CityU becomes the first university in the world to develop automated microscopes
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A research team at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is pioneering the development of automation and manufacturing of electron microscopes (EMs). CityU is the first university in the world to achieve this.
An EM system consisting of a pulsed electron source, a speed camera, a spray pump, and a control unit has been developed by a team led by Professor Chen Fu-rong, Chair Professor in the Department of Science and Technology. This is the first time that a scanning electron microscope has been combined with both types of scanning electron microscopes in an integrated structure developed by a university-based research team.
The group’s main goal is to develop a small, long-term time-resolved “quantum” EM device that can be used to study the dynamics of atoms of complex materials.
Since EMs can image at a higher resolution than light microscopes and provide measurements and analysis at the micro-nano, as well as the atomic scale, they are in high demand, especially in medicine, life sciences, chemistry, materials, and integrated circuits. and other research industries.
This group has overcome long-standing problems in developing EMs. Currently, EMs cannot overcome the scientific problem of radiation damage to the sample and the unstable nature of the sample, limiting their ability to study small molecules and materials affected by electrons. In addition, their size limits their use in expensive environments, such as trains, and deep-sea vessels and Earth research equipment.
To overcome these limitations, the CityU research team developed a contrast spray system to improve image quality, and developed reverse and secondary deflections to analyze, magnify, photograph and view liquid samples and complex materials.
The group also developed a pulsed electron source and fast camera that can be used with desktop EM. By equipping a speed camera with a deviator, the speed of the recording is not limited to the reading time. This is the first time that such a concept has been verified in a computerized EM system. In addition, the team developed a distortion controller, which can improve the image quality.
With the new design mentioned above, the EM book can create an image of a sample in five minutes, achieve a change in the nanoscale area and expand more than 105 times to see and analyze in the nanoscale.
In the future, with the ability to manufacture independently and have intellectual property rights, the group will be able to produce smaller modified EMs at a lower cost. For example, the LaB6 computer microscope is expected to be sold at 60% of the price of similar products in the market. “Slight reduction of advanced equipment is an inevitable trend in industrial development,” said Professor Chen, who is also Director of the Time-Resolved Aberration-Corrected Environmental EM Unit and Director of the Shenzhen Futian Research Institute at CityU.
Supported by the Futian Provincial Government, this group is the only university research group that has produced several top EMs.
The research group is developing a high-resolution spatio-temporal scanning electron microscope (STEM) that uses pulsed hollow cones to visualize and reconstruct 3D proteins in hot and liquid chambers. This overcomes the current limitations of observing protein structure under very low temperatures using cryo-electron microscopy.
The next step is to establish a world-leading electro-optical design and manufacturing center in the Greater Bay Area that will focus on technology transfer and research in electron optics technology.
“The center aims to release technologies related to electron optics to established companies and startups,” said Professor Chen.
The goal is to be 15 years ahead of other EM centers in the world in terms of equipment and science, he added.
The center will be organized around electron optics to use several EMs of space / time dedicated to scientific applications, such as artificial photosynthesis, quantum devices and water science, in environments with different external influences (for example, electricity). fields, lasers, high temperature and low temperature) that are not available today.
This platform will enable quantum devices, future energy, life sciences and medicine, said Professor Chen, thereby helping to transform the group’s research activities into real benefits, as well as promoting cooperation between industry and academia.
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
A research team at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is pioneering the development of automation and manufacturing of electron microscopes (EMs). CityU is the first university in the world to achieve this.
An EM system consisting of a pulsed electron source, a speed camera, a spray pump, and a control unit has been developed by a team led by Professor Chen Fu-rong, Chair Professor in the Department of Science and Technology. This is the first time that a scanning electron microscope has been combined with both types of scanning electron microscopes in an integrated structure developed by a university-based research team.
The group’s main goal is to develop a small, long-term time-resolved “quantum” EM device that can be used to study the dynamics of atoms of complex materials.
Since EMs can image at a higher resolution than light microscopes and provide measurements and analysis at the micro-nano, as well as the atomic scale, they are in high demand, especially in medicine, life sciences, chemistry, materials, and integrated circuits. and other research industries.
This group has overcome long-standing problems in developing EMs. Currently, EMs cannot overcome the scientific problem of radiation damage to the sample and the unstable nature of the sample, limiting their ability to study small molecules and materials affected by electrons. In addition, their size limits their use in expensive environments, such as trains, and deep-sea vessels and Earth research equipment.
To overcome these limitations, the CityU research team developed a contrast spray system to improve image quality, and developed reverse and secondary deflections to analyze, magnify, photograph and view liquid samples and complex materials.
The group also developed a pulsed electron source and fast camera that can be used with desktop EM. By equipping a speed camera with a deviator, the speed of the recording is not limited to the reading time. This is the first time that such a concept has been verified in a computerized EM system. In addition, the team developed a distortion controller, which can improve the image quality.
With the new design mentioned above, the EM book can create an image of a sample in five minutes, achieve a change in the nanoscale area and expand more than 105 times to see and analyze in the nanoscale.
In the future, with the ability to manufacture independently and have intellectual property rights, the group will be able to produce smaller modified EMs at a lower cost. For example, the LaB6 computer microscope is expected to be sold at 60% of the price of similar products in the market. “Slight reduction of advanced equipment is an inevitable trend in industrial development,” said Professor Chen, who is also Director of the Time-Resolved Aberration-Corrected Environmental EM Unit and Director of the Shenzhen Futian Research Institute at CityU.
Supported by the Futian Provincial Government, this group is the only university research group that has produced several top EMs.
The research group is developing a high-resolution spatio-temporal scanning electron microscope (STEM) that uses pulsed hollow cones to visualize and reconstruct 3D proteins in hot and liquid chambers. This overcomes the current limitations of observing protein structure under very low temperatures using cryo-electron microscopy.
The next step is to establish a world-leading electro-optical design and manufacturing center in the Greater Bay Area that will focus on technology transfer and research in electron optics technology.
“The center aims to release technologies related to electron optics to established companies and startups,” said Professor Chen.
The goal is to be 15 years ahead of other EM centers in the world in terms of equipment and science, he added.
The center will be organized around electron optics to use several EMs of space / time dedicated to scientific applications, such as artificial photosynthesis, quantum devices and water science, in environments with different external influences (for example, electricity). fields, lasers, high temperature and low temperature) that are not available today.
This platform will enable quantum devices, future energy, life sciences and medicine, said Professor Chen, thereby helping to transform the group’s research activities into real benefits, as well as promoting cooperation between industry and academia.
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