IMRI facility users must acknowledge IMRI (and/or its staff) in one of the following methods: (A) general acknowledgement, (B) acknowledgement to IMRI staff, and (C) co-authorship.

 (A) General Acknowledgement

IMRI facility users must acknowledge IMRI in any publication that utilizes IMRI instrumentation. The general acknowledgment should read, “The authors acknowledge the use of facilities and instrumentation at the UC Irvine Materials Research Institute (IMRI), which is supported in part by the National Science Foundation through the UC Irvine Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (DMR-2011967).”

In addition to the general acknowledgment, the following instruments require special acknowledgment:

Quanta 3D: “(Insert methods, such as SEM, FIB, EDS, EBSD, or LVSEM/ESEM) work was performed using instrumentation funded in part by the National Science Foundation Center for Chemistry at the Space-Time Limit (CHE-0802913).”

Kratos AXIS Supra: “(Insert methods, such as XPS, UPS, etc.) work was performed using instrumentation funded in part by the National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program under grant no. CHE-1338173.”

Angstrom Evaporator: “Film deposition work was performed using instrumentation funded by DURIP award FA2386-14-1-3026.”

 (B) Acknowledgement to IMRI Staff

If facility users also obtain staff support for data acquisition, data analysis or other assistance, they must acknowledge IMRI (using the general acknowledgement) and IMRI staff by using the sentence similar to “The authors thank IMRI staff Dr. XXX (staff name) for his/her assistance on XXX (instrument/technique) data collection/analysis and XXX (other assistance)”.  

IMRI users may collaborate with IMRI staff for publications. Please read the collaboration policy on IMRI website.

1. An invoice together with recharge details is normally issued on a monthly basis according to usage policy and the recharge rates which may be updated twice a year.  A new user may receive a delayed invoice because of initial paperwork and a new account set up in the UCI system.
2. There could be a 1-2 month delay between the use of an instrument and the invoice received. Net30 policy is applied that external users must make the payment within one month of receiving the invoice without further delay.
3. UC users must provide a valid account and update the user profile (PI, account number, analyst) when necessary.  External must provide accurate billing contact info. Users’ accounts may be disabled when the recharge can not be done because of the wrong user info.
4. External users may pay the usage cost by credit card. A credit card form needs to be filled out in advance.
5. No charges will be applied to any reserved sessions when the instrument is down or under service.
6. There is no charge for unused time resulting from an instrument malfunction or poor instrument performance (performance below spec), but the user must notify the appropriate IMRI staff person at the time of the instrument problem.
7. Please note, that staff-run projects for all user groups are charged as an instrument rate plus the staff Technical Assistance rate.
8. No-shows who do not cancel their reservation at least 24 hours before the start of their scheduled session will be charged for 100% of the reserved time. Users who cancel their reservation less than 24 hours before the start of their scheduled session will be charged 50% of the reserved time. In accordance with UCI’s recharge policy, unrestricted funds will be requested for late cancellation and absent charges.
9. Users who show up but use only part of their reserved time will be charged 50% of any unused time in excess of 0.5 hours.
10. Group training has a special recharge rate. During the following one-on-one training/assistance, the first one-hour technical assistance fee may be exempt, however, users need to pay for the instrument usage and further technical assistance beyond 1 hr.

1. To avoid interrupting experiments, formal tours need to be arranged in advance through the IMRI Office.  Please contact Mary Ang to schedule a tour.  All visitors will be accompanied by staff for the duration of their stay.
2. Prior to entering IMRI facilities, all non-UCI visitors will need to sign the IMRI Facility Tour Waiver and bring a hard copy of the agreement with them.
3. Visitors must clean their shoes with the doormat upon entering the lab.  In the TEM center, visitors are required to wear shoe covers to avoid lab contamination.
4. Please be quiet in the facilities.
5. Please do not touch anything in the labs.
6. Please do not bring food or drink inside any lab spaces.

