A Facility for Cryo-Enabled Multi-microscopy for Nanoscale Analysis in the Engineering and Physical Sciences (Cryo-EPS)
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
We are facing unprecedented global challenges around climate change, clean energy, water and sustainability - and these have, at their core, materials solutions. Critical materials for future technologies are often highly complex on multiple length scales, and hence extremely difficult to characterise with a single technique. They commonly involve low atomic weight, mobile elements (e.g. hydrogen, lithium, carbon, sulfur) that are the most challenging to quantitatively characterise in their in-operando state, due to their high rates of diffusion, reactivity and often very low contrast by conventional imaging techniques.
Examples of such materials systems include; materials for hydrogen production and storage, battery systems; catalysts to generate new fuels or facilitate decarbonation of industrial processes; interfaces between soft- and hard-matter relevant to hybrid electronics and 'soft' robotics; as well as liquids or liquid- solid interfaces that are critical across the whole engineering and physical sciences research space from geological carbon sequestration, to lubrication in engines, to chemistry and bioengineering.
We will create a world-leading cryo-EPS facility to act as a collaborative hub for research that will underpin the UK ambition for a net zero carbon future and a more sustainable society. It will enable the quantitative atomic to micro-scale investigation of light elements that are critical to a host of new technologies associated with a transition to a sustainable, resilient and healthy future society, providing new scientific insights that will drive technological innovation.
The equipment will enable the quantitative investigation of light elements across orders of magnitude in length scale - from the micron to the atomic scale, providing an unprecedented opportunity for a step change in our fundamental understanding of these materials structure and chemistry - and ultimately their behaviour
This facility will be based around a cryo hub that will allow samples to be transferred under high vacuum and at cryo conditions between three instruments (i) an atom probe, uniquely positioned to quantitively measure chemical composition of light mobile elements; (ii) a transmission electron microscope with a vacuum-cryo holder and optimised to measure the structure of sensitive samples and also their local bonding environment; (iii) a plasma FIB to allow samples to be prepared for both the atom probe and TEM which have both low contamination and also little damage, and able to perform large-scale 3D imaging.
The combination of these instruments will give the UK a powerful characterisation capability that is unique worldwide, putting UK scientists in a leading position to tackle important and urgent global challenges.
Examples of such materials systems include; materials for hydrogen production and storage, battery systems; catalysts to generate new fuels or facilitate decarbonation of industrial processes; interfaces between soft- and hard-matter relevant to hybrid electronics and 'soft' robotics; as well as liquids or liquid- solid interfaces that are critical across the whole engineering and physical sciences research space from geological carbon sequestration, to lubrication in engines, to chemistry and bioengineering.
We will create a world-leading cryo-EPS facility to act as a collaborative hub for research that will underpin the UK ambition for a net zero carbon future and a more sustainable society. It will enable the quantitative atomic to micro-scale investigation of light elements that are critical to a host of new technologies associated with a transition to a sustainable, resilient and healthy future society, providing new scientific insights that will drive technological innovation.
The equipment will enable the quantitative investigation of light elements across orders of magnitude in length scale - from the micron to the atomic scale, providing an unprecedented opportunity for a step change in our fundamental understanding of these materials structure and chemistry - and ultimately their behaviour
This facility will be based around a cryo hub that will allow samples to be transferred under high vacuum and at cryo conditions between three instruments (i) an atom probe, uniquely positioned to quantitively measure chemical composition of light mobile elements; (ii) a transmission electron microscope with a vacuum-cryo holder and optimised to measure the structure of sensitive samples and also their local bonding environment; (iii) a plasma FIB to allow samples to be prepared for both the atom probe and TEM which have both low contamination and also little damage, and able to perform large-scale 3D imaging.
The combination of these instruments will give the UK a powerful characterisation capability that is unique worldwide, putting UK scientists in a leading position to tackle important and urgent global challenges.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Rosalind Franklin Institute (Project Partner)
- University of Manchester (Project Partner)
- BP (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Ceres Power (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Camfridge (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- National Physical Laboratory (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Diamond Light Source (Project Partner)
- University of Oxford (Project Partner)
- Cameca (France) (Project Partner)
- Shell (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- SKF Group (UK) (Project Partner)
- University of Leeds (Project Partner)
Publications
O'Connell EN
(2022)
TopoTEM: A Python Package for Quantifying and Visualizing Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Data of Polar Topologies.
in Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
Kim SH
(2022)
Understanding the Degradation of a Model Si Anode in a Li-Ion Battery at the Atomic Scale.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
Douglas, J. O.
(2022)
In-situ sputtering from the micromanipulator to enable cryogenic preparation of specimens for atom probe tomography by focused-ion beam
in Pre-print Arxiv
Giner V
(2022)
(Cryo-) Electron Microscopy Workflows of Interactions between Airborne Pollution Particles and Nasal Epithelial Cells
in Microscopy and Microanalysis
Wang S
(2022)
The effect of hydrogen on the multiscale mechanical behaviour of a La (Fe, Mn, Si) 13-based magnetocaloric material
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Conroy M
(2022)
3D-Atomic-Scale Analysis of Magnetoelectric Multiferroic Topologies via Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Complemented by Atom Probe Tomography
in Microscopy and Microanalysis
Garcia-Gil A
(2022)
Growth and analysis of the tetragonal (ST12) germanium nanowires.
in Nanoscale
Birch R
(2023)
Characterization of local deformation around hydrides in Zircaloy-4 using conventional and high angular resolution electron backscatter diffraction
in Materials Characterization
Sun J
(2023)
Doping density, not valency, influences catalytic metal-assisted plasma etching of silicon
in Materials Horizons
Woods E
(2023)
Scalable substrate development for aqueous sample preparation for atom probe tomography
in Journal of Microscopy
Birch RM
(2023)
A Conventional and High Resolution Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) Study of Stress Fields around Hydrides in Zircaloy-4.
in Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
Woods EV
(2023)
A Versatile and Reproducible Cryo-sample Preparation Methodology for Atom Probe Studies.
in Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
Douglas J
(2023)
In Situ Sputtering From the Micromanipulator to Enable Cryogenic Preparation of Specimens for Atom Probe Tomography by Focused-Ion Beam
in Microscopy and Microanalysis
Yoo S
(2023)
Dopant Evolution in Electrocatalysts after Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction in an Alkaline Environment
in ACS Energy Letters
Wang S
(2023)
Near-atomic scale chemical analysis of interfaces in a La(Fe,Mn,Si)13-based magnetocaloric material
in Scripta Materialia
Wang S
(2023)
Determining the fundamental failure modes in Ni-rich lithium ion battery cathodes
in Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Kwok T
(2023)
Carbon in Solution and the Charpy Impact Performance of Medium Mn Steels
in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A
El-Zoka A
(2023)
The Fate of Water in Hydrogen-Based Iron Oxide Reduction
in Advanced Science
Gasparrini C
(2024)
Corrosion of 316L exposed to highly concentrated borated water used as shield in nuclear fusion experimental reactors cooling circuits
in Corrosion Science
Wang D
(2024)
Al-Mn-based decagonal quasicrystal in AZ magnesium alloys and its nucleation on Al8Mn5 during solidification
in Scripta Materialia
Lin C
(2024)
Carbides in AZ91 and their role in the grain refinement of magnesium
in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Description | A key part of this project relies on the ability to produce high quality samples under a complete cryo work flow. In the past his has been achieved for TEM samples, however, here we show that this can also be achieved for atom probe samples. This opens up the possibility to study the chemistry of a frozen liquid, particularly where it is close to solid interface such in a electro chemical system such as a battery or an area of corrosion. |
Exploitation Route | There is interest in this from. number of commercial companies. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Transport |
Description | High Voltage Ceramic Heating (ETC-2022-5818) |
Amount | £477,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Shell Global Solutions International BV |
Sector | Private |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 01/2025 |
Description | INFUSE: Interface with the Future - Underpinning Science to Support the Energy transition |
Amount | £4,191,429 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V038044/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 08/2026 |
Description | Research Fellows Enhanced Research Grant |
Amount | £170,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RF\ERE\210200 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Research Fellows Enhanced Research Grant |
Amount | £270,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2023 |
End | 12/2025 |
Description | Imperial Lates: Tiny Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Imperial Lates is a themed outreach evening open to the general public where Imperial College London researchers can present and discuss their research. The theme of the November Lates was Tiny Science. Members of the NAME programme grant and Cryo EPS discussed the use of ion implantation in maser research through the use of a large scale "ion smash" game which demonstrated the principles and applications of the P-NAME ion implantation tool and the why we need cryogenic atomic scale microscopy to analyse these single ion implantation centres. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/152709/imperial-lates-tiny-science/ |
Description | MRS Fall 2022 meeting symposium organisation and chairing: Higher-Order Topological Structures in Real Space-From Charge to Spin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The increasingly cross-disciplinary worldwide activity in materials research manifests itself every year in the MRS Fall Meetings. Featuring over 50 symposia and attended by as many as 6,000 researchers from every corner of the globe, the annual Fall Meeting in Boston's Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel is the preeminent annual event for those in the field of materials research. This symposium aims to bring together scientific experts and young scientists with an interest in topologically non-trivial charge and spin textures that arise in real space, fostering interactions and advancing knowledge of higher-order topological structures in ferroelectrics, multiferroics and magnetic materials. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/fall-meetings-exhibits/2022-mrs-fall-meeting/symposium-sessions/... |
Description | MRS Fall 2023 meeting symposium organisation and chairing: Higher-Order Topological Structures in Real Space-From Charge to Spin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The increasingly cross-disciplinary worldwide activity in materials research manifests itself every year in the MRS Fall Meetings. Featuring over 50 symposia and attended by as many as 6,000 researchers from every corner of the globe, the annual Fall Meeting in Boston's Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel is the preeminent annual event for those in the field of materials research. This symposium aims to bring together scientific experts and young scientists with an interest in topologically non-trivial charge and spin textures that arise in real space, fostering interactions and advancing knowledge of higher-order topological structures in ferroelectrics, multiferroics and magnetic materials. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/fall-meetings-exhibits/2023-mrs-fall-meeting/call-for-papers/det... |
Description | MRS Spring 2023 Cryogenic TEM and APT symposium organisation and Chairing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Organised and Chairing the MRS Spring 2023 symposium: Advances in Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Quantum and Energy Materials |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/spring-meetings-exhibits/2023-mrs-spring-meeting/call-for-papers... |
Description | Neil Alford - Presentation and lab tour of NAME and Royce to CNRS delegation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Presentation to a delegation from CNRS |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Roadmap for Electron Microscopy in the Physical Sciences - Working Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Participation in the 'Coordination of Training and Staff Development' working group, part of a national project to refresh the Roadmap for Electron Microscopy in the Physical Sciences. Responses were collated from Lab leader and user surveys from the UK resulting in the formation of working groups which will give recommendations for the roadmap. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | School Visit for International Women's day (Tower Hamlets, London) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | About 80 students attended an International Women's day event at their A-Level College. As a scientist I talked about my job and how I got to where I am. This event reached both A-level students and adult learners who were stuyding English as a second language. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |