Electron Microscopy for the Characterisation and Manipulation of Advanced Functional Materials and their Interfaces at the Nanoscale

在2013年，我们成功地应用于提高电子显微镜在圣安德鲁斯通过资本伟大的技术计划。这个新设施的目的是提供最先进的能力，以分析和控制纳米级的功能材料，以支持和推动能源材料，催化，光子学，超材料和电子学的关键材料研究。该设施的所有要素都得到了很好的利用，而且随着新设施的投入使用，使用率正在扩大。然而，展望未来，我们受到缺乏设施运营商的严重制约。特别是在Scios和Titan上，第二个熟练的操作员很容易将使用量增加一倍或更多。这不仅会增加操作员在仪器上的时间，还会增加培训时间，并提供更多时间进行详细研究。因此，本申请的目的是确保任命第二名熟练操作员，为期两年，以通过更全面的覆盖范围提高生产力和实际能力。这将最大限度地减少因节假日而造成的停机时间，允许我们的专家在同一时间操作多个关键设施进行研究和/或培训，最重要的是将提供空间来培训更多的用户达到更高的标准。我们还建议增加我们在该地区的设施，举办两个重点研讨会，并与我们地区的大学建立更紧密的联系。我们亦希望与苏格兰其他主要的材料电子显微镜中心建立联系，以协调各方面的能力。

In 2013 we successfully applied to enhance electron microscopy at St Andrews through the Capital for Great Technologies scheme. The purpose of this new facility is to provide state of the art capability to analyse and control functional materials at the nanoscale to underpin and drive forward critical Materials research in Energy Materials, Catalysis, Photonics, Metamaterials and Electronics. All elements of the facility are well used and usage is expanding now that the new facilities have come on stream. Going forward, however, we are severely constrained by lack of facility operators. It is easy to project doubling or more of usage with a second skilled operator on the Scios and Titan in particular. Not only would this involve more operator time on the instruments, it would increase training time and afford more time for detailed studies.Thus the purpose of this application is to secure the appointment of a second skilled operator for two years to increase productivity and indeed capability through more rounded coverage. This will minimise down time due to holidays, allow more than one of the key facilities to be operated by our specialists for research and/or training at a single time and most importantly will provide the space to train more users to a higher standard.We also propose to increase the outreach of our facility in the region, holding two focused workshops and linking more strongly to Universities in our region. We also hope to link with the other major Materials Electron Microscopy Centre in Scotland to coordinate capabilities.An improved web-based booking system will be implemented.