Please read first

User classification

1. University members
   1. In-house users
   2. Off-campus users
2. Off-campus

Services provided by our office

1. Equipment usage
   • Provide machine time for users to conduct experiments by directly operating experimental equipment and equipment.
2. Training
   • Provide training on how to operate the equipment to users who wish to use it.
3. Technical assistance
   1. Technical assistance　Our staff will assist the users of the equipment with their experimental operations.
   2. Technical agency: Our staff will operate the equipment on behalf of the user.
      • Standard: Something that does not involve academic judgment.
      • Advanced: Items that require academic judgment by staff.
   3. Technical consultation　Our staff will provide technical advice regarding experiments in response to user requests.
4. Joint research

Permissions and training

For more information about training, please see here.

• In order for users to directly use (operate) the equipment in our room, they must obtain permission to use each equipment.
• The scope of usage permission varies depending on the stage of training. Users with sufficient usage and management skills can use the equipment independently even when staff are not available.
• Existing users can use the devices they have experience using at the moment (2023/11/01).
• If training is provided at the user’s request, usage fees for the equipment and technical support fees will be incurred.
  • We also plan to provide training at user seminars (free of charge) held irregularly.
• Use of each device will be permitted at the discretion of our office (device manager) based on the user’s skill level (course/skills status).
• (On-campus members only)Enter “User registration” Use this as a reference when deciding on training content. At the moment (2023/11/01), only electron microscopes are eligible.

Usage permission and skill level guidelines

• Required skills: Knowledge and skills regarding the basic handling of equipment in order to use it safely and without damage.
• Selection skills: Knowledge and skills required for each sample and experimental purpose.

TEM training items

Training items related to sample preparation are currently being prepared.

• Training items (overview)
• Training items (details)

About training (tentative version)

• The electron microscopes to be trained are JEM-ARM200F and JEM-2100plus.
  • We do not provide training for JEM-2000EXII, EM002B.
• As a general rule, training uses standard samples prepared in our laboratory.
  • There is no training menu based on brought-in samples. However, if you have completed basic training, we may be able to respond based on individual requests, so please contact us.
• If you have experience using the same model at another department, etc., you may be able to skip some of the training content, but we will require an explanation of our room’s house rules, etc., so please request training before using it for the first time.
• The main content of the training is safety and basic operations to prevent equipment failure. If you require training regarding applied usage, please contact us separately.

User facility

Available equipment

1. Equipment owned by our office
   Equipment introduced with our budget
   • Electron microscope JEM-2000EXII, EM-002B, JEM-2100plus, JEM-ARM200F (STEM collector machine)
   • Sample preparation device ion slicer/ion milling (model1010)
   • Other Osmium coater/sample preparation room
2. Entrusted management equipment
   Equipment that our office has been entrusted with management by members of our university
   • Sample preparation device PIPSII (No.1)
3. ARIM project-related equipment
   Equipment provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s ARIM project (formerly Nanoplastic project).
   • Electron microscope JEM-ARM200F (W collector machine)
   • FIB　Quanta 3D・Versa 3D
   • Sample preparation device PIPSII (No.2)
   • X-ray diffractometer SmartLab 9SW
   • Thermal analyzer (TG-DTA) TG8120/ (DSC) DSC8230

How to apply for use

There are two frameworks for applying for use of this room:

1. Analysis frame(No assignment review)
   If you meet all of the conditions below, your application will be accepted directly at the Division of Analytical Electron Microscopy, IMR. Usage procedures
   1. The user is a member of our university (including working doctors, etc.).
   2. Use equipment owned by our office or outsourced management equipment.
   3. Publish assignment information and usage results.
   4. Pay the usage fee using the budget managed by the university.
      • If you need to make a request to someone outside the university, please use the CINTS frame.
        
2. CINTS frame(assignment review required)
   If you cannot use the analysis frame, please apply to CINTS*.
   1. Use by non-members of the university
   2. When using ARIM project-related equipment (For public assignments, report submission required)
   3. If you wish to keep some or all of your usage results private
   4. If you need to bill for off-campus charges

※CINTS:Tohoku University Nanotechnology Fusion Technology Support Center

Reserving machine time and requesting technical assistance

• Machine time is managed on a dedicated reservation site. (Division of Analytical Electron Microscopy, IMR) (ARM200F)
• Users of the analysis frame must create their own accounts in the reservation system. (Required for each user, not for each laboratory.)
• If technical support is not required when using the analysis frame, users can make a reservation directly on the reservation system (only during weekdays from the following week). Please consult our staff for last-minute reservations or for night and holiday use.
• If technical assistance is required, the staff will make a reservation after coordinating the timing with the corresponding staff.
• In the case of CINTS slots, the staff in charge will, in principle, make the reservation.

