Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Analytical electron microscopy has become a fundamental tool of research for many aspects of the Earth and Biological sciences, as well as for Engineering and Forestry. Both scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis require careful sample preparation in order to ensure the successful conduction of electrons to and from the analyzed volume. This is achieved by coating the samples with a conductive medium, which is typically carbon or a metal (e.g., gold). Coating is brought about by glow discharge from the target, which results in a nanometre-scale veneer covering the sample surface. Our current sputter coater is more than 25 years old and is becoming unreliable. Moreover, it does not provide for coating thickness control, nor can it coat with an ultra-fine grain size in order to ensure high resolution imagery and reproducible analyses. Both these features are available in the new generation turbo sputter coater requested here. In addition, a vibratory polisher is sought in order to render polished samples especially smooth prior to coating. This will eliminate scratches and other preparatory flaws caused during conventional abrasive polishing. Together, these two ancillary pieces of equipment will ensure continued coating operations for the university's Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, and introduce the production of enhanced quality polished finishes for materials evaluation. This equipment will specifically serve the interests of my research group (currently 10 scientists) in our investigation of planetary materials from the Earth, Moon, Mars, asteroids and comets. Our research requires high precision evaluation of rare and precious materials. Analytical electron microscopy is a critical aspect of our research program and sample preparation is central to realizing optimum visual and analytical results. Both the sputter coater and polisher will ensure that the samples are in prime condition ready for electron-optical analysis. The requested infrastructure will also support numerous clients in other science disciplines, Engineering and Forestry, who use electron microscope facilities at the University of New Brunswick to study synthesized compounds, organic materials, metals, concrete and various wood products.