Innovative electron microscopy program utilizing scanning electron microscopes at NASA-ASL for community college students.

1. Integrating Electron Microscopy
into Nanoscience and Materials
Engineering Programs
SPIE Scanning Microscopy
September 17, 2014

2. Overview
• Skills gap in new hires
• Characterization curriculum
• Incubating Innovation
• NASA-ASL MACS lab
• Socialization of Science
• Instrument training
• Integrated microscopy program

3. Problem => Solution
• Skills gap in new hires
• Laboratory experience
• Lack of relevant materials
• Curriculum development
• Budget / resource
constraints
Boeing – SRI Study 2006/2007 NCLT - http://community.nsee.us/grg/34076.pdf

4. ASL Advanced Studies Lab
• NASA-UCSC Collaboration
• Foothill De Anza College District (Foothill
and De Anza College)
• NASA scientists / researchers
• UCSC/SJSU/SCU, and other faculty
• MACS Facility for Collaborative Science

5. UCSC MACS Facility NASA-ARC ASL
Collaboration of Government, Academia, and Industry today,
to solve Grand Endeavors for our future tomorrow.
Energy &
Sustainability
Astrobio,
SpaceBio,
SynBio
Electronics
(Sensors,
Networks)
examples:
Solar Cells,
Batteries,
Energy harvesting
examples:
Transistors,
Memristors,
Sensors
examples:
Astrobiology,
Biomedical devices
MACS
MACS Facility:
Developing and analyzing
new MATERIALS across
traditional disciplines and
establishments
NASA
ARC

6. Integrated Learning Outcomes
Integrated Learning Outcomes => NSF-ATE Program for Training Nanotechnicians

7. Program Students
• Workforce
• Community College
• 4yr (SJSU/UCSC)
• Graduate (SJSU/UCSC)
• PhD/Post Doc (UCSC)
• All over the US (summer)

8. Instrument Training
• Tabletop SEM (Foothill)
• FE-SEM (MACS/ASL)
• HR-TEM (MACS/ASL)
• AFM demo (Foothill)
• IBS / PE-CVD demonstration

9. Socialization of Science
• Mentoring of students
• Influence (social) networks
• Four levels of college students
• Faculty researchers
• Small business innovators

10. Mentoring of Students
• Influence (social)
science networks
• Multiple levels of
college students
• Faculty and NASA
UCSC researchers
• Small business
innovators / PBL
Students form groups around projects and work with each other in teams

11. Socialization of Science

12. Mentor Training
Foothill College students Anh Nguyen and Yessica Torres (now at
EAG labs) participate in materials research and microscopy
training at NASA-ASL using a Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM).

13. Hitachi S-4800 II FE SEM
with chemical analysis
• Field Emission Scanning Electron
Microscope with light element
analysis using Oxford INCA energy
dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).
• 1-2 nanometer range resolution.
• Dual Secondary Electron (SE) detector
system comprised of a lower detector
for surface topography imaging and an
“in-lens” upper detector for high
resolution imaging.
• Backscatter electron (BSe) detector
for analysis of insulating samples.
• Magnification range: 20 – 800kX

14. Hitachi
HR9500 TEM
• Ultra high-resolution
microscope with point-to-point
resolution of 0.18 nm
and a lattice resolution of
0.10 nm.
• AMT XR41B - 4 Megapixel
(2048x2048) high mag,
high sensitivity bottom
mount camera for materials
science and diffraction
studies.
• Brüker - Quantax XFlash
5030 Silicon Drift Detector
(SDD) for high
performance energy
dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy (EDS).
• Magnification: 200 –
1500kX.

15. Nanocarbon Projects
Nanocarbon and graphene is a
primary research focus within
NASA-ASL. Faculty researcher
and MACS director Michael
Oye developed a process for
depositing vertical graphene on
copper. Characterization using
Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM)
and Raman spectroscopy,
shown at right, provided
evidence for graphitic
character of the material.
Microscopy training in the
MACS facility focuses on
projects involving collaborative
research, where students learn
about characterization tools in
the context of real science.
From Sandoz-Rosado et al, JMR 2013

16. Nanoislands and GaN Steps
Image of Nanoislands and Gallium Nitride Steps from S4800 FE-SEM

17. AFM Image of Nano Islands
Mn on GaN 2u x 2u Amorphous region 5u x 5u
AFM images from PNI Nano-R AFM using Close Contact Mode

18. Gold Nanoparticle TEM
NASA-ASL intern David Skiver
prepared gold nanoparticles
using sodium citrate reduction
of auric chloride. Particles are
produced in a dark solution
and suspended in a TEM grid.
This particle was imaged at 1
million X using a Hitachi HR
9500 TEM. Students can see
individual gold atoms in the
particle, which is ~ 15 nm in
diameter. The group is now
developing an approach to
nanosilver particles using silver
nitrate and sodium citrate.

19. Saturday Microscopy Sessions
High School student using the Hitachi TM-3000 Tabletop SEM

20. Summary
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology require real
images for learning about nanostructures
• Gaining real experience through hands-on
activities is an effective learning approach
• Access to microscopy tools can be challenging
for colleges with limited budgets/partners
• The NASA-ASL MACS facility provides
opportunities for real microscopy training
• Microscopy is also a great way to have fun!