MRI: Acquisition of a High-Resolution Analytical Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope for Materials and Engineering Research

非技术描述这项重大研究仪器(MRI)拨款支持购买能够进行高分辨率成像和元素成分分析的透射式电子显微镜。该仪器位于新墨西哥大学(UNM)新的物理和天文学跨学科科学大楼内，是全校致力于材料研究的整套仪器的一部分。该仪器使来自校园七个不同系的教职员工、学生和博士后同事受益。它提供了培训研究生和本科生先进的材料表征方法的机会。新类型分析能力的极大扩展导致了可以进行的研究类型的显著改进。该仪器是格兰德河走廊第一台开放式像差校正扫描电子显微镜(S/透射电子显微镜)，可供其他学术机构和行业的研究人员使用。北卡罗来纳大学是一个拉美裔服务机构，因此，来自代表人数不足的群体(拉美裔和美洲原住民)的大量学生从这一设施中受益。该仪器集成到研究生和本科课程中，也用于针对K-12学生和教师的演示，以提高他们对科学和工程的兴趣。技术说明透射式电子显微镜配备了球差校正器，使精细聚焦的探头能够扫描整个样品，从而可以在S/透射电子显微镜模式下获得图像。此外，双大面积X射线探测器能够快速获取空间分辨率的元素组成图。该仪器支持的研究项目包括用于废气排放控制和能量储存的新型催化剂、使用富含稀土的金属的燃料电池、允许在高温下分离气体的无机膜、用于药物输送的纳米颗粒，以及用于太阳能电池和光学通信的半导体材料的界面缺陷。该显微镜还用于研究矿山废物中有毒金属对环境的影响。核反应堆的新型合金成分的开发、用于加强油井地下深层勘探的改进水泥以及超导性金属纳米碳复合材料的开发也是由该工具实现的。这项重大研究仪器拨款由NSF分配给材料研究部(DMR)、化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统(CBET)的资金支持，并建立了刺激竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical DescriptionThis Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant supports the acquisition of a transmission electron microscope capable of high resolution imaging and elemental composition analysis. The instrument is housed in the new Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Sciences building at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and is part of a university-wide suite of instruments devoted to materials research. The instrument benefits faculty investigators, students and post-doctoral associates from seven different departments on the campus. It provides opportunities to train graduate and undergraduate students in advanced methods of materials characterization. The greatly expanded capabilities for new types of analysis lead to a significant improvement in the kind of research that can be conducted. This instrument is the first open access aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (S/TEM) in the Rio Grande corridor and is available to researchers at other academic institutions and industry. UNM is a Hispanic Serving Institution, hence significant numbers of students from underrepresented groups (Hispanic and Native American) benefit from this facility. The instrument is integrated into graduate and undergraduate courses and also used for demonstrations aimed at K-12 students and teachers to enhance their interest in science and engineering.Technical DescriptionThe transmission electron microscope is equipped with spherical aberration correctors to enable a finely focused probe scanning across the specimen, allowing images obtained in S/TEM mode. In addition, the dual, large-area, x-ray detectors enable rapid acquisition of spatially resolved elemental composition maps. Research projects enabled by the instrument include studies of novel catalysts for exhaust emissions control and for energy storage, fuel cells using earth abundant metals, inorganic membranes that permit gas separation at elevated temperatures, nanoparticles for drug delivery, and interface defects in semiconductor materials used in solar cells and in optical communications. The microscope is also used to study the environmental impact of toxic metals from mine wastes. The development of novel alloy compositions for nuclear reactors, improved cements to fortify deep underground exploration in oil wells, and ultra-conductive metal nanocarbon composites is also enabled by this instrument.This Major Research Instrumentation grant is supported using NSF funds allocated to the Division of Materials Research (DMR), Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.