New EDS detector for Ultrahigh-resolution TEM

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We are requesting an upgrade to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) detector for our ultrahigh resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (UHR-TEM) purchased by McMaster University 6 years ago. This analytical attachment provides much larger detector efficiency and faster electronics than the previous detector, built on 20-year old technology, and is essential to enable the analysis of the chemical composition of samples characterized in the TEM. The much larger detector (4 times more efficient) is essential to detect the composition of smaller structures such as nanoparticles down to 1-2nm size, beam sensitive materials (such as corrosion products, Li-containing materials and biological materials) and allows much larger scale analyses due to the improved detection of X-rays and faster electronics. These characteristics will finally make EDS tomography possible, the first time in Canada. The tool, which includes software for elemental mapping and quantification, is indispensable for the identification of phases that need to be analysed, map the distribution of elements in the areas of interest so that specific areas that need to be studied can be identified. Several research groups will benefit from the requested instrument. Projects include the analysis of corrosion and oxidation in automotive and nuclear applications, photovoltaic materials, interfaces in biomaterials, fuel cells, Li-ion battery materials, coatings in battery materials, and light-emitting diodes. Without this requested instrument, this research and progress in numerous research projects will be severely limited and the research groups will not be competitive at the international level since this tool is now commonly available outside Canada.