Critical Upgrade of the UHV System at the Electrochemical Technology Centre

目前的特高压系统是在2001年圭尔夫大学（UoG）电化学技术中心（ETC）成立时购买的。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、俄歇光谱和X射线光电子能谱（XPS），这些仪器在过去18年中得到了广泛的应用。2018年，在NSERC RTI资助和UoG化学系的大力支持下，我们成功升级了检测器和相关电子设备，以提供同时128通道检测和现代计算系统，该系统具有在Windows环境下运行的软件包。有了这样一个重大的第一步升级，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个小时来加载一个样品，并达到适当的操作真空度。为了解决这一严重问题，必须进行关键的第二步升级，包括新的样品台和装载系统，修改烘烤面板，并翻新现有的双阳极X射线源。通过拟议的升级，我们安装在UHV系统中的XPS将与当前最先进的系统（如XPS-LAB（Scienta Omicron））一样好，其成本超过100万美元。拟议的升级将使一个完整的功能系统，可以提供可靠的支持，所有的研究计划，正在支持的ETC。特别是，创新的研究计划的申请人（教授A。Chen教授）、共同申请人（J. Lipkowski教授）和主要用户（J. Dutcher教授，A. Houmam，X. Qin，P. Rowntree和D.托马斯）。拟议的关键升级不仅将大大加快装载过程，（多个样品与单个样品加载）和增加容量，但也解决了当前的EDI（公平，多样性和包容性）问题在我们的HQP培训，这是由于长转移臂磁体和观察口之间的距离较长（目前只有几个高个子、臂展较长的男学生可以操作特高压系统并装载样品）。特高压系统位于ETC，校园内和该地区的学生和研究人员可以轻松访问。电子收费站的管理人会继续维修该系统，并为使用者提供实际操作的训练。所有受过训练的学生，博士后研究员和研究助理将运行他们的样品和分析光谱。预计仅申请人、共同申请人和主要用户的研究团队，升级后的特高压系统每天将运行超过130小时。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，解决日益关键的能源和环境问题。

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.**