Liquid-phase electron microscopy for probing dynamic process

用于探测动态过程的液相电子显微镜

• 批准号: 543949-2019
• 负责人: Howe, Jane
• 金额: $ 2.6万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=698850
• 关键词: Liquid; phase; electron; microscopy; probing

Seeing is believing. For hundreds of years, human beings have been on a continuous quest of new technologies that expands our visions to see things either too far away or too small to resolve. Light microscopes, invented in the 1500's, allowed observation of subjects down to sub-micrometer length scales. Electron microscopes, first constructed in 1931, using electrons to probe an object, have since advanced to be able to measure physical, chemical and microstructural information down to the atomic-level. Electron microscopy is conventionally carried out in high vacuum such that only the electron beam interacts with sample. Yet a fast-growing range of scientific research is interested in structure and dynamic processes of materials immersed in liquid at the nanometer length scale, with the option of adding additional stimuli such as heating, electrical current, or light illumination. This project aims to develop and optimize novel technologies for carrying out liquid-phase electron microscopy and correlative microscopy studies in scanning electron microscope (SEM). In order to study materials immersed in liquid, a robust, electronically-transparent liquid-cell is required for containing the specimen and it must integrate well with the operation and data collection of the SEM. We will also build a cryo SEM stage, which can lower the vapor pressure of the liquid. The proposed work will be carried out using the state-of-the art electron microscopy characterization tools at the Ontario Centre for the Characterisation of Advanced Materials at the University of Toronto. University of Toronto will collaborate with Hitachi High Technologies Canada Inc., a Toronto-based instruments distributor and manufacturer, and Norcada Inc., a MEMS technology company located in Edmonton, Alberta, for this project. This research will provide training for 2 graduate students and 2 undergraduate students. It will make a significant contribution to the development and commercialization of high valued-added technologies and products in Canada.

眼见为实。 数百年来，人类一直在不断探索新技术，以扩大我们的视野，看到太远或太小而无法解决的问题。 光学显微镜，发明于16世纪，允许观察对象下降到亚微米长度尺度。 1931年首次建造的电子显微镜，使用电子探测物体，已经发展到能够测量原子水平的物理，化学和微观结构信息。 电子显微镜通常在高真空中进行，使得只有电子束与样品相互作用。 然而，一个快速增长的科学研究范围感兴趣的结构和动态过程的材料浸没在液体中的纳米长度尺度，与选项添加额外的刺激，如加热，电流，或光照。 本项目旨在开发和优化用于在扫描电子显微镜（SEM）中进行液相电子显微镜和相关显微镜研究的新技术。 为了研究浸在液体中的材料，需要一个坚固的、电子透明的液体池来容纳样品，并且它必须与SEM的操作和数据收集很好地结合起来。 我们还将建立一个低温扫描电镜阶段，它可以降低液体的蒸汽压。 拟议的工作将进行使用国家的最先进的电子显微镜表征工具在安大略中心的表征先进材料在多伦多大学。 多伦多大学将与日立高科技加拿大公司合作，一家总部位于多伦多的仪器分销商和制造商，以及Norcada Inc.，位于阿尔伯塔的埃德蒙顿的MEMS技术公司。 本研究将为2名研究生和2名本科生提供培训。 它将为加拿大高附加值技术和产品的开发和商业化做出重大贡献。