Critical Upgrade of the UHV System at the Electrochemical Technology Centre

目前的特高压系统是在2001年购买的，当时圭尔夫大学（UoG）的电化学技术中心（ETC）成立。该真空系统集成了几种仪器，包括扫描隧道显微镜、原子力显微镜、螺旋波谱和x射线光电子能谱（XPS），这些仪器在过去的18年里被广泛使用。2018年，在NSERC RTI资助和UoG化学系的大力支持下，我们成功升级了探测器和相关电子设备，以提供同时128通道检测和现代化的计算系统，该系统带有在Windows环境下运行的软件包。通过这一重大的第一步升级，我们能够在30分钟内获得高分辨率的XPS光谱；然而，它需要大约8小时来加载单个样品并达到适当的操作真空水平。为了解决这个严重的问题，必须进行关键的第二步升级，包括新的样品台和加载系统，修改烘烤面板，翻新现有的双阳极x射线源。******通过拟议的升级，我们在特高压系统中安装的XPS将与目前最先进的系统一样出色，例如XPS- lab (Scienta Omicron)，其成本超过100万美元。拟议的升级将使一个功能完整的系统能够为ETC支持的所有研究项目提供可靠的支持。特别是申请人（A. Chen教授）、共同申请人（J. Lipkowski教授）和主要使用者（J. Dutcher教授、A. houmann教授、X. Qin教授、P. Rowntree教授和D. Thomas教授）的创新研究项目。拟议的关键升级不仅将显著加快加载过程（多样品与单样品加载）并增加容量，而且还将解决我们HQP培训中当前的EDI（公平、多样性和包容性）问题，这是由于长转移臂磁铁和观察端口之间的距离很远（目前只有少数高个子的男学生有长臂跨度可以操作特高压系统并加载样品）。特高压系统位于ETC，校园和整个地区的学生和研究人员都可以轻松访问。ETC经理将继续维护系统，并为用户提供实际操作培训。所有训练有素的学生、博士后研究员和研究助理将运行他们的样品并分析光谱。预计升级后的特高压系统每月将由申请人、共同申请人和主要用户的研究团队每天运行130小时以上。它对学生培训至关重要，并将促进进一步的区域、国家和国际合作，以开发先进的清洁技术，以解决日益严峻的能源和环境问题

The current UHV system was purchased in 2001 when the Electrochemical Technology Centre (ETC) at the University of Guelph (UoG) was formed. This vacuum system integrates several instruments, including scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, auger spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which has been used extensively over the last 18 years. In 2018, with the assistance of NSERC RTI funding and strong support from the Department of Chemistry at UoG, we successfully upgraded the detector and associated electronics to provide simultaneous 128 channel detection and a modern computing system with a software package that operates in a Windows environment. With such a significant first-step upgrade, we were able to obtain a high-resolution XPS spectrum within 30 minutes; however, it requires approximately eight hours to load a single sample and to attain the appropriate operating vacuum level. To address this serious issue, it is essential to carry out a critical second-step upgrade, including a new sample stage and loading system, modification of the bakeout panel, and refurbishment of the existing dual anode X-ray source.******With the proposed upgrade, our XPS housed in the UHV system will perform as well as a current state-of-the-art system, such as XPS-LAB (Scienta Omicron), which costs over $1M USD. The proposed upgrade will enable a completely functional system that can provide dependable support for all of the research programs that are being supported by the ETC. In particular, the innovative research programs of the applicant (Professor A. Chen), the co-applicants (Professor J. Lipkowski) and the major users (Professor J. Dutcher, A. Houmam, X. Qin, P. Rowntree and D. Thomas). The proposed critical upgrade will not only significantly expedite the loading process (multiple sample vs. single sample loading) and increase capacity, but also address the current EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) issue in our HQP training, which is due to the long distance between the Long Transfer Arm Magnet and the Viewing Port (only a few tall male students with a long arm spans can currently operate the UHV system and load the sample). The UHV system is located at the ETC, which is easily accessible by students and researchers on campus and across this region. The Manager of the ETC will continue to maintain the system and provide hands-on training to users. All trained students, postdoctoral fellows, and research associates will run their samples and analyze the spectra. It is anticipated that the upgraded UHV system will be in operation every day for over 130 hours per month by the research teams of the applicant, co-applicant, and major users alone. It is essential for student training and will facilitate further regional, national, and international collaborations toward the development of advanced clean technologies to address increasingly critical energy and environmental issues.**