Physical principles of electron beam characterization at nanoscale

在处理纳米级物体时，有必要用显微镜取代人类感官的直接观察。透射式电子显微镜(TEM)观察“内部”材料类似于X射线观察“内部”人。从这个意义上说，它是扫描探针技术的补充，如扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜。瞬变电磁实验通常允许在高于一纳米的空间分辨率下进行定量解释。先进的透射电子显微镜的应用范围从催化剂、半导体材料和器件到生命科学样品。需要扩大电子显微镜的限制是因为有必要为加拿大的研究人员和行业提供持续访问最先进的纳米材料定量表征的机会。电子显微镜研究的目标是在NINT研究界和工业合作伙伴感兴趣的电子显微镜领域实现并保持世界领先地位和声誉。这项提议的目的是发展强大的电子显微镜专业知识，与NINT最先进的仪器设备一起，继续吸引NINT在纳米科学方面的广泛外部合作。特别是，EM研究的重点是推动电子全息术的边界，以优于1 nm的分辨率定量表征静电场和磁场，电子能量损失谱用于纳米材料和界面的化学成分和成键表征，以及蛋白质和亚细胞生物材料的冷冻显微镜。这些目标将通过寻求对数据解释背后的物理原理的更好理解、通过创新的实验设计和通过建造廉价的硬件来实现。因此，仪器能力将在很长一段时间内保持其尖端地位。

When working with nanoscale objects it is necessary to replace direct observation by human senses by microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) looks "inside" materials similarly to X-rays looking "inside" people. In this sense it is complementary to scanning probe techniques such as STM and AFM. TEM experiments often allow quantitative interpretation at better than one nanometer spatial resolution. The applications of advanced TEM range from catalysts and semiconductor materials and devices to life science samples. The need to expand limits of electron microscopy is dictated by the necessity to provide Canada's researchers and industry with ongoing access to state-of-the-art quantitative characterization of nanomaterials. The goal of the electron microscopy research is to achieve and maintain world leadership and reputation in aspects of electron microscopy of interest to NINT research community and industrial partners. The aim of this proposal is to develop strong electron microscopy expertise which, together with NINT's state-of-the-art instrumentation, will continuously attract a wide range of external collaborations in nanoscience to NINT. In particular the EM research is focused on pushing the boundaries of electron holography for quantitative characterization of electrostatic and magnetic fields at resolution better than 1 nm, electron energy loss spectroscopy for chemical composition and bonding characterization of nanomaterials and interfaces and on cryomicroscopy of proteins and sub-cellular biological materials. The goals will be achieved by pursuing improved understanding of physical principles underlying data interpretation, by innovative experiment design and by building inexpensive hardware additions. Consequently the instrument capabilities will retain their cutting edge status for an extended period of time.