1. Users who are sick must not enter the IMRI facilities. All users must always wear proper PPE in the IMRI facilities. Please treat personal and instrument safety as your top priorities.
2. The priority of instrument usage, from highest to lowest, is (i) instrument maintenance, (ii) teaching/group training, and (iii) normal usage. Users may check the instrument status before entering the IMRI facilities. If the instrument is down, users may check the IMRI facility blog for the latest updates. Users will not be charged for a reserved instrument session when the instrument is down.
3. Users must reserve instruments in advance through the IMRI facility management system. When a user works for two projects with different recharge KFS account numbers or for two PIs, he/she must sign up for two IMRI user accounts. For each experimental session, the user should only use one account and make sure that the account information for reservation and logbook is consistent.
4. Users must start their sessions on time by filling out the logbook and enabling the instrument. If the user who reserved the instrument is more than 0.5 late for their session, the reservation is forfeit and another user may take over the session. An unused instrument fee will be applied if the reserved session does not start on time. If the instrument is occupied by the last user, the current user has the right to urge the last user to end his/her session immediately. Please report to IMRI staff if anyone prevents you from using your reserved time. If you cannot find IMRI staff during off-peak hours, you may call the director of IMRI facilities at 949-468-9980. At the beginning of a session, please check the logbook and make sure that the instrument is in good working condition. At the beginning of each session, users must clearly fill out the logbook with their printed name (not a signature), valid account number (for UC users), or organization name (other users) and activate the control system of the right session (login at the link of IMRI facility management system and enable your correct session of the reserved instrument by clicking the control machine and then enable).
5. Users should finish their sessions within their reserved time and properly log off or sign out. Users may continue to use an instrument beyond their reserved time only if no other users have reserved the instrument immediately afterward. If a user wants to use the next user’s reserved time even for a few minutes, he/she must get permission from the next user. It is prohibited to leave samples in an instrument when the instrument is not being used. Users must record in the logbook and email or speak with staff about any incident that occurs during their session.
6. Magnetic materials can contaminate the columns of our electron microscopes. Magnetic powders are especially dangerous. Users must obtain special permission and training from IMRI staff before loading any magnetic material into an electron microscope (SEM or TEM). IMRI staff will examine the sample in advance to gauge the risk and may refuse to allow the sample into the instrument.
7. Users must follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) and all staff instructions when using an instrument. Please leave a note in the logbook if you encounter a problem, call the staff in charge if you cannot solve it, and email the staff with a summary of the issue. Users and their PIs are responsible for the repair cost if users cause damage to an instrument.
8. Users must respect each other. If there is any issue between users, the users should report it to IMRI staff and solve the issue with the help of IMRI staff.
9. After using an instrument, users must leave the instrument in good condition and make the area tidy and clean.
10. Users should save their data in the assigned space/disk and transfer their data to their storage space when finishing their experiments. Please note that the data may be saved in IMRI PC/server only for TWO weeks. Any data older than two weeks may be deleted without further notice. USB drives and user hard drives are not allowed to be connected to any IMRI facility instrument or IMRI PC. In CTEM, users should upload their data to the IMRI data server and download the data from the server to their local storage site using Filezilla (the SOP is posted on the desktop of the workstation in 1150 EH). For other facilities, UCI-related Google Drive can be used to transfer data. Please be aware that Google will change the service and price model for the education institutes and eliminate the unlimited storage space in June 2022. Users may contact the UCI OIT help desk (4-2222) for further assistance. It is strongly advised that users should save at least two copies of their data. IMRI is not responsible for users’ data safety.
11. Users are prohibited from using instrument computers to check their email or connect to outside websites without permission from IMRI staff.
12. Users can only use their own accounts to access an instrument. It is forbidden to use another user’s account or let other users use your account.
13. The main computer monitor of the instrument should be dark when users start a session. If it is lit, then the last user may have forgotten to disable the system. In that case, users should contact the appropriate IMRI staff member to disable the control system before beginning their session. Users may then log in to enable the control system. If a user uses the instrument without enabling the instrument properly while the last user did not log off, the user’s computer usage records could be indicated as a no-show and the user may be charged fully for the reserved time.
14. Users are prohibited from installing any software on IMRI computers or using any non-IMRI sample holder or accessory without prior IMRI staff approval.

Special policies for some instruments:

JEOL Grand ARM TEM

Reservation policy:

1. Regular work hours:
   -limit of total reservation hours: 8 hours for external and 16 hours for UCI users
   -Exception 2 to the policy: If the instrument is available for less than 3 days, anybody can book even if the user already booked the maximum hours.
2. Off-peak hours between 8 pm to 12 am (only 24/7 users):
   -limit of total reservation hours: 8 hours for external and 16 hours for UCI users
   -Exception 2 to the policy: If the instrument is available for less than 3 days, anybody can book even if the user already booked the maximum hours.
3. Off-peak hours between 12 am to 8 am (only 24/7 users):
   -Currently, the time between 12 am to 8 am is not well utilized. 24/7 users may reserve the microscope during this period with no maximum time limit. However, the reservation should not be made more than 5 weeks in advance of the session.
4. Limit on advance reservations:
   -UCI users can reserve time up to 5 weeks in advance
   -External users can reserve time up to 3 weeks in advance

Magellan SEM:

1. Magellan users may reserve the instrument three weeks in advance. Any reservation reserved more than 3 weeks in advance is not allowed and may be deleted without notice.
2. The maximum reservation time for daytime (9 am-5 pm) of one week (starting from the 3rd day) is 5hrs for one user.
3. The maximum reservation time for one week (starting from the 3rd day) is 8hrs for one person.
4. Users can reserve as much time as they like within 48 hrs which starts from the time when the user places the reservation.

