New Directions in Materials Characterisation Using Vortex Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
I will advance the most profound development in electron microscopy in the past decade - the prospect of vortex electron microscopy and spectroscopy (VEMS) - to study chiral and magnetic devices. VEMS is a nascent technique that uses phase-plates to modulate the plane-wave beam of a standard electron microscope into a helical wavefront, the vorticity of which establishes orbital angular momentum in the microscope's probe. Unlike the well-studied orbital angular momentum states of light - the vortex's electronic charge imbues a tunable and quantised magnetic moment that provides a completely unexplored degree of freedom for diffraction and spectroscopy within the electron microscope. Thus far, international research has focused on the production of free electron vortex beams. My aim is to explore the interaction of these beams with samples developed during my fellowship. VEMS is intriguing principally because the new magnetic degree of freedom may impart sensitivity to magnetic and chiral media in scattering and diffraction, thereby enabling the study of material properties that have previously only been accessible at international x-ray or neutron facilities. For example, VEMS could yield unprecedented insight into magnetic and charge ordering at oxide interfaces and confer a genuine world lead in the characterisation of these technologically-relevant materials. In addition, I will explore the new direction of applying VEMS to the study of plasmonic metamaterials - devices with wide-ranging applications including bio-sensing and electromagnetic camouflage. The helical nature of the VEMS probe is expected to couple strongly to chiral electric fields established within metamaterials, producing a unique, spatially resolved characterisation tool that will yield new insights into metamaterial design. The project has the triple prospects of providing a new avenue of research, improving my international reputation and substantially enhancing our understanding of the materials already being explored in my fellowship. It capitalises on notable advantages in infrastructure and expertise at the University of Glasgow and will build new collaborative opportunities.
Planned Impact
WHO?
The present application is designed to capitalise on recent experimental advances and also to respond to a growing need for nanoscale functional metrology that has been highlighted by my own fellowship research and which chimes with industrial need. Ultimately, it is advances in experimental techniques that drive progress in the majority of nanosciences and so the potential end-users of the proposed research are numerous; however, I will target specifically materials scientists and industrialists working in the areas of advanced oxide and metamaterials.
HOW?
Industry: The Glasgow Materials and Condensed Matter Physics group has a good track record in industrial engagement and is frequently approached for its expertise in microscopy and materials analysis, especially in magnetic media. These existing collaborations will be used to ensure industrial relevance and will inform exploitation of developments in (i) materials and devices and (ii) methodology and development of the VEMS technique. Knowledge Transfer activities will be handled with the assistance the University's Nanotechnology Officer and the University of Glasgow's Impact Acceleration Account, which provides a flexible and responsive source of funding to maximise the realisation of impact from our EPSRC portfolio. The University of Glasgow prides itself of having pioneered a flexible approach to the management of IP which has now been adopted by a number of leading HEIs in the UK and is known under the name of Easy Access IP (http://www.easyaccessip.org.uk/). This scheme reflects our commitment to make it easy for industry to engage, build mutually rewarding and long lasting partnerships and maximise the uptake of our research by industry so that the impact to society and the economy can be fully realised.
Academic Community: Traditional dissemination activities will be augmented by new collaborations, facilitated by visits to other institutions, inward and outward invited talks, etc. Collaborative aspects are essential to maximising the impact of this new direction on my personal career trajectory and I have already initiated dialogue with some of the pioneers of the field including Verbeeck (Antwerp) and McMorran (NIST, USA) and existing funds will be used to enable bilateral exchange visits to their laboratories. This application gives opportunity to work in new research fields of optics and metamaterials, the latter of which is an EPSRC priority area and therefore forms a sensible new research strand.
Education & Outreach: The project will help support undergraduate project students, a doctoral student and a PDRA. I will continue to incorporate research material into my lecturing and will participate in the highly-successful Café Scientifique scheme.
The present application is designed to capitalise on recent experimental advances and also to respond to a growing need for nanoscale functional metrology that has been highlighted by my own fellowship research and which chimes with industrial need. Ultimately, it is advances in experimental techniques that drive progress in the majority of nanosciences and so the potential end-users of the proposed research are numerous; however, I will target specifically materials scientists and industrialists working in the areas of advanced oxide and metamaterials.
HOW?
