MRI: Acquisition of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope for Visualization, Characterization and Manipulation of Nanoscale Systems

该项目的目标是获得一种具有原子力显微镜(AFM)和热台附件的高分辨率环境扫描电子显微镜(ESEM)，用于广泛的研究和教育项目。环境扫描电子显微镜将设在卡内基梅隆大学工程学院内的一个开放实验室。与传统扫描电子显微镜设备相比，该系统的主要优势是能够在高温(高达1000℃)下对样品进行成像。C)，对不导电的样品(如陶瓷和聚合物)进行成像，以及低真空成像，这是生物系统的理想选择。环境。此外，集成的AFM功能允许在扫描电子显微镜中观察到样品时对它们进行拓扑成像、计量和原位纳米级探测。在此之前，CMU校园内没有环境扫描电子显微镜设备，附近的机构也没有提供任何设备。受购买这种设备影响的研究和教育项目跨越卡内基梅隆工程学院，包括卡内基梅隆理工学院和匹兹堡大学机械工程和材料科学系的项目。更广泛的影响：过去二十年发展的小型化和纳米级可视化技术在工程研究中开辟了一个新的前沿，侧重于微米和纳米尺度上的物理现象。卡内基梅隆大学在力学、材料、生物医学工程、生物学以及将这些学科结合在一起的领域的研究人员需要亚微米成像、表征、操纵和现场实验能力来进行研究。获得这种环境扫描电子显微镜设备将对我们在广泛的应用领域中进一步了解微/纳米尺度的基本现象产生重大影响。匹兹堡大学需要一个几乎与CMU相同的ESEM。获得CMU的环境扫描电子显微镜设备也将对他们的研究能力产生重大影响。卡内基梅隆大学还认为，在微纳尺度系统的研究中使用环境扫描电子显微镜，对于大学预科、本科生和研究生阶段的未来工程师教育具有战略上的关键意义。这种联网设备将不仅允许？广播？将扫描电子显微镜的图像传送到实验室或教室环境中，还具有远程控制部分功能，大大提高了学生的学习能力。通过将这种设备用于本科生和研究生教育，PIS将显著促进微/纳米尺度研究与教育的整合。这些设备还将用于加强卡内基梅隆大学领导的现有外联计划。

The objective of this project is to acquire a high resolution environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) with atomic force microscope (AFM) and hot stage attachments for use in a broad array of research and education projects. The ESEM will be located in an open-access laboratory within the Carnegie Mellon University engineering college. Key advantages of this system over conventional SEM equipment are its ability to image specimens at elevated temperatures (up to 1000 deg. C), imaging of specimens that are not conductive (such as ceramics and polymers) and low vacuum imaging, ideal for biosystems in ?wet? environments. Furthermore, integrated AFM capabilities allow topological imaging, metrology and in-situ nano-scale probing of samples as they are observed in the SEM. Prior to this award, no ESEM equipment existed on the CMU campus and none was available at nearby institutions. Research and education projects impacted by acquisition of this equipment span the Carnegie Mellon Engineering College, and include projects in the CMU Mellon College of Science and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. Broader Impacts:Miniaturization and nano-scale visualization technologies developed over the last two decades have created a new frontier in engineering research, focused on physical phenomena at the micro and nano scales. Carnegie Mellon researchers in mechanics, materials, biomedical engineering, biology and areas that combine these disciplines require sub-micron imaging, characterization, manipulation and in-situ experimentation capabilities for their research. Acquisition of this ESEM equipment will have significant impact in furthering our understanding of fundamental phenomena at the micro/nano size scales in a broad range of application areas. The University of Pittsburgh has needs for an ESEM that are nearly identical to those of CMU. Access to ESEM equipment at CMU will also have a dramatic impact on their research capabilities. Carnegie Mellon also sees ESEM use in the study of micro- and nanoscale systems as strategically critical in the education of future engineers at the pre-college, undergraduate and graduate levels. This networked equipment will allow not only ?broadcasting? of SEM images to laboratory or classroom environments, but also remote control of some functions, greatly enhancing student learning. By using this equipment for undergraduate and graduate education, the PIs will significantly advance integration of micro/nano-scale research with education. The equipment will also be used to enhance existing outreach programs led by Carnegie Mellon.