LONDON: British scientists have invented a new super-powerful electron microscope that can examine objects a million times smaller than a human hair.
The £3.7m device dubbed Super STEM 3 can pinpoint the position of single atoms and will help scientists push boundaries even further in fields such as advanced materials, healthcare and power generation.
It was unveiled on Thursday by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). SuperSTEM is supported by a network of collaborating Universities: Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford.
The Nion Hermes Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope not only allows imaging of unprecedented resolution of objects a million times smaller than a human hair but also analysis of materials. This means that researchers will not only be able to clearly identify the atoms but observe the strength of the bonds between them. This will improve understanding of their electronic properties when in bulk and how they may perform when used.
Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark, said, “The UK is a world leader in the development and application of STEM (Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope) techniques, and this new super-powerful microscope will ensure we remain world-class. From developing new materials for space travel to creating a better, cheaper treatment for anaemia, this new super-powerful microscope lets UK scientists examine how materials behave at a level a million times smaller than a human hair. This exciting research will help lead to breakthroughs that will benefit not only our health but the environment too.”
