RCAS: Core Facilities

Overview

The core facilities in Research Center of Applied Sciences (RCAS) provide assistances for the researchers to conduct various experiments in bio-image detection, material surface analysis, components structure production and micro sample fabrication.

All instruments are located on 6th, 4th and B2 floors in Interdisciplinary Research Building for Science and Technology (IRBST). Furthermore, several public laboratories on 6th, 4th and B2 floors in IRBST are established for our members to do researches in fabrication, imaging, cell and protein.

The RCAS core facilities can be divided into three categories by features: Microscope, Materials Analysis, Micro Fabrication.

Information of Core Facilities

In addition to routine maintenance every year,
we would upgrade the facilities and improve the laboratory configuration.
Moreover, we have suitable plan and management for every lab and instrument in safety considerations of research.

Type	Instruments	Features	Brand Model	Location
Microscope	MINFLUX localization microscopy INTRO	Cell imaging analysis	Abberior	IRBST 6B06
	Laser scanning Confocal Spectral Microscope	Bio and fluorescent sample detection	Leica TCS-SP5	IRBST 4B20
	Atomic force microscope	Bio materials and nano components detection	JPK Nano Wizard II & III	IRBST B2C01
	High resolution Raman microscope	Fluorescence and crystallization analysis	Jobin Yvon HR800	IRBST 6B08
	Field emission scanning electron microscop	Analysis of surface morphology and elemental analysis	Nova 200 NPE 44/D8187	IRBST 4C05
Materials Analysis	X-ray photo-electron spectroscope	Surface and Depth Analysis of Elementals	ULVAC-PHI PHI-5000 Versaprobe	IRBST 4C05
	Scanning Ion Microscope	Surface and Depth Analysis of Molecules and Atoms	ULVAC-PAI TRIFTV	IRBST 4C05
	Time-resolved confocal microscope for single molecule spectrometer	Multi-Channel time resolve spectroscopy	PicoQuant Micro Time 2000	IRBST 6B10
	Color 3D Laser Scanning Microscope	Surface profile and roughness detection	Keyence VK9710K S/N 2190011	IRBST 4C01
	Benchtop maskless lithography system	Structure production of photoresist on components	ML3 Mesa direct writer	IRBST B2C02
Micro Fabrication	EBL ELS BODEN-100 INTRO	Nano Structure Fabrication	ELIONIX	IRBST 4B19
	Specimen Preparation Equipment	Thin-film growth and etching	Gated Sted SKE104005	IRBST 6A02
	Focus Ion Beam	Stucture production of nano components	FEI NanoLab660	IRBST 4B19
	Inductively Coupled Plasma etching system	Dry and wet etching of nano components	OXFORD ICP65	IRBST B2C02

MINFLUX (MINimal photon FLUXes) is an innovative fluorescence microscopy technique developed by the team of Nobel Laureate Professor Stefan W. Hell. It combines the advantages of Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy and Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM) to achieve an unprecedented breakthrough in spatial localization precision in optical microscopy.

MINFLUX allows for nanometer-scale localization accuracy using only a minimal number of excitation photons, significantly reducing phototoxicity and photobleaching. Since localization does not require prolonged signal accumulation, it enables fast and dynamic single-molecule tracking.

Key Features:

Spatial localization precision: < 3 nm in 2D, < 5 nm in 3D.
Single-molecule dynamic tracking: < 100 µs per point, suitable for observing biomolecular dynamics.
Extremely low phototoxicity and photobleaching, ideal for live-cell imaging.
Supports 3D imaging and dual-color experiments (with two MINFLUX lasers: 560 nm & 640 nm).

Usage

Self-operation
Accompanied operation

Charge standard

※minimum training times: three times, six hours
	National academic institutions	National non-academic institutions	International academic institutions
Self-operation	NTD 1,000/h	-	USD 40/h
Accompanied operation	NTD 2,000/h	NTD 4,000/h	USD 80/h
Education and training	NTD 2,000/h	NTD 4,000/h	USD 80/h

Application process

Pass the laboratory safety education for new colleagues of the Academia Sinica.
Read the introduction, application process and management methods by yourself.
After submitting the application form, the administrator will conduct machine training.
Only after passing the assessment can you get access control and machine permissions; those who fail can apply for re-assessment one month later.

Related file downloads

Usage regulations Application form

Reservation

Contact: Mr. Di-yen Chueh

Mail ken6552as.edu.tw

call 02-27873219

Manager: Dr. Shu-Yi Hsieh

Mail shuyihsiehas.edu.tw

call 02-27873147

If you have research results produced using MINFLUX managed by this center, please add a note in the paper: The MINFLUX imaging was supported by Research Center for Critical Issues (RCCI).

Reservation

Reservation Rules

All instrument usage requires prior reservation.
Cancellations must be made before the reserved time. For XPS and ToF-SIMS, which require longer preparation and operation times, reservations must be canceled three days in advance.
If the reserved time is exceeded by 15 minutes without usage, other users may utilize the instrument with permission from the facility manager, and the original reservation holder is still liable for the instrument usage fee.
Unauthorized use of instruments or failure to cancel reservations as specified results in a one-month suspension and notification to the advisor. Three violations of this rule lead to permanent suspension.
The facility manager reserves the right to flexibly adjust reservation arrangements based on actual needs.

General Management Rules

Users have to have a valid account in the "Principal Investigator Budget Management System" of Academia Sinica. The usage fee will be deducted through the transfer mechanism in each March and September. If the usage fee is not paid in full, the access privilege will be suspended. In this case, administrators can require the used to pre-paid the same amount of pervious usage fee before reinstate the access privilege.
All the instruments are open to qualified users in the manner of self-service. There is no operator and no full-service available. Qualified users can train new users as needed and these new users can become qualified users after qualified by administrators. If trainings from administrators are needed, the usage fee will be doubled during the training sessions.
If the user did not respect rules or damage the instrument due to misusage, user has to pay for the repair in full. Furthermore, before the instrument is repaired, the user has to pay for the usage fee of all the operation session available.
Users from Academia Sinica, AS Nano-Project, and RCAS can receive discounts of 30%, 50%, and 70% off, respectively.
Toxic chemicals (as defined by EPA and regardless if it is under controlled by EPA), volatile, radio-active, explosive, and biological-active substances are prohibited. Based the requirement of each instrument, administrators can disallow additional types of samples like (include, but not limited by) magnetic, powder, etc. If these substances are used without special permission, the user and the related research group will be banned permanently.

Application Reservation

Reservation Rules

General Management Rules

Lattice light sheet microscope

Scanning Ion Microscope

Focus Ion Beam