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Materials Science
Materials Science Research
Materials science research with electron microscopy for the development of novel materials at the micro- and nanoscale.
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Advanced materials
Countless technical innovations are directly or indirectly linked to novel materials. To fuel continued innovation, researchers want to deepen their understanding of the physical and chemical properties of materials (morphological, structural, magnetic, thermal, and mechanical) at macro-, micro-, and nanoscales.
There are many reasons to understand and improve the properties of materials, thereby increasing their utility and value. Strength, ductility, density, corrosion resistance, and electrical conductance are just a few of the properties that can be vital for enhanced or even entirely new applications of a material.
Polymer materials and catalysts
In the fields of polymer and catalysis research, chemists and chemical engineers want to better understand the relationships between material structure and function at the micro- and nanometer scales. Their discoveries lead to new materials systems with targeted functionality, longer active lifetimes, lower replacement costs, improved strength, and better manufacturability.
The exciting field of nanodevices is focused on developing miniaturized technology with unique functionality for electronic, magnetic, mechanical, and optical systems. Sensors, actuators, and microfluidic devices are all in high demand to help solve global energy, communications, and critical monitoring challenges.
Materials science research
As scientists expand their knowledge of material structures, they also want to understand how materials behave in response to light, temperature, pressure, and other stimuli. Additionally, two-dimensional observations do not always yield answers in a three-dimensional world. Imaging, analysis, and materials characterization must therefore deliver real-world visibility by generating information in 3D under a variety of environmental conditions.
It is clear that innovative materials play essential roles in safety, clean energy, transportation, human health, and industrial productivity. Whether exploring alternative energy sources or developing stronger, lighter materials and sophisticated nanodevices, Thermo Fisher Scientific provides a broad range of spectroscopy and electron microscopy tools for the fundamental research and development of new materials.
Paint adhesion analyzed with EM. Scratch-testing in a paint layer on steel is used to determine total depth of the scratch and any delamination effects on the adhesion layer.
Photonic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), comprised of NaYF4, imaged with SEM. UCNPs are used in a variety of biomedical applications, including: as imaging contrast labels in cellulo, in vivo, and ex vivo, as biosensors for detection of antibiotics and toxins in food, as biosensors to measure biomarkers in biological fluids (e.g. whole blood, serum, urine), and as therapeutic agents against targets such as cancer cells.
NiTiZr shape-memory alloy imaged with high-resolution bright-field STEM. This material is a lightweight, solid-state alternative to conventional actuators such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and motor-based systems.
Paint adhesion analyzed with EM. Scratch-testing in a paint layer on steel is used to determine total depth of the scratch and any delamination effects on the adhesion layer.
Photonic upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), comprised of NaYF4, imaged with SEM. UCNPs are used in a variety of biomedical applications, including: as imaging contrast labels in cellulo, in vivo, and ex vivo, as biosensors for detection of antibiotics and toxins in food, as biosensors to measure biomarkers in biological fluids (e.g. whole blood, serum, urine), and as therapeutic agents against targets such as cancer cells.
NiTiZr shape-memory alloy imaged with high-resolution bright-field STEM. This material is a lightweight, solid-state alternative to conventional actuators such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and motor-based systems.
Battery Research
Battery development is enabled by multi-scale analysis with microCT, SEM and TEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and digital 3D visualization and analysis. Learn how this approach provides the structural and chemical information needed to build better batteries.
Polymers Research
Polymer microstructure dictates the material’s bulk characteristics and performance. Electron microscopy enables comprehensive microscale analysis of polymer morphology and composition for R&D and quality control applications.
Metals Research
Effective production of metals requires precise control of inclusions and precipitates. Our automated tools can perform a variety of tasks critical for metal analysis including; nanoparticle counting, EDS chemical analysis and TEM sample preparation.
Catalysis Research
Catalysts are critical for a majority of modern industrial processes. Their efficiency depends on the microscopic composition and morphology of the catalytic particles; EM with EDS is ideally suited for studying these properties.
2D Materials
Novel materials research is increasingly interested in the structure of low-dimensional materials. Scanning transmission electron microscopy with probe correction and monochromation allows for high-resolution two-dimensional materials imaging.
