This proposal requests funds for an Environmental SEM (ESEM) for the Cornell Materials Science Center (MSC) Electron Microscope Facility. This instrument provides the special ability to observe a sample in gas atmospheres with typical pressure between about 1 to 20 Torr while the electron gun remains at high vacuum. This instrument will enable the Cornell materials community to perform research requiring the in-situ observation of samples during the experiments with environments having well controlled temperature and gas atmosphere. The research projects currently planned to use this SEM involve different materials such as ceramics, electronic materials, metals, and polymers. This instrument will be maintained by the MSC and made available to all interested users.
