MRI: Acquisition of a High Resolution Cryo Scanning Electron Microscope System

该MRI拨款支持购买具有低温级和先进功能的新型高分辨率场发射扫描电子显微镜（cryoSEM），包括x射线化学分析，以及多功能冷冻标本制备和转移系统。这种新的冷冻扫描电镜系统将用于各种各样的研究项目，以产生更深入和现实的理解微观和纳米结构，化学成分和复杂样品的结构发展，这些在普通的室温扫描电镜中是不可能成像的。cryoSEM和标本制备和处理系统的特点有助于各种研究项目，这些项目需要高分辨率成像，可选择化学分析，并精确控制冷冻标本的制备和处理。一些示例研究项目包括：液体涂层的微观结构发展，用作电极的有序多孔材料的结构，复杂的纳米结构，用于药物递送材料的嵌段共聚物基水凝胶以及水合胶原蛋白和纤维蛋白基组织等效物的结构。cryoSEM设备支持的研究将在各个领域产生更广泛的影响，包括涂层加工、胶体科学、多孔材料、嵌段共聚物、胶原基组织等效物、生物膜、地磁和乳液科学。低温扫描电镜将提供其他手段无法实现的结果，不仅会对科学理解产生影响，而且会对新材料和设备的工程产生影响。研究结果将在出版物和报告中传播，包括通过明尼苏达大学的界面和材料工程研究工业伙伴关系向工业界发表报告。新的cryoSEM系统还将通过研讨会、讲习班和示范，影响从研究生到中学生的各级学生的研究培训和教育。

This MRI grant supports the purchase of a new high resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (cryoSEM) with a cryostage and advanced features, including x-ray chemical analysis, and a versatile cryospecimen preparation and transfer system. This new cryoSEM system will be used in a wide variety of research projects to produce a more in depth and realistic understanding of the micro- and nanostructure, chemical composition and structural development of complex samples that are impossible to image in an ordinary, room temperature SEM. The features of the cryoSEM and the specimen preparation and handling system facilitate a variety of research projects that demand high resolution imaging with the option of chemical analysis and with precise control over the cryospecimen preparation and handling. Some example research projects include: microstructure development in liquid applied coatings, structure of ordered porous materials used as electrodes, nanostructure of complex, block copolymer-based hydrogels that are used drug delivery materials and the structure of hydrated collagen- and fibrin-based tissue equivalents. The research enabled by the cryoSEM facility will have broader impacts across a variety of fields, including coating processing, colloidal science, porous materials, block copolymers, collagen-based tissue equivalents, biofilms, geomagnetism, and emulsion science. The cryoSEM will provide results that could not be achieved by other means and will impact not only on the scientific understanding but also on the engineering of new materials and devices. The results will be disseminated in publications and presentations, including presentations to industry through the University of Minnesota's Industrial Partnership for Research in Interfacial and Materials Engineering. The new cryoSEM system will also impact the research training and education of students at various levels, from graduate students down to middle school students, through seminars, workshops and demonstrations.