Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

We require the urgent funding of a back scattered electron detector (EBSD) to repair a scanning electron microscope (SEM) operating in a central open user facility. The original detector installed in 2002 has failed and is currently in unrepairable condition since one of the four quadrant photodiode has failed. In addition to the new detector, we will at the same time retrofit the instrument with a newer version of the operating software and a new turbo pump that ensures the primary vacuum in the sample chamber which have both reached the end of their operating life. The SEM instrument is used by many HQP at Western University in many transverse fields including material and biomaterial research, observation of surfaces and interfaces, monitoring the integrity of nano and micro-fabrication of devices as demonstrated by the background of the 8 co-applicants. Subsequently, a SEM in working conditions and with the specifications of modern detectors is a necessary instrument for all applied and fundamental projects currently developed at Western University and partners. All HQP including undergraduates and graduate students but also postdoctoral associates and engineers will continue benefitting from the expert-level training offered by the Western facility through hand-on training and videos courses that we have created. From an equity, diversity and inclusion statement standpoint we will highlight the facility possibilities to all minority groups for all faculty and departments at Western University. We will highlight their successes through our regular newsletters and with our partners such as NanoOntario, promoting their work at a higher level at our annual conference and also through nominations to the NanoOntario annual awards.