FEI Quanta 3D:

1. Basic SEM training is required before getting training for FIB, EDS, EBSD, ESEM, and TEM/FIB sample preparation. Users may apply to get 24/7 access to the instrument after using SEM for more than 10hrs and passing the SEM competency test. Please e-mail Dr. Tran to arrange for a test.
2. Please write down your full name and the instrument function you use on the reservation calendar.
3. CaSTL groups have priority to reserve Wed (9 am-5 pm), but if Wed time slots are still open on Tuesday, other users may reserve them.
4. Reservations should not be more than 2 weeks in advance. Each user is limited to reserve 3hrs per day and 6hrs per week during normal working time (9 am-5 pm).
5. Skillful users are encouraged to reserve sessions during the off-peak time (8 pm-8 am) and on weekends at a reduced rate.
6. For long experiments (more than 3 hours), such as TEM-Prep: Please consider reserving one day-time session that can extend unlimitedly to off-hour time (early in the morning or at the end of the day).
7. Users should never change the reservation records. Any violation may make their accounts disabled.
8. For Omni probe users: Please indicate “Omni Probe use” in the “Summary” box of the reservation form and in the logbook with a note on the status of the Omni probe needle before and after use. Users will be charged for the replacement of the damaged Omni probe needle (consumable and staff time).
9. For FIB users: The standby status of FIB is set to sleep. You need to press the wake-up button to get the ion beam. It may take a few minutes to see that the beam-on button is yellow. After using the FIB, please press the sleep button to put it to sleep. The liquid ion source is very expensive, the new rule enables us to monitor the real use of the ion source and save it.

Tescan GAIA3 SEM/FIB:

1. This instrument is optimized for FIB and TEM specimen preparation which normally takes a long time to finish. The reservation time should start at 9 am in the morning or 1 pm in the afternoon to avoid wasting machine time.
2. 24/7 users should try to reserve off-peak hours
3. Users should record instrument status with some parameters in a special logbook besides the usage logbook.
4. Reservations cannot be made more than 5 weeks in advance.
5. Please contact Dr. Zheng for any issues

Simpleware software:

1. To get access to the software, you need to sign up in a Google file and inform Dr. Zheng
2. At one time, only one user can use the software. So users must reserve the software time before using it within the reserved time.
3. A user must enable the reserved session before using the software license and the software and disable the session by the end of the session.
4. In one week, one user is allowed only for 8hrs during the daytime (9 am-5 pm) and 8 hrs during other times (5 pm-9 am). If there are any empty slots in the recent 48 hrs, any users may reserve these slots without any limitation even though the user reserves the software for 16 hrs from the 3rd day.
5. If a user violates the rules, he/she may be banned for a certain time (two weeks to two months) depending on the problem caused by the violation.

JEOL 2100 TEM:

1. We would like to emphasize that inserting an OL aperture always has a risk of the aperture blade hitting a holder, especially a third vendor holder such as Gatan being used. JEOL holders have software safety when a holder is tilted more than a limit, the OL aperture does not go in, but the safety does not work for others, such as Gatan holders. Please be aware of this risk when using OL aperture.
2. We recommend using an HC aperture instead. The HC aperture goes in under the pole piece gap. It is safe to use at any time and with any holder.
3. Also, the OL aperture needs to be open during sample exchange. Remember to remove the OL aperture before taking the TEM holder out.
4. Please save your images on this disk (E:) instead of the system disk (C:).  The disk E is a 1TB disk installed on 2100F for data storage.

2100F TEM reservation rules:

1. A user can reserve up to 8 hours per week in on-peak hours and an additional 8 hours in off-peak hours.
2. Exception 1 to the policy: if someone has an urgent project that needs results quickly, the user can get pre-approved by IMRI and make additional reservations.
3. Exception 2 to the policy: if the session becomes available in 7 days, it is no longer limited by the 8-hours rule. Anyone can take the session even if the user already booked the maximum hours.
4. Reservations cannot be made more than 5 weeks in advance.

