The University of Alabama and Imago Scientific Instruments announced plans to establish a new research facility for atom probe tomography.
LEAP microscopy, also known as atom-probe tomography, provides very high spatial resolution combined with compositional analysis and high sensitivity. It allows materials-research scientists to analyze specimens in three dimensions with atomic resolution, offering key insights into how a material's atomic structure affects its mechanical and electrical properties.
"Nanoscience is impacting virtually all aspects of society," said Dr. Judy Bonner, executive vice president and provost at UA. "The University of Alabama's growing knowledge base in this revolutionary field along with recent state-of-the-art instrument acquisitions enables us, for example, to not only improve manufactured materials, but train the next generation of nanotechnology researchers."
"We are pleased The University of Alabama selected the LEAP to add to their impressive research facilities," said Emmanuel Lakios, president of Imago. "It is clear that future advances in materials science will arise from discoveries at the atomic level, and their world-class laboratory resources position UA as a leader in the emerging nano-research fields."
Acquired recently from Imago, the LEAP permits UA researchers to determine the position and type of atoms in various materials and view the structure in 3-D.
"This is significant," said Dr. Mike Bersch, director of UA's Central Analytical Facility, "because we know - at both the macro- and nano-scales - a material's properties, such as strength or conductivity, depend upon which atoms are where."
Under an agreement with Imago, which provides support of nanotechnology research across the U.S., Japan, Europe and Asia, UA and the company's researchers will work jointly on projects.
"Working at the nano level, and being able to identify the type, location and spatial position of atoms, helps us better engineer materials," said Dr. Gregory Thompson, assistant professor of metallurgical and materials engineering at UA. "Through the LEAP's analysis, researchers can better design materials with tailored properties for such applications as transistors used in cell phones, hard drives for computers, or high strength, low-weight steels used for fuel efficient automobiles."
LEAP, said Bersch, is ideal for studying semiconductors, the base materials used in manufacturing computer chips and other electronic devices.
"We believe this is going to be the instrument of choice for semiconductor analysis," Bersch said. "Corporate America will come to The University of Alabama to formulate partnerships for LEAP-based research," he predicted.
The LEAP is the latest in a series of recent nanotechnology enhancements at UA. In 2004 and 2005, the University added to the Central Analytical Facility with two state-of-the-art instruments, a Transmission Electron Microscope and a focused ion beam. In addition, in the fall of 2006, a Transmission Electron Microscope was installed in UA's Biology Building.
Thompson and Dr. Mark Weaver, also a metallurgical and materials engineering professor, and Dr. Harriett Smith-Somerville, professor of biological sciences, were lead investigators on interdisciplinary, team proposals which won National Science Foundation instrumentation grants contributing to these technology advancements. This group, combined, landed more than $2.4 million in competitive awards.
