Henry Royce Institute's Transmission Electron Microscope transforms doctorate research through PhD Access Scheme funding
Facilities at the University of Sheffield are proving transformative for doctoral students, who are travelling from across the UK to use the Henry Royce Institute's state-of-the-art characterisation equipment.
Sheffield's Henry Royce Institute facilities are proving transformative for doctoral students, who are travelling from across the UK to use Royce's state-of-the-art characterisation equipment.
Materials Scientist turned Chemical Engineering student Morgan Lowther is undertaking a PhD in Biomedical Metal Additive Manufacturing at the University of Birmingham. Morgan’s research focuses on using metal additive manufacturing to deliver antimicrobials from within medical implants, aiming to reduce the risk of post-surgical infection.
I can’t praise the scheme enough as an opportunity to work not only with new equipment, but especially to do so with the support of expert staff.
Morgan Lowther
PhD Student, University of Birmingham
The Challenge:
When characterising how the microstructure of alloys influence bacterial response, Morgan found Scanning Electron Microscopy was unable to give precise measurements for (>50 nm) precipitates.
The Henry Royce Institute’s Transmission Electron Microscope (JEOL JEM F-200) offers advanced analytical high throughput TEM with high-resolution imaging. Morgan explains, “I needed a TEM to access higher resolution imaging, with diffraction and elemental analysis to identify precipitates, and with a large series of samples to test the high-throughput capacity was particularly attractive.”
With funding from the Henry Royce Institute’s PhD Access Scheme, Morgan was able to work directly alongside Henry Royce Institute Research Associate Dr John Nutter, spending three days analysing samples on the high-throughput TEM.
Commenting on the PhD Access Scheme, Morgan said, “accessing such a rapid throughput TEM enabled me to gather key results far more quickly than otherwise could have been achieved. Working with John was a pleasure – I cannot praise his patience and expertise with the equipment enough. Particularly as a novice in this technique, working so closely with John means I have confidence in the data and its quality.”
I’d highly recommend the scheme – excellent package providing access to cutting-edge characterisation tools.
Edris Khorani
PhD Student, University of Southampton
Edris Khorani, third-year PhD student in Nanoelectronics at the University of Southampton was awarded PhD Access Scheme funding to examine silicon films using Transmission Electron Microscopy. Edris’ research focuses on using hot wire chemical vapour deposition (HWCVD) to grow boron-doped silicon for back-contact solar cells.
Using the Henry Royce Institute TEM, Edris was able to examine the grain sizes and crystallographic structure of his p-doped silicon films and study the interfacial quality and differences in crystallinity with respect to longitudinal position in their films.
It is a brilliant opportunity to have access to top quality resources in UK materials research... TEM results immensely strengthen my PhD thesis.
Abdurauf Younes
PhD Student, Northumbria University
Abdurauf Younes, a 2nd year Materials Science PhD student at Northumbria University, is researching the development of novel rapidly solidified alloys.
Abdurauf looks at tuning the wear behaviour of the solidified alloys through controlling parameters such as cooling rate, and composition (eg. microalloying). His current research focusses on proving the presence of twinned martensite caused by martensitic transformation in Copper Zirconium shape memory alloys. Abdurauf wanted to use Tramission Electron Microscope data to confirm existing results showing the formation of twinned martensite and intermetallic phases through XRD.
Abdurauf heard about the Royce PhD Access Scheme from his principal supervisor, and won a grant to conduct his analysis on the Henry Royce Institute TEM. Abdurauf commented: “I was looking specifically to use TEM as it is the only instrument where I can investigate the microstructure of the wear-tested samples at a very high magnification (higher than SEM). In addition, the ability to perform chemical characterization and elemental analysis such as EDS on a single grain was of high interest to me along with the ability to perform SAED Pattern to identify the different phases of the wear-tested samples. The work carried out in Sheffield was great in terms of the quality imaging and identifying the different phases present in the wear-tested samples and correlate the outcome of TEM with my XRD scans.”
Students undertaking doctoral studies in UK institutions can apply for funding through the Henry Royce Institute PhD Access Scheme to use any equipment in the Henry Royce Institute catalogue. The grants cover equipment use, operator time, sample preparation at the facility, and training on the operation of the equipment.