JEOL 2800 TEM rules:

1. A user can reserve up to 8 hours at one time during regular hours and an additional 8 hours in the after-hours between 6 pm to 12 am in advance within 5 weeks.
2. 24/7 users may reserve the microscopy between 12 am to 8 am without a time limit.
3. Exception 1 to the policy: if someone has an urgent project that needs results quickly, the user can get pre-approved by IMRI and make additional reservations.
4. Exception 2 to the policy: if the scope is available for less than 3 days, anybody can book even if the user already booked the maximum hours.
5. Reservations cannot be made more than 5 weeks ahead of time.
6. Also in case of a last-minute cancellation, anybody can take the slot.
7. All users must plasma-clean their sample. If your samples do not withstand plasma, please talk to IMRI staff and get approval first. The holder must be cleaned with a plasma cleaner.
8. The vacuum must be better than 2.5 × 10^-5 Pa before you open the beam valve.  All users must follow this rule, with no exceptions.
9. If the chamber pressure does not drop below 2.5 × 10^-5 Pa within 5 minutes after a holder is inserted, the first O-ring could be dirty. Please take out the holder and inspect the O-ring. If this persists, you must stop your session and consult with IMRI staff.

We emphasize that the first O-ring must be cleaned thoroughly by our standard and it should happen after a plasma cleaning and right before you insert a holder. Use a pair of round-tipped tweezers to pick up fibers. Be gentle and do not scratch the O-ring. Every time you pick up something, clean the tweezer’s tip with clean lens tissue paper.

Safety is the top priority of IMRI facilities. This includes your personal safety and instrument safety.  You must receive EHS lab safety fundamental training, on-site safety training, and other necessary safety training before using IMRI facilities. You must wear proper PPE before using any instrument. You should not use the IMRI facility when you are sick.

For personal safety:
Please read the UCI safety-related documents on the EHS website and the safety training related link
You must receive safety training before entering the facilities.

For instrument safety:
Please follow the instrument SOP and instructions of IMRI staff.

IMRI facilities are open to all authorized users including those from the University of California campuses, outside academic institutions, as well as industrial organizations.

All users must receive instrument-specific training in order to gain access to the instrument and reservation system.  Only designated IMRI staff may train users.

Training is categorized according to the functions of an instrument. Basic operation is required before advanced training. The training has a fixed fee or reduced rate (see rates).

Before training, each prospective user must create a user recharge account, sign up on the training waiting lists, and complete other necessary paperwork. The detailed procedures are listed on the page, namely, to become a user.

Before operation training, online EHS safety training (lab safety fundamentals) is required for all instrument operators.

In addition, special safety training may be needed from UCI EH&S on radiation safety, chemical safety, and electrical safety, etc. For example, you must receive a safety badge from EH&S before using XRD machines. To receive the radiation safety training and badge, please contact Dr. Lin. To determine what kind of safety training you need, please visit the EH&S website (link). More safety-related issues are listed in the lab safety section.

Normally, users will be contacted for training within 4 weeks of signing up on the waiting list. Group training will be scheduled when three users are on the waiting lists. Following the group training, users can start to reserve the instrument and use it during the daytime with technical assistance from IMRI staff and assistants/superusers. For their first independent operation of the instrument, users may contact IMRI staff or lab assistants/superusers to reserve 1:1 assistance. After 10 hrs of independent operation of an instrument, users may apply for a competent test to obtain a 24 hrs/7 days operation permit.

Under urgent needs, a special training session may be arranged quickly. Users who have rich experience with an instrument may contact IMRI staff for a flexible training arrangement and IMRI staff may determine how to train these experienced users on a case-by-case basis in order to get them on the instrument quickly.

Please contact Dr. Jian-Guo Zheng for any general questions about operation training.

*****Users may not train other users without IMRI staff permission*****

IMRI facilities staff can collaborate with internal or external researchers who require the expertise of the staff. For collaborative work, the regular IMRI instrument time and staff time for data acquisition and analysis still need to be paid with a user account set up at IMRI.

Key or keycard access is needed for IMRI facilities as doors may not always be left open.

For the IMRI facilities in the Calit2 building, please fill out this Keycard Request Form and email it, together with your certificate of Laboratory Safety Fundamentals training obtained from your UC Learning Center account, to Calit2 Facilities Manager Ryan Smith (sryan@uci.edu) and Dr. Zheng.  Calit2 Facilities Manager Ryan Smith’s office is room 3411 Calit2 building. He will contact you when the card is ready to be picked up. There is a $15 deposit required at that time.

For the IMRI facilities in Engineering Hall, please follow the same procedure as indicated above for the Calit2 building.

For MC2 users: Obtain a Key Application Form from the front desk in Engineering Tower (ET), room 916. Complete it, indicating that you are requesting access to ET room 140. Email it to Dr. Zheng. There is a $15 deposit required.

External users ( other than UC users) need to fill out the External user agreement and email them to Dr. Zheng. The agreement template can be found in the section “Become A User”.