Queen's University Belfast Imaging and Patterning Centre

贝尔法斯特女王大学（QUB）在使用显微镜和微加工能力方面有着令人自豪的记录，既可以产生世界一流的学术研究，又可以支持本地和跨国行业的需求。然而，我们的大学水平的场发射枪透射电子显微镜（FEGTEM）和聚焦离子束（FIB）显微镜现在已经超过15岁，并迅速接近其工作寿命的结束。迫切需要更换和更新这些仪器，本申请中寻求的大部分设备资金（约150万英镑）将用于此目的。剩余的资金（约36万英镑）将用于改善我们的大学级微制造设施，通过调试具有亚微米特征分辨率能力的直写激光光刻和3D打印工具。这些设备将共同构成QUB成像和图案化中心（IPC），该中心将以开放访问模式运行（访问优先级和用户访问费用由新的IPC管理委员会设定）。QUB已经拥有相关的学术专业知识，设施管理人员和训练有素的技术人员来支持这些机器的运行，并就如何最好地帮助促进他们的研究向一般用户提供建议。因此，IPC的运行方式使得即使是新手用户也能够申请（并获得）设施时间，并通过设备使用和数据解释获得支持。新设备将为正在进行的世界级研究提供支持，这些研究涉及物理，化学，电气和电子，机械，航空航天和土木工程。此外，它将作为支持下一个十年机构研究战略关键方面的基石能力，推动其跨学科的全球研究机构（GRI）和开创性研究计划（PRPs）。在这方面，IPC将支持：（i）最大PRP的材料、催化和绿色化学方面（“可持续能源”：520万英镑的投资）;（ii）与我们的“电子，通信和信息技术（ECIT）”GRI相关的设备和传感器研究;（iii）我们的PRP在“医疗保健先进技术”中的生物材料方面，以及（iv）我们的PRP中辐射-物质相互作用的特征。应用和跨学科辐射研究中心（CIARR）。IPC还将有助于确保我们在未来十年内继续在我们学校结构定义的相关传统学科中提供前沿研究。

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has a proud track record in using microscopy and microfabrication capabilities to both generate world-class academic research and support the needs of local and multinational industry. However, our university-level Field Emission Gun Transmission Electron Microscope (FEGTEM) and Focused Ion Beam (FIB) microscopes are now over 15 years old and rapidly approaching the end of their working lives. There is a pressing need to replace and refresh these instruments and the major part of the equipment fund sought in this application (~£1.5M) will be used for this purpose. The remaining funds (~£360k) will be used to improve our university-level microfabrication facilities, by commissioning a direct-write laser lithography and 3D printing tool with submicron feature resolution capability. Together, the equipment sought will constitute the QUB Imaging and Patterning Centre (IPC) which will run on an open access model (with access priorities and user access fees set by a new IPC management board). QUB already has relevant academic expertise, facility managers and trained technicians to support the running of these machines and advise general users on how they might best help facilitate their research. The IPC will hence be run such that even novice users will be able to apply for (and be granted) facility time and be supported through equipment use and data interpretation.The new equipment will underpin a large portfolio of ongoing world-class research across Physics, Chemistry, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering. In addition, it will act as a cornerstone capability in supporting key aspects of the institutional research strategy for the next decade as it pushes forward its interdisciplinary Global Research Institutes (GRIs) and Pioneering Research Programmes (PRPs). In this context the IPC will underpin: (i) materials, catalysis and green chemistry aspects of the largest PRP ("Sustainable Energy": £5.2M of investment); (ii) devices and sensors research associated with our GRI in "Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT)"; (iii) biomaterials aspects of our PRP in "Advanced Technologies for Healthcare" and (iv) characterisation of radiation-matter interactions in our PRP "Centre for Applied and Interdisciplinary Radiation Research" (CIARR). The IPC will also help ensure that we continue to deliver cutting-edge research within relevant conventional academic disciplines defined by our School structures for at least the next decade.