emuconductor devices,” the minister said. funding from the queensland, south australian, and west...

EMU Newsletter June/July 2007 | 1

EMUNewsletter June/July 2007

www.emu.usyd.edu.au

Farewell, NANO – Welcome, AMMRF • New NSOM Arrived • Winter

Research Student Award • Careers in Research: Information Session

and BBQ • Upcoming Raman Workshop at the EMU • Change of Role:

Dr Peter Hines • Conference Report: Materials and Austceram 2007 •

Golden Jubilee for the EMU

After five years of operation, the NANO-MNRF

has come to the end of its funding, giving way

to a new national microscopy facility, established

under the National Collaborative Research

Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

We are delighted to announce that the Univer-

sity of Sydney has recently signed an agreement

with the Commonwealth for the new Australian

Microscopy & Microanalysis Research

Facility (AMMRF), and we are looking forward

to an exciting future serving as headquarters of

this Facility, which has nodes located in Ad-

elaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Sydney.

The AMMRF is a joint venture between Aus-

tralian university-based microscopy and

microanalysis centres with links to smaller

units in specialised facilities. A national grid of

equipment, instrumentation and expertise in

microscopy and microanalysis, that provides

nano-structural characterisation capability and

services, including widely used optical, electron,

x-ray and ion beam techniques and world-

leading flagship platforms. The latter include

pulsed-laser local-electrode atom probe, high-

throughput cryo-TEM, high-resolution SEM and

spectroscopy, high-precision ion microprobe.

By combining new flagships with existing capa-

bilities, the AMMRF offers a complete, modern

suite of instruments accessible to all Australian

publicly funded researches on on the basis of

merit and a nominal fee schedule. Industry-

based researchers can also access the facilities

for proprietary research at commercial rates.

Farewell, NANO ... Welcome, Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility

EMU Newsletter June/July | 2

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The nodal structure of the

new Australian Microscopy &

Microanalysis Research Facility.

The AMMRF is receiving significant funding

from the NSW State Government. In her open-

ing address to the Materials and AustCeram

2007 conference in Sydney on 4 July, the Hon.

Verity Firth MP, Minister for Science and Medical

Research, has announced funding of $4M for

new flagship instruments that will be based at

the NSW nodes. “These facilities will be used for

research into the development new light alloys,

development of advanced steels, energy storage

materials, functional nanomaterials and semi-

conductor devices,” the Minister said. Funding

from the Queensland, South Australian, and

West Australian State Governments is currently

being finalised.

We are currently in the process of establish-

ing guidelines for a Travel and Access Program

(TAP), similar to what used to be the NANO-

TAP. Watch this space as new information will

be posted in this newsletter as it becomes

available.

The AMMRF is funded by

ammrf.org.au

More information:

Dr Miles Apperley

Acting General Manager

Tel. +61 2 9351 2887

[email protected]

In May 2007, the AMMRF held its first Annual

Strategic Planning Workshop in Adelaide, giving

80 staff from the six participating Facility nodes

the chance to get to know each other, and to

discuss best practise to enhance and streamline

the user experience.

These are exciting times for us here at the EMU,

and we are looking forward to working with our

colleagues from across the country to support

our users and their research.

For more information about the AMMRF, please

see the Facility’s website:

USYDAustralian Key

Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis

UNSWElectron

MicroscopeUnit

UQCentre for

Microscopy and Microanalysis

ANUMicroscopy

Facility

SARFSouth Australian

Regional Facility

UWACentre for

Microscopy, Characterisation

and Analysis


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New NSOM Arrived

Recently, an Ntegra near-field scanning optical

microscope (NSOM) has been installed at the

EMU, and is now available for booking.

NSOM is a scanned probe technique in which

a very small light source is scanned very close

to a sample’s surface. Light photons pass

through a sub-wavelength-diameter aperture,

by quantum effects, and illuminate a nearby

sample; for this technique to work, the probe

must be placed within the near-field region of

the surface, which is a distance much less than

the wavelength of light. By the use of the sub-

wavelength aperture in the near-field region,

the achievable resolution is far better than the

one attainable in conventional optical micro-

scopes, which is limited by the wavelength of

light. The NSOM method is particularly useful to

nanotechnologists, such as physicists, materials

scientists, chemists and biologists, who require

ultra-high resolution and spatial information

from a broad range of materials.

