Upgrade of Scanning Electron Microscopy Facilities at Montana State University: Supporting Research on the Lithosphere, Cryosphere, and Critical Zone

蒙大拿州立大学扫描电子显微镜设施升级：支持岩石圈、冰冻圈和关键区研究

基本信息

批准号：
2052559
负责人：
David Mogk
金额：
$ 48.85万
依托单位：
Montana State University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-08-15 至 2024-06-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2052559&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Upgrade Scanning Electron Microscopy Facilities

项目摘要

This project is jointly funded by the EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This project will upgrade imaging and analytical capabilities of two scanning electron microscopes operated in the Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratory at Montana State University. The new instrumentation includes a) energy dispersive spectrometry for elemental analysis and mapping; b) electron back-scattered diffraction detector for in situ micron-scale phase identification, determination of crystallographic orientation, and textural mapping; c) a cathodoluminescence detector that is used to detect small scale variations of trace activator elements (transition metals and rare earth elements) and crystal defects in host materials; and d) updated computer and software to enable advanced image and spectral processing. This instrumentation will provide the means to address the research agenda defined in the recent National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine report (2020) A Vision for NSF Earth Sciences 2020-2030, "Earth in Time", and will contribute to the analytical capabilities available through the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program. These instruments are broadly used in the chemical and physical characterization of Earth materials, and related engineered materials such as semi-conductors and ceramics. Applications include: geochronology/thermochronology, deformation mechanisms of mid-crustal rocks, igneous processes and volcanology, reactive transport of fluids in porous rocks, sedimentary diagenetic processes, evolution of dinosaurs through characterization of fossil bone, eggshells and teeth, use of cryogenic-SEM methods to characterize snow, ice and glacial textures, geomicrobiology and biomineralization processes and products, exploration for mineral resource deposits and environmental remediation of mines, and studies of impacts of Earth materials on human health. Montana State University is a land grant institution that seeks to prepare the workforce of the future, and also supports technology transfer to regional and national companies to support their research and development programs. The ICAL facility serves as a nexus of learning to recruit and train future scientists through K-12 class demonstrations, undergraduate student class projects and research experiences, graduate student thesis and dissertation research, and continuing professional development training. This instrumentation is essential for early career faculty development to prepare for their emerging research initiatives.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目由 EAR 仪器和设施计划和刺激竞争性研究既定计划 (EPSCoR) 联合资助。该项目将升级蒙大拿州立大学成像和化学分析实验室运行的两台扫描电子显微镜的成像和分析能力。新仪器包括：a) 用于元素分析和绘图的能量色散光谱仪； b) 电子背散射衍射检测器，用于原位微米级相识别、晶体取向测定和结构映射； c) 阴极发光检测器，用于检测微量激活元素（过渡金属和稀土元素）的小尺度变化和主体材料中的晶体缺陷； d) 更新计算机和软件以实现先进的图像和光谱处理。该仪器将为解决最近的美国国家科学、工程和医学研究院报告（2020）《美国国家科学基金会地球科学 2020-2030 年愿景》“时间中的地球”中定义的研究议程提供手段，并将有助于提高分析能力可通过国家纳米技术协调基础设施计划获得。这些仪器广泛用于地球材料以及半导体和陶瓷等相关工程材料的化学和物理表征。应用包括：地质年代学/热年代学、中地壳岩石的变形机制、火成岩过程和火山学、多孔岩石中流体的反应传输、沉积成岩过程、通过化石骨骼、蛋壳和牙齿的表征进行恐龙的进化、低温扫描电镜的使用表征雪、冰和冰川纹理的方法、地球微生物学和生物矿化过程和产品、矿产资源矿床勘探和矿山环境修复以及地球材料影响的研究对人类健康。蒙大拿州立大学是一所赠地机构，旨在培养未来的劳动力，并支持向地区和国家公司转让技术，以支持他们的研发计划。 ICAL 设施是通过 K-12 班级演示、本科生班级项目和研究经验、研究生论文和论文研究以及持续专业发展培训来招募和培训未来科学家的学习纽带。该仪器对于早期职业教师发展至关重要，为他们的新兴研究计划做好准备。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。