Industry: The Glasgow Materials and Condensed Matter Physics group has a good track record in industrial engagement and is frequently approached for its expertise in microscopy and materials analysis, especially in magnetic media. These existing collaborations will be used to ensure industrial relevance and will inform exploitation of developments in (i) materials and devices and (ii) methodology and development of the VEMS technique. Knowledge Transfer activities will be handled with the assistance the University's Nanotechnology Officer and the University of Glasgow's Impact Acceleration Account, which provides a flexible and responsive source of funding to maximise the realisation of impact from our EPSRC portfolio. The University of Glasgow prides itself of having pioneered a flexible approach to the management of IP which has now been adopted by a number of leading HEIs in the UK and is known under the name of Easy Access IP (http://www.easyaccessip.org.uk/). This scheme reflects our commitment to make it easy for industry to engage, build mutually rewarding and long lasting partnerships and maximise the uptake of our research by industry so that the impact to society and the economy can be fully realised.
Academic Community: Traditional dissemination activities will be augmented by new collaborations, facilitated by visits to other institutions, inward and outward invited talks, etc. Collaborative aspects are essential to maximising the impact of this new direction on my personal career trajectory and I have already initiated dialogue with some of the pioneers of the field including Verbeeck (Antwerp) and McMorran (NIST, USA) and existing funds will be used to enable bilateral exchange visits to their laboratories. This application gives opportunity to work in new research fields of optics and metamaterials, the latter of which is an EPSRC priority area and therefore forms a sensible new research strand.
Education & Outreach: The project will help support undergraduate project students, a doctoral student and a PDRA. I will continue to incorporate research material into my lecturing and will participate in the highly-successful Café Scientifique scheme.
Organisations
Publications
Paterson G
(2015)
Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of a Chiral Plasmonic Structure
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Paterson G
(2018)
Symmetry Reduction and Shape Effects in Concave Chiral Plasmonic Structures
in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Description | The project was to develop new electron microscopy techniques using 'vortex' electron beams that promised a rapid means of assessing the magnetic and chiral structural properties of materials. Principal outputs are academic in nature, including a doctoral thesis, but work continues and further outputs are expected. |
Exploitation Route | The project is still being worked on. |
Sectors | Education,Electronics |
Description | See outreach and teaching activities associated with the award. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
Description | JSPS/EPSRC Core to Core |
Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/M024423/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2015 |
End | 04/2020 |
Title | Assignment of chirality using electron vortex beams |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Electron energy loss spectroscopy of a chiral metamaterial |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Title | Symmetry Reduction and Shape Effects in Concave Chiral Plasmonic Structures |
Description | |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Description | Bringing Cutting Edge Science into the Classroom |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The project was organised by colleagues in the School of Physics & Astronomy and is an annual event. I hosted visits to our electron microscopy facilities and discussed my research with the participants. Several teachers commented that they will use the experience to inform their teaching within schools. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Cafe Scientifique, Cockermouth |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A 'popular science' talk to members of the public, followed by a lively question and answer session. Around 50 people attended, mostly from non-scientific backgrounds. Public understanding of science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.cafescientifique.org |
Description | IMC 2018, Sydney |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International Microscopy Congress, Sydney. Digital poster and talk presentation to international audience. Presentation initiated discussion and ideas for future research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://imc19.com/ |
Description | Invited Research Visit, National Central University of Taiwan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited research visit hosted by the National Central University of Taiwan and including invited talks at other external institutions. The purpose was to build new collaborative links and subsequent research discussions have taken place. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Invited talk, Bologna, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at the Institute for Nanostructured Materials, CNR, Bologna, 18 July 2014. Enhanced collaborative opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk, Cambridge, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Enhanced collaborative opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk, Postgraduate Magnetism Techniques Workshop, York, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | The talk was part of a training workshop on microscopy and magnetism techniques. Attending students received training in skills relevant to their own research. Feedback from students was positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Leipzig BuildMoNa Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Winter school on nanotechnology focused on postgraduate training. Followed by lively discussion session and impacts on attendees' future research activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.buildmona.de/events/docs/Agenda_Conference_2018.pdf |
Description | MMC 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation entitled "Plasmonic Properties of a Gold Gammadion Studied by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy" at the Microscopy and Microanalysis Congress 2017, an international meeting run by the Royal Microscopical Society for researchers (academic and industrial) in microscopy and related techniques. The congress typically attracts over 1000 delegates and is known for its strong level of industrial participation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.mmc-series.org.uk/ |
Description | Meet the Expert @ Glasgow Science Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We had a stall within the science centre with visual displays, handouts, videos and working microscopes. The theme was 'nanoscience' and drew from from our microscopy research. Visitors to the Science Centre (members of the public) were free to stop, use the equipment and chat about our research. Feedback from the Science Centre and public was very positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk/glasgow |
Description | Nara Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International conference on chirality held in Nara, Japan with an international audience of up to 100 researchers. Talks aimed primarily at dissemination of results and teaching latest techniques. Delegates left with plans for new research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |