Core Capability for Chemistry Research - Leeds

在我们的投标A部分，利兹大学化学学院申请资金购买一台600 MHz核磁共振仪、一台单晶X射线衍射谱仪和一台可变压力扫描电子显微镜。600 MHz核磁共振仪将取代学院75%的教职员工使用的主要服务仪器。新仪器将具有低和高(可变)温度和多核能力(包括11B)，并用于更复杂的分析，包括选择性激发实验、更“奇异”的核探测、动力学研究，以及(非常)样本有限的数据收集。它还将提供比现有仪器更高的分辨率和屏蔽(高低温保持时间)磁体，新的探头将为所有原子核提供极大改善的信噪比特性。光谱仪将主要用于提供学校服务，但与我们的旧仪器相比，其优越的性能意味着该设施也可以向经验较少的用户开放，用于专业应用。新的单晶衍射仪系统将取代失效的10年前的仪器，并将支持该系约50%的学术人员的工作，为结构确定提供至关重要的途径。该仪器将配备一个具有双波长(钼和铜)能力的微焦点X射线源，以及用于原始数据存储和备份的低温晶体冷却装置和服务器等外围设备。与我们目前的设置相比，新系统将通过改进功率和灵敏度以及确定轻原子样品的绝对构型的能力来增强和扩展能力，而这是我们目前无法做到的。具有集成EDX(能量色散X射线光谱学)的可变压力FEG-SEM将提供新的能力，并将在纳米级实现对固体样品的高分辨率成像和元素分析。该仪器将配备一个温度控制台，我们还将购买能够自动分析多个样品的软件。此外，它将有多个端口，允许与进一步的分析工具(如原子力显微镜)对接。仪器可以从高真空操作到低真空操作，这提供了最大的灵活性，允许分析导电和非导电样品。我们还需要购买金属涂层单元，以涂层较大的非导电样品，这可能容易充电。可变压力FEG-SEM的要求反映了英国不断变化的化学研究格局。虽然化学系传统上没有配备电子显微镜，但随着材料化学等研究领域的重要性不断提高，以及显微镜的规格不断提高，研究人员有必要随时获得高规格的仪器。提案的B部分提出了建立一个中心的理由，即通过购买最先进的泰坦Krios冷冻电子显微镜来建立一个中心，该中心将高分辨率2D成像与电子层析成像和先进的分析技术(电子能量损失谱(EELS)和电子衍射)结合在一起。这种仪器首次使人们有可能以如此高的分辨率观察剂量敏感结构，以至于软物质的原子成像成为现实。在B部分，我们还要求新的能力，购买一个液晶盒支架的透射电子显微镜，和原子力显微镜集成在A部分购买的扫描电子显微镜。粉末X射线衍射仪也将带来新的能力，学校。最后，我们要求使用LC-MS(MS)质谱仪来取代我们的主要仪器，即用户操作的仪器和配备冷探头的600 MHz仪器，该仪器将取代现有仪器并带来新的分辨率能力。

In Part A of our Bid, the School of Chemistry, University of Leeds requests funds to purchase a 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer, a Single Crystal XRD Spectrometer and a Variable Pressure SEM.The 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer will replace the main service instrument in the School, which is used by 75% of the academic staff. The new instrument will have low and high (variable) temperature and multinuclear capability (including 11B) and is employed for more complex analyses, including selective excitation experiments, more 'exotic' nuclei detection, dynamics studies, and for (very) sample limited data collections. It will also provide increased resolution as compared with the existing instrument and a shielded (high cryogen hold time) magnet and new probes will provide greatly improved signal-to-noise characteristics for all nuclei. The spectrometer will primarily be used to provide the School service, but its superior performance as compared with our old instrument means that the facility can also be opened up to less experienced users for specialist applications. The new single crystal diffractometer system will replace a failing 10 year old instrument and will support the work of approximately 50% of the academic staff in the department, providing vital access to structural determination. The instrument will have a microfocus X-ray source that has dual wavelength (Mo and Cu) capacity, along with peripheral equipment such as a cryogenic crystal cooling unit and server for raw data storage and backup. The new system will have enhanced and expanded capabilities in comparison with our current set-up through improved power and sensitivity, and the ability to determine absolute configuration of light-atom samples which we cannot currently do. A variable pressure FEG-SEM with integral EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) will provide new capability and will enable high resolution imaging and elemental analysis of solid samples at the nanometer level. The instrument will be equipped with a temperature-control stage, and we will also purchase software enabling automated analysis of multiple samples. In addition, it will have multiple ports which will permit interfacing with further analytical tools (such as atomic force microscopy (AFM)). That the instrument can be operated from high to low vacuum provides maximum flexibility, allowing analysis of both conducting and non-conducting samples. We also need to purchase a metal coating unit to coat larger, non-conducting samples which can be prone to charging. The request of a variable pressure FEG-SEM reflects the changing landscape of chemistry research in the UK. While chemistry departments have not traditionally housed electron microscopes, as research areas such as materials chemistry continue to grow in importance, and the specification of microscopes continues to improve, it is essential that researchers have ready access to high specification instruments.Part B of the proposal makes the case for establishment of a centre for "High Resolution Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) of Beam Sensitive Materials" with purchase of a state-of-the-art Titan Krios cryo-electron TEM which combines high resolution 2D imaging with electron tomography and advanced analytical techniques (electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and electron diffraction). This instrument makes it possible for the first time to look at dose-sensitive structures with such high resolution that atomic imaging of soft matter becomes a reality. In Part B we also request new capability with the purchase of a liquid cell holder for a TEM, and an AFM to integrate with the SEM purchased in Part A. A powder XRD will also bring new capability to the school. Finally, we request a LC-MS(MS) mass spectrometer to replace our workhorse, user-operated instrument and a 600 MHz instrument, equipped with a cold probe which will replace an existing instrument and bring new resolution capabilities.