This NSOM combines the high topographic

resolution of techniques such as AFM with the

significant temporal resolution, polarisation char-

acteristics, spectroscopic capabilities, sensitivity,

and flexibility inherent in many forms of optical

microscopy. But the real power of this technique

More information:

Dr Wenrong Yang

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Tel. +61 2 9351 7548

[email protected]

From left: Dr Wenrong Yang, Dr Christelle Monate of CUDOS,

Tony Romeo and Mr Michael Lee, PhD student at CUDOS.

is, that the two separate data sets – optical and

topographical – can be compared to determine

the correlation between the physical structures

and the optical contrast of the specimen.

Adding the NSOM to our suite of high-end

microscopes was a part of an initiative led by

Prof. Ben Eggleton, Federation Fellow and

Director of the ARC Centre for Ultrahigh Band-

width Devices for Optical Applications(CUDOS)

in the School of Physics. Prof. Eggleton brought

together a group of scientists from the School

of Physics and the EMU, who successfully

obtained a Major Equipment Grant from the

University of Sydney to purchase the NSOM.

Where Cellular and Molecular Biologists Meet

Check out the Online Accepted Articles of the of

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine to see

our review of the latest trends in modern biologi-

cal microscopy. In article, you will find informa-

tion about biomolecular microscopy, knowhow

More information:

www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/JCMM

regarding the complexicity of today’s microscope

platforms, and tips on how to manage centralised

microscopy facilities. Other topics are the changing

fortunes of microscopy, or how to merge cellular

and molecular biology at the microscope column.

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/JCMM


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Winter Research Student Award

Ms Carina Fernandes was the recipient of the

AKCMM’s Winter Research Student Award

2007, which allowed her to do a project super-

vised by Dennis Dwarte and A/Prof. Filip Braet.

In this project, Carina applied soft x-ray micro-

computed tomography to study the organisation

and porosity of liver bioreactor scaffolds.

From previous studies, it became apparent that

different scaffolds produce different results after

co-culturing diverse liver cell types in a bioreac-

tor. Thus, in this projects it was vital to study the

structural organisation of the different scaffolds

and to see how that may explain the different cell

culture outcomes. Currently, Carina is modelling

entire bioreactor liver tissue adhering to the dif-

ferent types of scaffolds.

World-wide, millions of people are suffering

from one or another form of life-threatening liver

disease and for a significant number of them,

liver transplantation is the only treatment avail-

able. Structurally and functionally optimilised

liver bioreactors will be of major importance for

these patients while they are on the waiting

list to receive an acceptable donor organ. This,

unquestionably, shows the medical significance

and importancy of Carina’s project.

More information:

A/Prof. Filip Braet

Deputy Director

Tel. +61 2 9351 7619

[email protected]

Carina Fernandes at work in the Image Laboratory of the

Key Centre processing the x-ray microcomputed tomography

liver bioreactor data towards a 3D model.

Positions and Scholarships Available at the EMU

The EMU/AKCMM regulary offers attractive

career opportunities.

For almost 50 years, our staff and students have

helped to cultivate a leading national and inter-

national reputation for excellence in microscopy

and microanalysis and have developed a culture

in which service and training are just as impor-

tant as the outstanding research results that we

are achieving.

So if you want to find out more about what it’s

like to work at the EMU, or about the diversity

of positions we offer, have a look at our website:

www.emu.usyd.edu.au/emu/jobs.php

http://www.emu.usyd.edu.au/emu/jobs.php


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Careers in Research – Microscopy and Microanalysis

Information session and BBQ

On Wednesday, 22 August 2007, the Electron

Microscope Unit will be holding an information

session and BBQ for students considering

careers in research. The aim is to highlight the

opportunities available to science and engineer-

ing graduates in the area of microscopy and

microanalysis and promote the EMU’s post-

graduate research degree program.

