SuperSTEM lab to take on national role Facility to become centre for advanced electron microscopy
DARESBURY’S SuperSTEM Laboratory is to become the national centre for advanced electron microscopy examining substances at the same scale as one millionth of a human hair.
The coup was achieved after the Engineering And Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) issued a grant of more than £7m.
Scientists now hope to replicate the success of the discovery of the graphene, which is made from carbon but is ultra-strong and flexible.
A spokeswoman for SciTech Daresbury said the site’s electon microscope is so sophisticated it can count the 750,000 atoms that cover the width of a human hair.
Used by industrial and academic researchers from around the UK and abroad, the device studies the structure and chemistry of objects a millionth of the width of a human hair, to advance then development and understanding of advanced materials.
The spokeswoman said the technology is particularly applicable to materials science and power generation, as well as in health and environmental research.
SuperSTEM has been open since 2001 and its latest microscope, ‘SuperSTEM 3’ was installed in 2015.
Jo Johnson, science minister, said: “Thanks to this funding boost, the UK will continue to be home to valuable research that will help industries across the world develop more advanced materials that could go on to replicate the success of graphene.
“Through our new industrial strategy and additional investment of £2.3bn for research and development, we are laying the foundations and working with industry to ensure the UK remains at the forefront on innovation for years to come.”
Professor Quentin Ramasse, SuperSTEM director, The University Of Leeds’s and chairman of advanced electron microscopy, said: “Challenges faced by society today, such as the development of new energy sources, or the provision of better healthcare and sustainability, all rely on the development of new materials, and SuperSTEM is enabling researchers to answer these challenges.
“We are thrilled at the EPSRC’s ongoing support of SuperSTEM.
“The funding enables us to provide continued access to technology that is not normally available to researchers, and which is free at the point of access.
“We are also now in a position to upgrade a number of our key instruments, and particularly to upgrade our specialist facilities for preparing and finishing samples.” ●