EPSRC Capital Award for Core Equipment - University of Warwick

我们能够快速和常规地获取有关分子、材料和设备的组成、结构、形态和功能的信息，这是工程和物理科学（EPS）许多进步和突破的核心。该提案将在我们的光谱和显微镜研究技术平台（rtp）内提供新的多用户设备，以确保华威大学（UW）的研究人员能够访问最先进的EPS基础设施。华盛顿大学在EPS方面的长期卓越表现牢牢植根于对设备、基础设施、人员和培训的战略投资。所需设备包括：具有高光谱/空间分辨率的红外（IR）显微镜与适用于时间分辨光谱（TRS）的光谱仪相结合。红外光谱学利用了分子和材料吸收其原子组成、结构和键合特征的频率这一事实。根据选择规则，当吸收的辐射频率与振动频率相匹配时，这些吸收就会发生。红外显微镜提供了在所用光的波长（例如3-20微米）的长度尺度上对各种材料和系统进行化学和结构测绘的能力。许多材料是不均匀的，单点测量不足以理解系统。TRS能够研究结构和键合的变化，并为电池降解、蛋白质结构变化和电子材料中的电荷捕获等多种过程提供有价值的信息。离子束铣床。研究人员正在利用透射电子显微镜（TEM）推动元素分析和高分辨率成像的边界，对于这些研究，他们需要厚度小于~ 20nm的超低损伤样品。聚焦离子束（FIB）铣削和氩气（Ar）离子束铣削用于制备各种材料的电子透明样品，包括半导体、金属和陶瓷。FIB是TEM样品制备的重要工具（Warwick最近在新系统上投资了65万英镑），但会导致表面和近表面损伤，从而限制TEM分析。氩离子束铣削可用于清洁或抛光由FIB生产的表面。所要求的系统将提供显着改进的功能，特别是低能量操作，以产生无损伤的清洁样品，只有几纳米厚，用于高分辨率TEM研究，此外，小光束尺寸将允许最终清洁只有几微米大小的样品，由FIB显微镜制备。拟议的设备将用于促进和加强西澳大学广泛的EPS研究，这属于EPSRC的战略职权范围，并与西澳大学的研究战略保持一致。新设备将支持来自化学，物理，工程和WMG的50个学术小组的研究，这些学术小组在不同领域工作，包括：催化，能源材料，制造，医学成像，纳米颗粒，纳米复合材料，聚合物材料，电力电子，半导体和结构工程。这项投资也将是促进许多m级本科生、硕士和博士研究生以及早期职业研究人员培训的基础。我们的rtp有完善的用户培训和支持计划，这些计划也提供给外部学者和行业合作伙伴。西澳大学致力于确保所要求的设备得到有效管理和维护，并最大限度地利用。访问将通过华威科学服务公司在内部和外部进行宣传。

Our ability to rapidly and routinely obtain information about the composition, structure, morphology and function of molecules, materials and devices produced by man or by nature is central to many advances and breakthroughs in the Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS). This proposal will provide new multi-user equipment within our Spectroscopy and Microscopy Research Technology Platforms (RTPs), to ensure that researchers at Warwick (UW) have access to a state-of-the-art infrastructure for EPS. UW's long-term excellence in EPS is firmly rooted in strategic investment in equipment, infrastructure, people and training. The equipment requested includes:1. An infrared (IR) microscope capable high spectral/spatial resolution coupled to a spectrometer suitable for time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS). IR spectroscopy exploits the fact that molecules and materials absorb frequencies that are characteristic of their atomic composition, structure and bonding. Subject to selection rules, these absorptions occur when the frequency of the absorbed radiation matches the vibrational frequency. IR microscopy provides the capability for chemical and structural mapping of a wide range of materials and systems at a length scale characteristic of the wavelength of the light used (e.g. 3-20 micro-m). Many materials are heterogeneous and measurements at a single point are not sufficient to understand the system. TRS enables the studies of changes in structure and bonding, and provides valuable information on process as diverse as battery degradation, structural changes in proteins and charge trapping in electronic materials.2. Ion beam milling machine. Researchers are pushing the boundaries of elemental analysis and high resolution imaging with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and for these studies they require ultra-low damage specimens less than ~20 nm in thickness. Focused ion beam (FIB) milling and argon (Ar) ion beam milling are used for preparation of electron transparent specimens for a diverse class of materials, including semiconductors, metals and ceramics. FIB is an essential tool for TEM sample preparation (Warwick has recently invested £650k in a new system) but causes surface and near surface damage that can limit the TEM analysis. Ar ion beam milling can be used to clean or polish surfaces produced by FIB. The system requested will provide significantly improved capabilities, specifically for low-energy operation to produce damage-free, clean specimens only a few nm in thickness for high resolution TEM studies and furthermore the small beam sizes will allow final cleaning of specimens only a few micrometres in size prepared by FIB microscopes.The proposed equipment will be used to facilitate and strengthen a wide range of EPS research at UW, that falls within EPSRC's strategic remit and aligns to the UW research strategy. The new equipment will underpin the research of >50 academic groups from Chemistry, Physics, Engineering and WMG, working in diverse fields, including: catalysis, energy materials, manufacturing, medical imaging, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, polymer materials, power electronics, semiconductors, and structural engineering. This investment will also be fundamental to facilitating the training of many M-Level undergraduates, MSc and PhD students, and early career researchers. Our RTPs have well established programmes of user training and support, and these are also offered to external academics and industry partners. UW is committed to ensuring that the equipment requested is effectively managed and maintained, and that usage is maximised. Access will be advertised internally and externally through Warwick Scientific Services.