Physical principles of electron beam characterization at nanoscale

在处理纳米级物体时，有必要用显微镜代替人类感官的直接观察。透射电子显微镜（TEM）看“内部”材料类似于X射线看“内部”人。在这个意义上，它是扫描探针技术，如STM和AFM的补充。TEM实验通常允许以优于一纳米的空间分辨率进行定量解释。先进的TEM的应用范围从催化剂和半导体材料和器件到生命科学样品。需要扩大电子显微镜的限制是由必要性，以提供加拿大的研究人员和行业不断获得国家的最先进的纳米材料的定量表征。电子显微镜研究的目标是实现和保持世界领先地位和声誉，在NINT研究界和工业合作伙伴感兴趣的电子显微镜方面。该提案的目的是发展强大的电子显微镜专业知识，再加上NINT最先进的仪器，将不断吸引广泛的外部合作，在纳米科学NINT。特别是EM研究的重点是推动电子全息术的边界，用于静电和磁场的定量表征，分辨率优于1 nm，电子能量损失光谱学用于纳米材料和界面的化学成分和键合表征，以及蛋白质和亚细胞生物材料的低温显微镜。这些目标将通过以下方式来实现：努力提高对数据解释所依据的物理原理的理解，进行创新性实验设计，以及增加廉价硬件。因此，仪器的能力将在较长的一段时间内保持其尖端状态。

When working with nanoscale objects it is necessary to replace direct observation by human senses by microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) looks "inside" materials similarly to X-rays looking "inside" people. In this sense it is complementary to scanning probe techniques such as STM and AFM. TEM experiments often allow quantitative interpretation at better than one nanometer spatial resolution. The applications of advanced TEM range from catalysts and semiconductor materials and devices to life science samples. The need to expand limits of electron microscopy is dictated by the necessity to provide Canada's researchers and industry with ongoing access to state-of-the-art quantitative characterization of nanomaterials. The goal of the electron microscopy research is to achieve and maintain world leadership and reputation in aspects of electron microscopy of interest to NINT research community and industrial partners. The aim of this proposal is to develop strong electron microscopy expertise which, together with NINT's state-of-the-art instrumentation, will continuously attract a wide range of external collaborations in nanoscience to NINT. In particular the EM research is focused on pushing the boundaries of electron holography for quantitative characterization of electrostatic and magnetic fields at resolution better than 1 nm, electron energy loss spectroscopy for chemical composition and bonding characterization of nanomaterials and interfaces and on cryomicroscopy of proteins and sub-cellular biological materials. The goals will be achieved by pursuing improved understanding of physical principles underlying data interpretation, by innovative experiment design and by building inexpensive hardware additions. Consequently the instrument capabilities will retain their cutting edge status for an extended period of time.