Leeds EPSRC Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research Equipment Facility

该提案旨在提供重要的外部访问(在3或4天内总计*天)。为纳米技术研究人员提供了最先进的仪器和适当的专业知识，这些研究人员既擅长无机纳米系统，也擅长无机/有机混合系统/即生物纳米技术。无障碍设施将包括用于表征以及结构和器件制造的相互关联的基本技术的协同(一站式)组合：环境和低电压扫描电子显微镜(ESEM和LVSEM)；原子力显微镜(AFM)；透射电子显微镜(TEM)；X射线光电子能谱(XPS)；聚焦离子束(FIB)和电子束光刻(EBL)以及相关的洁净室通道。我们认为，这种综合分析方法最终将在总体科学理解和生产力方面提供更有成效的服务，而不是零敲碎打地提供许多单独的专业活动。我们还相信，作为一个集团，我们拥有综合的经验和设施，能够成功和高效地提供这项全面集成的服务。此外，我们还将提供一些独特的专业设施，例如：变温、超高压STM：用于四点电学测量的组合扫描电子显微镜和4个STM纳米探针器：组合的TEM-STM夹持器(纳米工厂)：纳米人虚拟现实AFM/纳米操纵器：和磁镊子。该提案的另一个专长是使英国学者能够进行高质量的纳米科学研究，他们参与了以生命科学/物理科学接口(LSI)为中心的迅速扩大的领域。根据研究拨款，利兹是一个主要的大规模集成电路研究所(资料来源：LSI Impact Study/EPSRC 2005)，利兹小组拥有适当的和不断扩大的知识库，这可能对基于EPSRC的外部研究人员有额外的好处。此外，它将使我们能够优化专门用于杂化材料分析和改性的技术和方法，这些杂化材料通常由于固有的低图像对比度和辐射以及真空引起的化学和结构破坏的问题而难以研究，

This proposal aims to provide significant external access (a total of *** days over 3 or 4?? years) to state-of-the-art instrumentation as well as appropriate expertise for nanotechnology researchers specialising in both inorganic nanosystems and also in hybrid inorganic/ organic systems / i.e. bionanotechnology. Accessible facilities will include a synergistic ( one stop shop ) combination of inter-related basic techniques for both characterisation and structural and device fabrication: environmental and low voltage scanning electron microscopy (ESEM and LVSEM); atomic force microscopy (AFM); transmission electron microscopy (TEM); X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); focused ion beam (FIB) and electron beam lithography (EBL) together with associated cleanroom access. We believe that this integrated analytical approach will ultimately provide a much more productive service both in terms of overall scientific understanding and also productivity, as opposed to the piecemeal provision of many separate specialist activities. We also believe that, as a grouping, we possess the combined experience and facilities to deliver this fully integrated service successfully and efficiently. In addition we would also offer access to some unique specialist facilities such as: a variable temperature, UHV STM: a combined SEM and 4 STM Nanoprober for four point electrical measurements: a combined TEM-STM holder (Nanofactory): a Nanoman virtual reality AFM/ Nanomanipulator: and Magnetic tweezers. A further specialism of the proposal would be to enable high quality nanoscience research for UK academics who are involved in the rapidly expanding area centred around the life science/physical science interface (LSI). Based on research grants, Leeds is a major LSI Institution (source: LSI Impact Study / EPSRC 2005) and the Leeds grouping possesses an appropriate and expanding knowledge-base which can be of additional benefit to external EPSRC-based researchers. Furthermore, it will allow us to optimize techniques and methods specific to the analysis and modification of hybrid materials that are generally difficult to study due to the problems of intrinsically low image contrast and radiation and vacuum-induced chemical and structural damage,