Call for proposals
LEAPS-INNOV co-creation programme

1. EASYBRAGG

Implementation of user-friendly 3D Bragg ptychography at synchrotron sources

Main Applicant: Virginie Chamard, Fresnel CNRS-AMU

Project Partners: ESRF, Diamond, MAX IV

Achieved Score: 24,67/28

 

Project Public Summary:

In the recent years, 3D Bragg ptychography (3DBP) has emerged as a powerful crystalline microscopy method, owing to its capability to produce 3D maps of crystalline materials down to 10 nm spatial resolution. As 3DBP is compatible with the investigation of extended, rather complex crystals, it fills the gap between electron microscopy and Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, opening exciting perspectives to a large scientific community, as demonstrated with striking results obtained in physics, nanoscience, materials sciences, and biology. While 3DBP has been performed at various beamlines and several synchrotrons worldwide, some experimental difficulties have prevented its spread towards a larger number of less-experienced synchrotron users. With the advent of 4th generation synchrotron sources, we have shown that a full dataset could be acquired on the minute time scale under relaxed set-up stability requirements, thus tearing down the major barriers for its widespread application. There is now a timely opportunity to gather efforts to allow a large community of users to exploit this microscopy method. To this aim, the EASYBRAGG project proposes to produce a user-friendly BP framework to be implemented at 3rd and 4th generation synchrotron sources.

The EASYBRAGG consortium, composed by Institut Fresnel, ESRF, Diamond and MAX IV, merges recognized experts in 3DBP, including advanced experimental (nanoprobe, scanning) and numerical (inversion codes, methodological developments) aspects. A comprehensive user-friendly (open source) 3DBP package will be produced and implemented at ESRF, Diamond and MAX IV. It will come along with training tutorials and a series of written and oral communications to prospect and identify potential users from other scientific fields. With this collaborative technology development, 3DBP will become available for a large community of users. This will enrich the portfolio of accessible crystalline microscopy methods and allow scientists to address novel classes of crystalline materials-based phenomena. 

 

2. STRAQTECH

Strategic access for quantum technology

Main Applicant: apl. Prof. Oliver Rader, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie

Project Partners: SOLEIL, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Achieved Score: 24,00/28

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Project Public Summary:

Quantum technology is at present developing rapidly and can provide enormous benefit for Europe's society and economy. The applicants have identified examples for crucial scientific questions where synchrotron and FEL radiation can help quantum technology. Currently, access to synchrotron and FEL radiation is granted (i) by each facility individually in the framework of (ii) semester-wise calls and based on (iii) scientific excellence and feasibility criteria which is not ideal for the quantum technology community new to synchrotron and FEL radiation. The present project will in direct interaction with the community identify the most important scientific questions, the resulting ideal way of access,  and the required instrumentation. Then one or several access modes will be tested at individual facilities and through LEAPS wide calls. A dedicated scientist will guide the community to existing and newly developed access modes and instrumentation. The project will give perspectives towards new instrumentation and further extension of the project, for example, in the direction of higher TRL levels.

 

3. AXF

Acoustofluidic crystallography

Main Applicant: Jonas Sellberg, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Project Partners: DESY, MAX IV

Achieved Score: 23,67/28

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Project Public Summary:

Serial crystallography (SX) has become one of the standard techniques at synchrotrons and x-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) to obtain (time-resolved) high-resolution structural information from microcrystals of various proteins and enzymes. Nevertheless, reliable sample delivery is often the primary limiting factor in SX. We propose to make use of acoustofluidics in combination with state-of-the-art injection nozzles to reduce sample consumption, enable concentration enrichment in the nozzle and thus avoid clogging. We will use a piezoelectric actuator to create a 2D ultrasonic standing wave perpendicular to the crystal flow, which will focus the crystals into a single line inside a square silica capillary that is then integrated in a 3D-printed design for dual flow-focusing nozzles (DFFNs). We name this new modality acoustofluidic crystallography (AFX). The project is divided in 4 work packages with expected deliverables carried out at the partner organizations (KTH, DESY, MAX IV). A post-doctoral researcher would be funded by LEAPS-INNOV and recruited to work full time on the project for 12 months and participate in all work packages onsite. Funding for traveling, equipment and indirect costs has already been acquired elsewhere. The project is expected to: design a prototype for AFX; assemble the final design into a fully functioning device using 3D printing capabilities; install the optimized AFX device at an SX beamline; use the AFX device to perform protein crystallography and thus benchmark the device. The final implementation of the AFX device would be integrated at beamlines at MAX IV (BioMAX and MicroMAX) and PETRA III (P11) and be made available to users. This would allow for the use of acoustofluidics beyond expert users and lead to better use of SX beamtime, less sample consumption and structure determination of proteins that can only be crystallized in small amounts.