The Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS) provides the organization and infrastructure to make various materials characterization tools available for research, academia, and regional companies.
MaCS is complementary to the Boise State Center for Materials Characterization (BSCMC) that was established by the Idaho State Board of Education in August 2006 to provide a state-of-the-art characterization facility in order to attract more students into science and engineering careers, to improve science and engineering education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to foster leading research and interaction with local industry.
Collectively, MaCS and BSCMC provide the organization and infrastructure to make various materials characterization tools available for research, academia, and regional companies.
Staff and Contacts

Dr. Yaqiao Wu
MaCS Director & Instrument Lead, AML Lead
CAES Office: (208) 533-8112
Instruments:
Local Electrode Atom Probe (LEAP), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
Affiliated with:
Boise State University
*MaCS lab contact

Dr. Ching-Heng Shiau
Postdoctoral Researcher
CAES Office: (208) 533-8210
Instruments:
TEM, SEM
Affiliated with:
Boise State University
*MaCS lab contact

Dr. Yu Lu
Senior Research Associate, Instrument Lead
CAES Office: (208) 533-8160
Instruments:
FIB, LEAP, Nanoindenter and XRD
Affiliated with:
Boise State University
*MaCS lab contact

Jeremy Burgener
MaCS Business and Operations manager

Jana Howard
MaCS Research Associate

Sidharth (Sid) Sukumaran Nair
Research Associate, Sample Preparation Lead
sidharthsukumara@boisestate.edu
CAES Office: (208) 533-9326
Affiliated with:
Boise State University
*MaCS lab contact
Quick Facts
- MaCS has the capabilities to characterize a wide range of materials, including metals, semiconductors, ceramics, coal and minerals in bulk or powder forms, as well as some organic cellular materials.
- It can provide 2-D/3-D morphology, chemical information, and mechanical testing data from micron to atomic scale.
- Research includes analysis of nuclear fuels and materials, geological samples, feedstocks for biofuels, stainless steel alloys, ceramics and more.
- Lab Layout (click on image to enlarge):
Working in MaCS
MaCS Operating Envelope
Nonradioactive Samples
- Equipment: All imaging instruments and sample prep equipment may be used in MaCS for nonradioactive materials.
- All imaging and sample prep activities shall be performed in accordance with CAES Operating Procedures.
Radioactive Samples
Materials: Radioactive material requests are evaluated as they are made, with consideration given to 1) whether the cumulative CAES inventory limit will be exceeded and 2) changing the CAES operating envelope for radiological materials.
The current rad operating envelope includes depleted uranium, solid activated ceramics, and fixed radiation sources. Depleted uranium may be in solid forms. Fixed radiation sources include activated metals: solid, non-dispersible, smearably clean (i.e., considered to be free of removable radioactive contamination) samples of activated metal and solid ceramic materials that are prepared to minimize sample mass and have a gamma dose rate of less than 70 millirem per hour at 30 centimeters are generally acceptable for analysis and testing in CAES.
- Sample Receipt: Every effort should be made to send samples as clean as possible (i.e. minimize the removable contamination). The shipper must follow all applicable DOT shipping requirements, and inner containers including sample holders will be less than 7 dpm/100 cm2 alpha and 70 dpm/100 cm2 beta/gamma. If the measured activity levels of materials are not consistent with the types and levels specified in the shipping manifest and approved RPR13, if the sample containers are at all compromised, or the number of, or labeling of samples no not match the information provided by the researcher/shipper, the materials will be immediately returned to the shipper.
- Sample Preparation: Minor sample touch-up is the only sample prep activity allowed for radioactive samples. Touch-up shall be performed in accordance with CAES Operating Procedures, with each activity planned and approved on a project-by-project basis. Some nuclides may prove to be unacceptable for sample preparation until Phase 2. This reinforces the need to fully vet sample prep activities in the service request step of the process.
- Equipment: All imaging equipment may be used for radiological sample analysis.
Rates
Service | Internal Rate (A) | External Rate (B) | External (Commercial/Industry) Rate (C) |
---|---|---|---|
Materials Characterization (per hour) | $50 | $70 | $125 |
These rates are effective 7/31/2023
Brief Overview of MaCS Protocols and Training Requirements
Complete the following:
- CAES Facility Orientation
- Core Lab Training
- MaCS Specific Lab Training
- The Lab Lead walk through will be conducted before you begin working in MaCS by the Lab Lead or Alternate Designee.
The MaCS lab is a radiological laboratory, therefore radiological and non radiological MaCS workers must complete Idaho State University (ISU) radiological training.
Guidelines and Agreement for MaCS Usage
View the Guidelines and Agreement for MaCS.
Service Requests, Tracking System and Calendar
View the MaCS Calendar.
Equipment
Resources

MaCS Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour

Fact Sheet | MaCS
MaCS

CAES Lab Research FAQs
Lab Research FAQs

Equipment Standard Operating Procedure
ESOP Template

Readiness Verification
Readiness Verification Checklist

CAES-030 Project Plan
CAES-030 Project Plan Template
Publications, Papers, and Proceedings
Effects of Sintering Aides on Hydrothermal Corrosion Behavior of Si3N4 Ball Bearings
Presented at the 11th Annual Boise State University Undergraduate Research Conference
- April 21, 2014
Ferritic Oxide Dispersion Strengthen Alloys by Spark Plasma Sintering
J. Nucl. Mater
- Accepted 2014
Initial Kinetics of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys Consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering
143rd Annual TMS 2014 Conference
- February 16—20, 2014
Microstructural Stability of a Self-Ion Irradiated Lanthana-Bearing Nanostructured Ferritic Steel
J. Nucl. Mater., 465, 191-204
- 2015