The Materials Microcharacterization Collaboratory

Participants

Objective

Approach

Accomplishments

Plans

Tools Available

Publications

Demonstrations

Communication/Collaboration Objectives

• To extend, improve and mold the electronic laboratory environments already in place at each of our facilities into a single cohesive virtual laboratory, accessible from anywhere on the Internet.
• To use the extended capabilities of the Collaboratory to collectively address materials sciences research problems related to interfaces and surfaces in economically important materials of interest to DOE programs.
• To develop a functional, interactive electronic collaboratory having the necessary tools for operation by the microanalysis community; leading to a truly new paradigm in scientific research.
• To communicate the experience gained in this project to the scientific community.

This last goal is the most difficult task of this proposal. For a long time people have been connecting instrumentation together by serial cables and/or networks to achieve some measure of remote operation. However, to do materials science research in a new way it is necessary to connect groups of scientists together in a setting which provides the stimulus and technology to collectively observe, and attack problems using combinations of ideas, methodologies and instrumentation which does not exist at any single location. It will be this, namely the personal interactions facilitated by the Collaboratory, which is the true test of success of its success.

Materials Science Research Objectives

We are developing our collaboratory research around the topic areas "Interfaces and Surfaces", which are critical in controlling the properties and behavior of a wide variety of materials. We will concentrate specifically on studies of metal/oxide interfaces, such as are important for corrosion protection (e.g. adherent oxide films on alloys), and studies of the behavior of fine metal particles on substrates, such as are important in catalyst systems (e.g. noble metals on oxide supports for reducing emissions from diesel exhausts). The Collaboratory will interact with appropriate outside users and utilize the materials and expertise which they bring to bear on the conduct of the research. An example collaboration in each research area will suffice to illustrate how our Collaboratory will function. In catalyst research, ORNL would use the field emission TEM to study changes in structure due to gas reactions at elevated temperatures. ANL would use the advanced AEM to characterize distribution of the ultra-fine noble metals by high-angle annular dark field imaging and electron spectroscopy. LBNL would perform hot-stage experiments in their on-line high voltage TEM to study model specimens of noble metals on oxide films to provide fundamental information on the behavior of metal clusters at high temperatures. The information developed will contribute to a full understanding of the mechanisms of catalyst poisoning and de-activation. All of these experiments could be followed (and even run) live-time by the participating collaboratory scientists and users.

Showing the Way

The purpose of any pilot project is to define the future by testing the ideas of today and then share that vision of the future with those who would benefit from it or who could contribute to it.  In order to really create a "new paradigm in scientific research" it is essential to involve a large cross section of the scientific community.  We must have their support and their input.  We are very fortunate to have national leaders in microscopy, microcharacterization, and scattering as leaders of the MMC.  Through publications, conferences and demonstrations we will create a strong awareness of the value of remote collaboration within the microcharacterization community.   It order to maximize our success it will be necessary to have the support of the instrument manufacturers so that new instruments will be designed to facilitate remote operation.  Again, we are fortunate to have all the world's major microscope vendors are participants in this project.  As for-profit companies, they will respond when they see that remote operation is practical and is demanded by the user community.

In addition to showing the way for the scientific community, as a pilot project, the MMC provides testing and feedback to the other DOE2000 projects and to vendors of commercial software tools necessary to establish a true collaboratory. 

Education

From the beginning we have recognized the substantial benefits to education of collaboration technologies and many of the MMC investigators have ongoing relationships with educational institutions.  Indeed, one our our full partners is a major research university.  We have budgeted a limited amount of our resources toward education as a seed for future growth.  We see the opportunity to have a significant impact on society through improvements in math and science education. We expect to develop new projects, in partnership with educational institutions, to make these changes happen.