More information:

Dr Julie Cairney

Senior Lecturer &

Postgraduate Research Coordinator

Tel. +61 2 9351 4523

[email protected]

Program

16.00 Career Options in Research for

Science and Engineering Graduates

16.20 Microscopy and Microanalysis

in Australia

16.40 Research Degrees at the EMU –

Scholarship Opportunities

16.50 The Research Student Experience

17.00 Panel Discussion

17.15 BBQ and Beers:

A Chance to Chat!

This event is an opportunity to:

Learn about the various research careers

available to science and engineering

graduates.

Learn about current and future career

opportunities across Australia within the

Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis

Research Facility (AMMRF).

Find out about research degrees offered in

the Australian Key Centre for Microscopy

and Microanalysis, including scholarships

for 2008.

Learn about the Electron Microscope Unit

and their wide range of advanced research

technology.

Chat with current research staff and

students over a BBQ and a beer.

The information session will be held from

16:00–18:00 in LG92A at the Electron Micro-

scope Unit in the Madsen Building. Interested

students should RSVP by sending an email to:

[email protected]

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Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility




Win an iPod nano!

Win an iPod nano!

Win an iPod nano!

Win an iPod nano!

How many atoms are shown in this atom probe tomograph?




For a closer look at the image and to enter the competition, please visit our booth.




Competition will be held on the evening.


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Change of Role: Dr Peter Hines

The EMU welcomes Dr Peter Hines to the new

position of Microanalysis Specialist. This role

has been developed to provide a higher level of

expertise and support for the various techniques

for fine-scale chemical and structural analysis.

Peter will be working with existing SEM/EDS,

but also with cathodoluminescence (CL), raman

spectroscopy, and the complementary macro-

techniques of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray

fluorescence (XRF). If successful, a recent ARC

LIEF bid, led by the Australian Key Centre for

Microscopy and Microanalysis, would also add

electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) to this

suite of technologies.

“This is a very exciting opportunity. Already we

can do so much, but new and improved tech-

nologies are emerging rapidly. I will be working

hard with users to extract the messages within

their specimens and to win the funding for future

infrastructure,” Peter says. He has been with

the unit for 5 years, formerly managing ICT and

telemicroscopy services. He has a Bachelor of

Engineering in Metallurgy, and a PhD in Materi-

als Engineering.

More information:

Dr Peter Hines

Microanalysis Specialist

Tel. +61 2 9351 7561

[email protected]

Workshop: New Tools for True Chemical and Structural Analysis in the SEM

The University of Sydney, Warsash Scientific and

Renishaw plc invite you to a workshop entitled

New Tools for True Chemical and Structural Analy-

sis in the SEM, which will be hosted at the EMU

on 13 August 2007. Numbers are limited, so please

register your interest by Friday, 27 July 2007.

Are you interested in attending this workshop?

Please contact:

Derek Huxley of Warsash Scientific at

Tel. +61 2 9319 0122 or email

[email protected]

DateMonday, 13 August 2007

Venue

The University of SydneyAustralian Key Centre for Microscopy and MicroanalysisElectron Microscope UnitMadsen Building F09, Room LG92A

Programme 9:00 Registration and coffee

9:30 Welcome and introduction

9:50 Optical spectroscopy methods Raman spectroscopy Photoluminescence Cathodoluminescence

10:20 Practical optical spectroscopy

10:40 Optical spectroscopy in the SEM

11:00 Morning tea

11:20 Applications examples Oxidation and corrosion Geology and mineralogy Materials science Pharmaceutical Forensic Environmental

12:30 Lunch

2:00 SEM-SCA workshop SEM-SCA Demonstration University of Sydney tour Question and answers

5:00 Close

University of Sydney, Warsash Scientific, and Renishaw plc

invite you to a workshop:

If you are interested in attending, please use the faxback form overleaf, or contact Derek Huxley of Warsash Scientific on 02 9319 0122 or [email protected]

Numbers are limited so please register your interest by Friday, 27 July 2007.