Notes on application for use

• Applications for the use of analysis quotas are required for each fiscal year, for each laboratory, and for each payment source.
• Application for the use of CINTS slots is required every academic year and for each project.
• If there are multiple users in the laboratory, whether or not the same usage application can be used depends on the content of the application project and the regulations for each payment source, so please check in advance.
• It may not be used for purposes other than those for which the application was made.
• When using our office for joint research or contract research, please check in advance whether there are any contractual issues with the joint research or contract research organization. (In particular, if strict management such as confidentiality is required, please be sure to let us know at the time of application.)

Disclosure of results (analysis frame)

As a general rule, the results obtained with our equipment and support will be made public.

• Research topics, user affiliations, user names, and equipment used will be published on the website, etc.
• Research results are required to be made public through papers, conference presentations, etc.
  • Although there is no set deadline, it cannot be used with plans to make it private in the future.
• If you wish to keep all or part of your usage results private, please use “CINTS” private assignments

Usage fee

If you use our equipment and support, the following fees will be charged separately.

• Equipment usage fee
• Technical support fee
  • Technical assistance (in preparation)
  • Technical agency (standard)
  • Technical agency (advanced)

Payment financial resources (analysis frame)

The following financial resources can be used to pay for the analysis frame.

1. University operating funds
2. Donations
3. Kakenhi Grants
4. Joint research funds
5. Commissioned research funds
6. Contract business expenses
7. Other

As a general rule, usage fees for analysis frames are closed at the end of the month, reported the following month, and billed quarterly. Please note that if external funds are used and there is an execution deadline, it may not be possible to use the funds depending on the timing.

Request for acknowledgment and co-authorship (joint research)

1. About equipment usage

If someone outside the Institute uses data obtained using our laboratory’s equipment (equipment owned by our laboratory, equipment managed by us, or equipment related to ARIM projects) in a paper submission or presentation at an academic conference, please indicate in the “Acknowledgments” or “Experimental Methods” that the laboratory’s equipment was used.

Optional if an in-house user uses the equipment as a user facility (self-use).

Description example

• [Japanese] For S/TEM observation, we used JEM-ARM200F from the Materials Analysis Research Core, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.
• [English] For S/TEM observation, a JEM-ARM200F at Analytical Research Core for Advanced Materials, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, was used.

2. About technical support

When using data obtained with the support of our staff in a paper submission or conference presentation, please clearly state the staff’s contribution according to the degree of support (regardless of whether you use the analysis frame or the CINTS frame).

• Please use the information below to determine the level of support for yourself.
• If you wish to conduct joint research, please consult with our staff in advance.
• Please note that we may decline your request if it is determined that it would be difficult to provide support due to the difficulty and volume of the requested experiment, the equipment of our laboratory, or the skills of our staff.

“Unnecessary” When using the device as a user facility

• Direct operation by user
• Minor technical assistance

“Acknowledgment” In case of support where academic judgment by staff is not required

• Standard sample preparation.
• Observation that does not require field of view search or orientation.
• Medium to low magnification morphology observation. EDS mapping etc.

DescriptionExample

• Sample preparation
  • [Japanese] The TEM sample was prepared with the support of Mr.○○ of the Materials Analysis Research Core, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.
  • [English] The TEM samples were prepared with the cooperation of Mr. XX of Analytical Research Core for Advanced Materials, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.
• Observation agent
  • [Japanese] The S/TEM observation was supported by Mr. ○○ of the Materials Analysis Research Core, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.
  • [English] S/TEM observations were made with the cooperation of Mr. XX of Analytical Research Core for Advanced Materials, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.

“Co-authorship (joint research)” For support that requires academic judgment by staff

• Highly difficult sample preparation.
• Observations that require visual field finding and orientation.
• Data analysis such as indexing and simulation.
• If you need staff comments on the presentation content

In the case of joint research (co-authorship), there is no need to acknowledge the staff concerned. (Please mention in the acknowledgments about staff members who are not included in the co-authorship)

3. About the use of CINTS (ARIM public assignments)

When presenting results using data obtained using the CINTS frame, please include the ARIM project number in the acknowledgments. (Not required for private assignments)

Entry example (CINTS frame/ARIM public assignment)

• [Japanese] This research (part of it) was carried out with support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Materials Advanced Research Infrastructure Project (Tohoku University (Support Field) Platform). (JPMXP12●●TU●●●●)
• [English] (A Part Of) This Study Was Supported By Tohoku University ○○○ Platform In MEXT Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials and Nanotechnology in Japan. (JPMXP12●●TU●●●●)

https://arim.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/report