MRI: Acquisition of Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope for Nanofabrication and Characterization

这项重大研究仪器(MRI)奖将支持收购双光束聚焦离子束/扫描电子显微镜系统。该系统满足了对纳米到原子长度尺度的材料和器件的合成、表征和制造工具的迫切需求。它将使在纳米和微结构材料和器件、材料界面、催化剂表征和纳米机械测试方面的基础研究成为可能，从而产生高强度钢和轻质合金等新材料体系，以提高能源效率。它将推进科学和工程领域的多学科研究计划，范围从结构工程材料、能源和功能材料到纳米结构材料和器件以及基础物理。该奖项还将支持一系列新的教育和研究培训活动，重点是先进制造、表征和纳米机械测试，范围从K-12到研究生水平，这将有助于发展未来的科学、技术、工程和数学劳动力，并增加代表性不足的学生的参与。双束聚焦离子束系统可以产生超高分辨率的图像，用于表征和制造纳米到微米尺度的结构。主要项目包括：(1)汽车用镀锌高强度钢和轻质镁合金的界面结构研究--在纳米尺度上更好地了解复杂的界面反应；(2)在原子尺度上揭示原子排列或原子团簇的玻璃金属研究；(3)用于超高强度和成形性的镁-X纳米层状物的纳米力学表征的新途径；(4)探测辐照材料中的纳米尺度损伤梯度；(5)块体和纳米材料在激光脉冲产生的极高应变率下的力学行为；(6)高通量合金筛选技术，这将使多主成分或高熵合金的设计成为可能。该仪器将使跨学科研究成为可能，并将极大地促进与其他机构的合作。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award will support the acquisition of a dual beam Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscope system. This system meets a critical need for a synthesis, characterization and fabrication tool for materials and devices at the nanometer-to-atomic length scales. It will enable fundamental research in nano- and micro- structured materials and devices, materials interfaces, catalyst characterization and nano-mechanical testing leading to novel material systems such as high strength steels and lightweight alloys for enhanced energy efficiency. It will advance multidisciplinary research programs in science and engineering, ranging from structural engineering materials, energy and functional materials to nanostructured materials and devices and fundamental physics. This award will also support an array of new educational and research training activities focused on advanced manufacturing, characterization and nano-mechanical testing, ranging from K-12 to graduate levels, which will help develop the future science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce and increase the participation of underrepresented students. The dual beam Focused Ion Beam system can produce ultra-high resolution images for characterization and the fabrication of nm-to-µm scale structures. Key projects include (1) Research on interfacial structures of galvanized high strength steels and lightweight magnesium alloys for automotive applications--to better understand complex interfacial reactions at the nanoscale; (2) Studies of glassy metals to reveal atomic arrangements or clusters on the atomic scale; (3) New avenues for nano-mechanical characterization of Mg-X nanolaminates for ultra- high strength and formability; (4) Probing nanoscale damage gradients in irradiated materials; (5) Mechanical behavior of both bulk and nanomaterials at very high strain rates generated by Laser pulses; (6) High-throughput alloy screening technique which will enable design of multi-principal component or high entropy alloys. The instrumentation will enable cross disciplinary research and will dramatically facilitate collaborations with other institutions.