Structural and chemical characterizations of materials down to atomic scale become essential to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing their modes of formation and their properties of use. 7 academic labs and 2 companies from different areas of research (semiconductors, metallurgy, mineralogy, archeology…), led by CRHEA, have conducted the ACT-M (advanced characterization technics for materials) project for the acquisition of a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Thanks to CNRS, Côte d’Azur University (UCA), région Sud, IMRA Europe Company and European funding’s, an up-to-date Thermo Fishers Spectra 200 has been acquired. Its installation began July 5, 2021. It will be fully operational in November 2021. This STEM is fitted with a probe corrector resulting to a spatial resolution of 70pm allowing atomic scale imaging. Highly sensitive energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX) will be possible thanks two large detectors (solid angle 1.8sr). A nanobeam electron diffraction module completes the configuration for phase and orientation mapping. ACT-M STEM, at the cutting edge of technology, will allow researchers and engineers from UCA area and further to compete in the very challenging field of material research.
ZnMgO/ZnO superlattice with its corresponding
EDX chemical map
Contact ?
- For any question about the ACT-M project: Philippe Vennéguès
- See the website of the ACT-M project...