New tools for true chemical and structural analysis in the SEM

The University of SydneySchool of ChemistryBuilding F11Eastern AvenueNSW 2006AUSTRALIA

T: +61 2 9351 4504F: +61 2 9351 3329E: [email protected] www.chem.usyd.edu.au

Warsash ScientificUnit 7, The Watertower1 Marian StreetRedfern NSW 2016AUSTRALIA

T: +61 2 9319 0122F: +61 2 9318 2192E: [email protected]

Renishaw plcSpectroscopy Products DivisionOld Town Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7DWUNITED KINGDOM

T: +44 1453 844302F: +44 1453 844236E: [email protected]


Venue







11:00 Morning tea


12:30 Lunch


5:00 Close













Venue







11:00 Morning tea


12:30 Lunch


5:00 Close













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Conference Report: Materials and Austceram 2007

The Materials and Australian Ceramic Society’s

first combined conference, Materials and Aust-

ceram 2007, was conducted in Sydney this year

from July 4-6, with researchers from Australia

and the Pacific region in attendance. This event

is Australia’s largest interdisciplinary technical

meeting for the communication of the latest

advances in materials science, engineering and

technology. The EMU played a major in the

organisiation of the conference, with academic

staff members Simon Ringer and Julie Cairney

forming the organising committee, together with

Dan Perera and Lou Vance from ANSTO. Plenary

speakers included Prof. Lyndon Edwards, the

newly appointed Head of the ANSTO Institute

of Materials and Engineering Science, speaking

on fatigue performance in aircraft structures,

as well as international speakers Trudy Kriven

and Giusseppe Pezotti, speaking respectively

on geopolymers and novel stress measurement

methods in the scanning electron microscope.

Vanessa Zeman and Miles Apperley from the

Key Centre introduced researchers to the new

Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research

Facility (AMMRF) via an prominent exhibition

stand. This provided a point of contact for many

conference attendees to be introduced into forth-

coming national characterisation organisation,

and to promote the usage of our nationally avail-

able facilities to aid Australian materials research.

The University of Sydney was represented at the

conference by a team of post-doctoral research-

ers and students. PhD students Ross Marceau

and Peter Liddicoat presented their work on the

identification of clustering in aluminium alloys,

whilst Daniel Haley was awarded a prize for his

poster presentation on TEM diffraction studies of

metallic glass.

Overall the conference was well received, giving

the opportunity for local research to be commu-

nicated to a large body of materials scientists, as

well as providing insight into current materials

characterisation needs.

Daniel Haley (middle) was awarded a prize for his

poster presentation.

Dr Miles Apperley and Vanessa Zeeman at the AMMRF

conference booth.

More information:

Dr Julie Cairney

Senior Lecturer

Tel. +61 2 9351 4523

[email protected]


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Electron Microscope Unit

Golden Jubilee

A/Prof. Filip Braet

Tel. +61 2 9351 7619

[email protected]

Editors

Dr Kyle Ratinac

Tel. +61 2 9351 4513

[email protected]

Ms Uli Eichhorn

Tel. +61 2 9351 4493

[email protected]

Electron Microscope UnitIncorporating


Australian Key Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis

ARC Centre of Excellence for Design in Light Metals

The University of Sydney

NSW 2006, Australia

Tel. + 61 2 9351 2351

www.emu.usyd.edu.au

Ms Ellie Kable

Tel. +61 2 9351 7566

[email protected]

Golden Jubilee for the EMU

Soon it’ll be time to party as we look forward to

celebrating the EMU’s 50th birthday next year.

Throughout 2008, we are going to pay tribute

to our Golden Jubilee with activities such as the

launch of a History Book, a 4-month exhibition

at the Macleay Museum, and a 3-day Scientific

Symposium.

The EMU was established in 1958 as a “new type

of service unit in the form of a central Electron

Microscope Unit, independent of any department

or even faculty, in which the facilities of electron

microscopy would be available to any researcher in

the University which demanded them.”

Today, the Unit’s charter has expanded to provid-

ing facilities, training and expertise in microscopy,

microanalysis and associated techniques that

employ ion beams, x-rays, light and laser optics as

well as electrons.

In the last 5 decades, the EMU’s staff has sup-

ported numerous researchers and their projects,

varying in disciplines as much as in personalities.

We are looking for your input. Have you been

auser, staff member or student at the EMU, and

would you like to share your memories with us?

Let us know!

More information:

Uli Eichhorn

Design Coordinator &

Head of Jubilee Organising Committee

Tel. +61 2 9351 4493

[email protected]

emuconductor devices,” the minister said. funding from the queensland, south australian, and west...

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