Nanoparticles
Materials have fundamentally different properties at the nanoscale than at the macroscale. To study them, S/TEM instrumentation can be combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to obtain nanometer, or even sub-nanometer, resolution data.
Automotive Materials Testing
Every component in a modern vehicle is designed for safety, efficiency, and performance. Detailed characterization of automotive materials with electron microscopy and spectroscopy informs critical process decisions, product improvements, and new materials.
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(S)TEM Sample Preparation
DualBeam microscopes enable the preparation of high-quality, ultra-thin samples for (S)TEM analysis. Thanks to advanced automation, users with any experience level can obtain expert-level results for a wide range of materials.
3D Materials Characterization
Development of materials often requires multi-scale 3D characterization. DualBeam instruments enable serial sectioning of large volumes and subsequent SEM imaging at nanometer scale, which can be processed into high-quality 3D reconstructions of the sample.
Nanoscale Prototyping
As technology continues to miniaturize, the demand for nanoscale devices and structures is ever increasing. 3D nanoprototyping with DualBeam instruments helps you to quickly design, create, and inspect micro- and nanoscale functional prototypes.
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EDS Elemental Analysis
Thermo Scientific Phenom Elemental Mapping Software provides fast and reliable information on the distribution of chemical elements within a sample.
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3D EDS Tomography
Modern materials research is increasingly reliant on nanoscale analysis in three dimensions. 3D characterization, including compositional data for full chemical and structural context, is possible with 3D EM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Atomic-Scale Elemental Mapping with EDS
Atomic-resolution EDS provides unparalleled chemical context for materials analysis by differentiating the elemental identity of individual atoms. When combined with high-resolution TEM, it is possible to observe the precise organization of atoms in a sample.
EDS Analysis with ChemiSEM Technology
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for materials characterization.
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Imaging using HRSTEM and HRTEM
Transmission electron microscopy is invaluable for characterizing the structure of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. High-resolution STEM and TEM enable atomic-resolution data along with information on chemical composition.
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Differential Phase Contrast Imaging
Modern electronics research relies on nanoscale analysis of electric and magnetic properties. Differential phase contrast STEM (DPC-STEM) can image the strength and distribution of magnetic fields in a sample and display the magnetic domain structure.
Imaging Hot Samples
Studying materials in real-world conditions often involves working at high temperatures. The behavior of materials as they recrystallize, melt, deform, or react in the presence of heat can be studied in situ with scanning electron microscopy or DualBeam tools.
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Environmental SEM (ESEM)
Environmental SEM allows materials to be imaged in their native state. This is ideally suited for academic and industrial researchers who need to test and analyze samples that are wet, dirty, reactive, outgassing or otherwise not vacuum compatible.
Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy
Materials science research benefits from high-resolution EELS for a wide range of analytical applications. This includes high-throughput, high signal-to-noise-ratio elemental mapping, as well as probing of oxidation states and surface phonons.
Cross-sectioning
Cross sectioning provides extra insight by revealing sub-surface information. DualBeam instruments feature superior focused ion beam columns for high-quality cross sectioning. With automation, unattended high-throughput processing of samples is possible.
In Situ experimentation
Direct, real-time observation of microstructural changes with electron microscopy is necessary to understand the underlying principles of dynamic processes such as recrystallization, grain growth, and phase transformation during heating, cooling, and wetting.
Particle analysis
Particle analysis plays a vital role in nanomaterials research and quality control. The nanometer-scale resolution and superior imaging of electron microscopy can be combined with specialized software for rapid characterization of powders and particles.
Cathodoluminescence
Cathodoluminescence (CL) describes the emission of light from a material when it is excited by an electron beam. This signal, captured by a specialized CL detector, carries information on the sample’s composition, crystal defects, or photonic properties.
SIMS
The TOF-SIMS (time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) detector for focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tools enables high-resolution analytical characterization of all elements in the periodic table, even at low concentrations.
Multi-scale analysis
Novel materials must be analyzed at ever higher resolution while retaining the larger context of the sample. Multi-scale analysis allows for the correlation of various imaging tools and modalities such as X-ray microCT, DualBeam, Laser PFIB, SEM and TEM.
