University of Exeter Core Equipment Award 2022

2022 年埃克塞特大学核心设备奖

• 批准号: EP/X035069/1
• 负责人: Neil Andrew Robert Gow
• 金额: $ 110.44万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX035069%2F1
• 关键词: University; Exeter; Core; Equipment; Award

Maintaining cutting-edge research facilities and specialised technical support are central to the University of Exeter's strategy for providing an infrastructure which underpins world-leading (4*) research. Exeter has invested heavily in academic appointments and research facilities to increase the volume and quality of EPSRC facing research. The items of equipment requested in this proposal were selected via a strategic process for maintaining, upgrading and replacing key research assets that our EPSRC funded academics rely upon. The three items requested collectively greatly increase our capability in undertaking research in key EPSRC themes and areas.E1: Sono-Cell SNR300 coating systemThe Sono-Cell SNR300 ultrasonic spray coating technology can produce highly uniform nano-scale thin film coatings for a variety of applications. Research using the system will introduce a fast-processing platform for discovery and nanostructure-controlled fabrication of nanomaterials for range of applications including hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, thermal and electrical energy storage, solar energy conversion and building energy efficiency. One of the major barriers in thin film coating technologies is obtaining uniformity in scale from very small coating area to much wider areas, and this new equipment will provide a solution to this barrier, with capabilities for even coating of substrate diameters up to 300n x 300 mm in a benchtop package. This is a versatile technique as it eliminates the stagnant and complex requirement of other physical and chemical fabrication techniques.E2: Helium Leak Detection EquipmentThe use of vacuum, gas and cryogenic apparatus is ubiquitous throughout science and technology, and the detection and repair of leaks is an essential aspect of its operation. As the smallest inert gas atom, Helium can find its way through the smallest of gaps and is widely used to find leaks. The requested Helium leak detector is connected to the system that is to be tested and then the suspect joint or seal is exposed to Helium gas from the outside. If a leak exists, the Helium atoms enter the system and pass into the leak detector. The leak detector can determine the amount of Helium present, and hence the scale of the leak, and will emit an audible signal so that a single operator can focus on applying the Helium gas without needing to look at the instrument display. The requested Helium sniffer operates the other way around. Helium gas is bled into the suspect pipes or vessel and the sniffer is used to detect the Helium gas that escapes through the leak. E3: Vector Network Analyser (VNA)Vector Network Analysers (VNA) are workhorses of antenna measurements and material characterisation in the RF and mm-wave bands, enabling the direct measurement of the amplitude and phase of electromagnetic waves. This new VNA will enable measurements at higher frequencies, up to 110 GHz, enabling research in new application areas in the increasingly technologically important mm-wave frequency band. For example, 6G communications have been allocated to frequencies >90 GHz, whilst automotive radar systems operate between 76 and 81 GHz for adaptive cruise control / collision avoidance (and is one aspect of the technologies used in so-called self-driving cars). Mm-waves are also being employed in high-resolution security scanners and high data capacity inter-satellite communications and will likely be used in next generation medical imaging applications.

维持尖端的研究设施和专门的技术支持是埃克塞特大学提供基础设施的策略的核心，该基础设施为世界领先（4*）研究提供了基础设施。埃克塞特（Exeter）大量投资于学术任命和研究机构，以增加EPSRC面临的研究的数量和质量。本提案中要求的设备项目是通过战略过程选择的，用于维护，升级和替换我们EPSRC资助的学者所依赖的主要研究资产。这三项要求共同提高了我们在关键EPSRC主题和区域进行研究的能力。e1：Sono-Cell SNR300涂料系统Sono-Cell SNR300超声波喷雾涂料技术可以生产出高度均匀的纳米尺度薄膜涂层，以用于多种应用。使用该系统的研究将引入一个快速加工的平台，用于发现纳米材料的发现和纳米结构控制的制造，用于氢生产，氢存储，热能和电能存储，太阳能转换以及建筑能源效率。薄膜涂料技术中的主要障碍之一是从很小的涂料区域到更宽的区域获得均匀性，并且该新设备将为该障碍提供解决方案，并具有在台式包装中最多300n x 300 mm的基板涂层的能力。这是一种多功能技术，因为它消除了其他物理和化学制造技术的停滞而复杂的需求。e2：氦泄漏检测设备，在整个科学和技术中使用真空，天然气和低温设备的使用是无处不在的，并且泄漏的检测和修复是其运营的重要方面。作为最小的惰性气体原子，氦气可以通过最小的间隙找到其方式，并广泛用于查找泄漏。请求的氦泄漏检测器连接到要测试的系统，然后可疑关节或密封件从外部暴露于氦气中。如果存在泄漏，则氦原子进入系统并进入泄漏检测器。泄漏探测器可以确定存在的氦气量，从而确定泄漏的比例，并会发出可听见的信号，从而使单个操作员可以专注于应用氦气，而无需查看仪器显示器。请求的氦嗅探器以相反的方式运行。将氦气浸入可疑管道或容器中，然后使用嗅探器检测通过泄漏逃逸的氦气。 E3：矢量网络分析仪（VNA）矢量网络分析仪（VNA）是RF和MM波频带中天线测量和材料表征的工作试义，从而可以直接测量电磁波的振幅和相位。这种新的VNA将在高达110 GHz的较高频率下实现测量，从而在越来越多技术上重要的MM波频带的新应用领域进行研究。例如，6G通信已分配给> 90 GHz的频率，而汽车雷达系统则在76至81 GHz之间进行自适应巡航控制 /避免避免的频率（并且是所谓的自动驾驶汽车中使用的技术的一个方面）。高分辨率安全扫描仪和高数据容量间卫星通信也将使用MM波，并且很可能会用于下一代医学成像应用中。