Physical principles of electron beam characterization at nanoscale

当处理纳米级物体时，有必要用显微镜代替人类感官的直接观察。透射电子显微镜（TEM）观察物质的“内部”，就像x射线观察人的“内部”一样。在这个意义上，它是互补的扫描探针技术，如STM和AFM。透射电镜实验通常可以在优于一纳米的空间分辨率下进行定量解释。先进TEM的应用范围从催化剂、半导体材料和器件到生命科学样品。为了向加拿大的研究人员和工业界提供最新的纳米材料定量表征，需要扩大电子显微镜的限制。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方面实现并保持世界领先地位和声誉。该提案的目的是发展强大的电子显微镜专业知识，与NINT最先进的仪器一起，将不断吸引广泛的纳米科学外部合作到NINT。特别是EM研究的重点是推动电子全息术的边界，用于静电和磁场的定量表征，分辨率优于1纳米，电子能量损失光谱用于纳米材料和界面的化学成分和键合表征，以及蛋白质和亚细胞生物材料的低温显微镜。这些目标将通过进一步了解数据解释的物理原理、创新的实验设计和建造廉价的硬件设备来实现。因此，仪器的能力将保持其前沿地位，延长一段时间。

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.