APT Sample Preparation
Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.
(S)TEM Sample Preparation
DualBeam microscopes enable the preparation of high-quality, ultra-thin samples for (S)TEM analysis. Thanks to advanced automation, users with any experience level can obtain expert-level results for a wide range of materials.
3D Materials Characterization
Development of materials often requires multi-scale 3D characterization. DualBeam instruments enable serial sectioning of large volumes and subsequent SEM imaging at nanometer scale, which can be processed into high-quality 3D reconstructions of the sample.
Nanoscale Prototyping
As technology continues to miniaturize, the demand for nanoscale devices and structures is ever increasing. 3D nanoprototyping with DualBeam instruments helps you to quickly design, create, and inspect micro- and nanoscale functional prototypes.
EDS Elemental Analysis
Thermo Scientific Phenom Elemental Mapping Software provides fast and reliable information on the distribution of chemical elements within a sample.
3D EDS Tomography
Modern materials research is increasingly reliant on nanoscale analysis in three dimensions. 3D characterization, including compositional data for full chemical and structural context, is possible with 3D EM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Atomic-Scale Elemental Mapping with EDS
Atomic-resolution EDS provides unparalleled chemical context for materials analysis by differentiating the elemental identity of individual atoms. When combined with high-resolution TEM, it is possible to observe the precise organization of atoms in a sample.
EDS Analysis with ChemiSEM Technology
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for materials characterization.
Imaging using HRSTEM and HRTEM
Transmission electron microscopy is invaluable for characterizing the structure of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. High-resolution STEM and TEM enable atomic-resolution data along with information on chemical composition.
Differential Phase Contrast Imaging
Modern electronics research relies on nanoscale analysis of electric and magnetic properties. Differential phase contrast STEM (DPC-STEM) can image the strength and distribution of magnetic fields in a sample and display the magnetic domain structure.
Imaging Hot Samples
Studying materials in real-world conditions often involves working at high temperatures. The behavior of materials as they recrystallize, melt, deform, or react in the presence of heat can be studied in situ with scanning electron microscopy or DualBeam tools.
Environmental SEM (ESEM)
Environmental SEM allows materials to be imaged in their native state. This is ideally suited for academic and industrial researchers who need to test and analyze samples that are wet, dirty, reactive, outgassing or otherwise not vacuum compatible.
Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy
Materials science research benefits from high-resolution EELS for a wide range of analytical applications. This includes high-throughput, high signal-to-noise-ratio elemental mapping, as well as probing of oxidation states and surface phonons.
Cross-sectioning
Cross sectioning provides extra insight by revealing sub-surface information. DualBeam instruments feature superior focused ion beam columns for high-quality cross sectioning. With automation, unattended high-throughput processing of samples is possible.
In Situ experimentation
Direct, real-time observation of microstructural changes with electron microscopy is necessary to understand the underlying principles of dynamic processes such as recrystallization, grain growth, and phase transformation during heating, cooling, and wetting.
Particle analysis
Particle analysis plays a vital role in nanomaterials research and quality control. The nanometer-scale resolution and superior imaging of electron microscopy can be combined with specialized software for rapid characterization of powders and particles.
Cathodoluminescence
Cathodoluminescence (CL) describes the emission of light from a material when it is excited by an electron beam. This signal, captured by a specialized CL detector, carries information on the sample’s composition, crystal defects, or photonic properties.
SIMS
The TOF-SIMS (time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) detector for focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tools enables high-resolution analytical characterization of all elements in the periodic table, even at low concentrations.
Multi-scale analysis
Novel materials must be analyzed at ever higher resolution while retaining the larger context of the sample. Multi-scale analysis allows for the correlation of various imaging tools and modalities such as X-ray microCT, DualBeam, Laser PFIB, SEM and TEM.
APT Sample Preparation
Atom probe tomography (APT) provides atomic-resolution 3D compositional analysis of materials. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy is an essential technique for high-quality, orientation, and site-specific sample preparation for APT characterization.
The Automated NanoParticle Workflow (APW) is a transmission electron microscope workflow for nanoparticle analysis, offering large area, high resolution imaging and data acquisition at the nanoscale, with on-the-fly processing.
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