Active Nano Mapping Facility - ANM NNUF2

d67eb502-4869-46a1-b317-c9302220fb7e

Closed

EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC
EPSRC

£5,007,815

Nov. 1, 2019

April 30, 2023

Current sample analysis facilities offer either nanoscale resolution, or the ability to analyse samples over centimetre sized areas, but not both. It is becoming clearer that to better understand and model the bulk properties of a material, the nanoscale structures of that material must be understood. However, many of the materials relevant to nuclear research are inhomogeneous at the nano and micro scale, so there is a real risk that incorrect conclusions are drawn regarding the properties of a sample due to the insufficient sample throughput of existing facilities. The Active Nano Mapping (ANM) facility will meet the requirement of materials researchers for the rapid nanoscale assessment of materials over macroscale areas.
Additionally, the ANM facility will be able to offer video-rate observations of how controlled liquid or gaseous environments affect the sample surface. This is of particular interest for understanding the initialisation of failure mechanisms, such as corrosion. The equipment at the ANM facility will also map the material's electrical, thermal and mechanical properties at the same time as its topography, generating 3d landscapes of the sample surface with sub-nanometre resolution.
The ANM facility represents an Investment in state-of-the-art equipment that will be utilised by multiple users and enable a wide range of ambitious research projects. It will ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of scientific discoveries and pioneering innovation in the nuclear sector.

Potential Impact:
The University of Bristol (UoB) is an acknowledged international leader in nuclear materials research and the use of cutting-edge analytical equipment - such as the requested high-speed atomic force microscope (HS-AFM) - to help industry and academia solve critical research challenges.
Following the installation of the HS-AFM in the Active Nano Mapping (ANM) facility we will generate better data and analysis for nuclear materials and the understanding of structures over multiple length scales through increased internal and external collaborations. Academic impact will arise from traditional key performance indicators (KPIs) such as highly rated peer-reviewed publications, review articles and presentations at major international conferences.
Throughout the funding period we will use our expertise and experience of supporting multidisciplinary projects to broaden the user base in nuclear energy research, bringing nuclear researchers together with material and device scientists as well as bio and nano experts to forge new ideas and best practices. This is recognised as a key contributor to local and national wealth creation facilitating the translation of fundamental research to industry.
We will be able to train a broad range of users, not only in using advanced microscopes but also in the general area of nanoimaging and sample preparation. These important skills are transferable across Engineering and the Physical Sciences. Furthermore, this training will help create the next generation of skilled workers - as HS-AFMs replace the previous generation of AFMs - with the ability to acquire and interpret analytical nanoscale data that will enable them to proceed into the nuclear industry.
UoB has an excellent track record of engagement with industry, as shown by the South West Nuclear Hub which supports many industrially funded studentships in the nuclear field. Through these, industry gains access to state-of-the-art facilities which may not be available on the industrial side.
The capabilities of the facility may aid users in developing protectable IP such as novel new materials or processes. The team will work with the users to ensure that the impact from such IP is maximised though the University's research enterprise and development teams. It is the vision of the facility to enable the development of such breakthroughs in order to benefit society by providing a safer, more secure, cheaper, low carbon energy generation technology.
The UoB is a world leader in public engagement and how we can maximise scientific impact on society by encouraging a positive public perception of science. The team regularly visits local schools around Bristol and is currently in the process of expanding this effort to make hands-on outreach packs, and a Youtube channel for primary schools in the South West centred around low carbon energy generation, material science, and analysis tools. Such outreach is fundamental to increasing public awareness and understanding of science, economic and societal issues around nuclear energy generation.