 3-dimensional (3D) scan.The requested upgrade will overcome the 3D mapping limit. We request a significant upgrade and expansion of an existing AFM system enabling high-throughput 3D-correlated characterisation of mechanical, electrical, thermal or thermoelectric properties on conductive or insulating substrates in either controlled, ambient or liquid environments. The upgrade will be housed in the ultra-low noise environment of Lancaster's IsoLab facility and when combined with the Co-I's track records of developing and exploiting novel AFM will provide a unique, world-class facility for nanoscale materials characterisation.ii) EEG picks up the electrical signals produced by the brain through small sensors attached to a participant's scalp. It is ideal for auditory research as it can be used with individuals with hearing devices (e.g. cochlear implants, hearing aids) and in a quiet environment, unlike Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). EEG's excellent temporal resolution is advantageous when assessing the cortical response to speech as the auditory system works at the millisecond level. The data can also be analysed to reveal from which cortical area the electrical signal originated. This spatial analysis is extremely useful in MRI pilot data due to the high costs of MRI scanning (~£250 per hour) and is made more accurate by increasing the number of channels within the EEG system.The requested repair and upgrade will create a neuroimaging tool with a higher resolution than previously possible with the equipment to allow spatial analysis. Furthermore, the system will be made appropriate for both child and adult research to ensure the equipment is used for a wide range of research. The EEG system will be housed in Psychology's dedicated research building. In combination with the department's five auditory research labs and the BabyLab, this repaired and enhanced EEG system will provide a powerful base for paediatric auditory neuroscience.

核心设备奖将用于支持两个基础设备的升级和扩展，作为EPSRC投资节省计划的一部分。该设备补充了最近在基础设施和工作人员方面的大量投资，是i）高通量多模式原子力显微镜（mmAFM）和ii）脑电图（EEG）系统。它是一种功能强大、用途广泛的技术，用于研究样品表面和薄膜，提供电和热传输、地形，纳米力学和许多其他性质。原子力显微镜的工作原理是用纳米级或原子级的探针扫描感兴趣的材料表面。探针和样品之间的反馈回路允许对材料进行扫描或光谱表征。AFM与许多其他表面表征技术相比的主要优势之一是它能够提供广泛的材料，环境和表征参数。从历史上看，AFM的限制因素之一是难以在三维（3D）扫描中映射深度相关的材料属性。所要求的升级将克服3D映射限制。我们要求对现有AFM系统进行重大升级和扩展，以便在受控、环境或液体环境中对导电或绝缘基底上的机械、电气、热或热电特性进行高通量3D相关表征。升级将被安置在超低噪音环境的兰开斯特的IsoLab设施，当结合Co-I的开发和利用新的AFM的跟踪记录将提供一个独特的，世界一流的设施纳米材料表征。它是听觉研究的理想选择，因为它可以用于佩戴听力设备（例如人工耳蜗植入物，助听器）的个人，并且与磁共振成像（MRI）不同，它可以在安静的环境中使用。当评估皮层对语音的反应时，EEG的出色的时间分辨率是有利的，因为听觉系统在毫秒级工作。这些数据也可以被分析，以揭示电信号来自哪个皮层区域。由于MRI扫描的成本很高（每小时约250英镑），这种空间分析在MRI试验数据中非常有用，并且通过增加EEG系统内的通道数量来提高准确性。所要求的修复和升级将创建一个具有比以前更高分辨率的神经成像工具，以允许空间分析。此外，该系统将适合儿童和成人研究，以确保设备用于广泛的研究。脑电图系统将被安置在心理学的专用研究大楼。结合该部门的五个听觉研究实验室和婴儿实验室，这个修复和增强的脑电图系统将为儿科听觉神经科学提供一个强大的基础。