MRI: Acquisition of Analytical Microprobe Facilities for an Existing Scanning Electron Microscope

技术摘要：元素分析被广泛应用于物理和生命科学学科。在亚微米尺度上进行元素分析扩大了应用范围，并在许多情况下提供了定性的新信息，特别是与亚微米成像相结合时。该项目将把宾夕法尼亚洛克海文大学扫描电子显微镜的成像能力与能量色散x射线光谱学和背散射电子探测的分析能力集成在一个仪器中。该大学目前没有其他直接元素分析方法；该仪器将支持该大学的一些正在进行的项目，包括电子、光电和生物医学应用的纳米粒子的制造和研究，新型金属碳材料的合成，地质火成岩过程的研究，昆虫外骨骼和真菌的研究，以及铝合金的研究。它将促进跨学科研究，打破生物、化学、地质和物理等学科在应用研究方面跨学科合作的传统障碍。新设施将加强与宾夕法尼亚州立大学和好时医学中心的外部合作。将开辟新的研究途径，例如测量昆虫和真菌中重金属和其他污染物的积累，这些信息将为当地的环境政策提供信息。该系统的紧凑性允许广泛使用，并支持本科阶段学生的教育和研究培训、课堂演示以及作为实验室模块的一部分的集成。它将帮助为NSF资助的纳米科学学者的新群体创造和支持本科研究机会。外行人总结：分析构成各种物质的元素对于研究生物有机体和物理对象和过程是必不可少的。这是特别有价值的，能够确定如何组成变化的规模比可获得的光学显微镜更小，但可获得的电子显微镜。扫描电子显微镜中的电子束产生几种类型的二次发射，每一种都携带有关样品表面结构和成分的特定信息。该项目将整合另外两个探测器和位于宾夕法尼亚洛克海文大学的扫描电子显微镜。这将使研究人员能够确定组成样品的元素，并将成分与物体的图像联系起来。年代表面;从光学显微镜无法检测到的物体到普通螺栓和螺母的大小都有很大的范围。这种广泛的规模和仪器固有的灵活性为大学所有科学学科的研究项目和跨学科的跨学科工作创造了新的机会。这些仪器将直接支持正在进行的新电子和光电子器件（如发光器件和太阳能电池）、新材料制造和纳米颗粒合成、生物传感器、地质火成岩过程研究以及昆虫和真菌研究等项目。其中一些项目涉及与宾夕法尼亚州立大学、好时医学中心和工业界的持续合作。将开辟新的研究途径，例如。分析昆虫外骨骼和真菌中重金属和其他污染物的积累，为当地的环境政策提供信息。该系统结构紧凑，可广泛用于本科生的教学和科研训练、课堂演示以及作为实验室教学模块的一部分。它将帮助我们为NSF资助的纳米科学学者的新群体创造和支持本科研究机会。

0923047TzolovLock Haven U of PennsylvaniaTechnical Summary: Elemental analysis is widely used in a broad range of physical and life science disciplines. Performing elemental analysis on a submicron scale widens the range of applications and in many cases delivers qualitatively new information, especially when combined with submicron imaging. This project will integrate in one instrument the imaging capabilities of a Scanning Electron Microscope at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with the analytical power of Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Backscattered Electron Detection. No other methods for direct elemental analysis are now available at the University; this instrument will support a number of ongoing projects at the University including fabrication and investigation of nanoparticles for electronic, optoelectronic, and biomedical applications, synthesis of novel metal-carbon materials, study of geological igneous processes, investigations of insect exoskeletons and fungi, and investigations of aluminum alloys. It will promote interdisciplinary research and break down traditional barriers to interdisciplinary cooperation in applied research between faculty from biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. The new facilities will enhance external collaborations with, inter alia, Penn State University and Hershey Medical Center. New avenues for research will be opened, e.g. measurement of the accumulation of heavy metals and other contaminants in insects and fungi, information which will inform local environmental policies. The compactness of the system allows wide use and supports integration of education and research training of students at the undergraduate level, class demonstrations, and as part of laboratory modules. It will help create and support undergraduate research opportunities for new cohorts of NSF funded Nanoscience Scholars.Layman Summary: Analyzing the elements that make up various materials is essential to the study of biological organisms and physical objects and processes. It is especially valuable to be able to determine how composition varies on a scale smaller than that accessible with an optical microscope but which is accessible by electron microscopy. The electron beam in a Scanning Electron Microscope produces several types of secondary emissions, each of them carrying specific information about the surface structure and the composition of the sample. This project will integrate two additional detectors with a Scanning Electron Microscope at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. This will allow researchers to determine the elements that compose a sample and to correlate composition with the images of the object?s surface; all on a wide scale ranging from objects undetectable by optical microscopy up to the size of regular bolts and nuts. This wide scale and the inherent flexibility of the instrument create new opportunities for research projects in all science disciplines at the University and for interdisciplinary work across disciplines. These instruments will directly support ongoing projects in novel electronic and optoelectronic devices (such as light emitting devices and solar cells), fabrication of new materials and nanoparticle synthesis, biosensors, studies of geological igneous processes, and insect and fungi studies. Several of these projects involve ongoing collaborations with Penn State University, Hershey Medical Center, and industry. New avenues for research will be opened, such as. analyzing the accumulation of heavy metals and other contaminants in insect exoskeletons and fungi, which can inform local environmental policies. The compactness of the system allows wide use for integrating education and research training of undergraduate students, class demonstrations, and as part of laboratory teaching modules. It will help us create and support undergraduate research opportunities for our new cohorts of NSF funded Nanoscience Scholars.