An electron microscope that distinguishes individual atoms appeared at the British National Laboratory SuperSTEM
Nion Hermes Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope costs £ 3.7 million ($ 5.5 million) and allows you to see objects a million times smaller than a human hair. The main focus of the electron microscope is that instead of a photon beam, like ordinary light microscopes, it uses an electron beam. The wavelength of the electrons is shorter, which makes it possible to obtain a larger increase with better resolution.
As for the scope of such a device, it is extensive. Take, for starters, electrical engineering. Everyone prefers compact wearable devices. Our gadgets are getting smaller day by day. To create them, transistors, semiconductors and other details are necessary, but in order to create such miniature products, you must be able to operate with materials at the atomic level. Indeed, if an extra atom is added to the structure of, for example, graphene, a two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms, the material itself will change! Therefore, a special atomic control is required that preserves the integrity of the material.
Scientists in the SuperSTEM laboratory are developing their project with molybdenum disulfide. This is another 2D material, like graphene. It is used as an industrial catalyst, for example, to remove sulfur from fossil fuels. The Danish chemical company Haldor Topsoe uses electron microscopes to study how the rearrangement of molybdenum disulfide atoms can affect its catalytic properties.
Super microscope is also in demand in nanomedicine. Using it, you can check how securely the drug molecule is attached to a nanoparticle that acts as a drug transport.
And also, with its help it is possible to consider crystalline structures of meteorite dust particles. Although, all this is just a good start for the future.
As for the scope of such a device, it is extensive. Take, for starters, electrical engineering. Everyone prefers compact wearable devices. Our gadgets are getting smaller day by day. To create them, transistors, semiconductors and other details are necessary, but in order to create such miniature products, you must be able to operate with materials at the atomic level. Indeed, if an extra atom is added to the structure of, for example, graphene, a two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms, the material itself will change! Therefore, a special atomic control is required that preserves the integrity of the material.
Scientists in the SuperSTEM laboratory are developing their project with molybdenum disulfide. This is another 2D material, like graphene. It is used as an industrial catalyst, for example, to remove sulfur from fossil fuels. The Danish chemical company Haldor Topsoe uses electron microscopes to study how the rearrangement of molybdenum disulfide atoms can affect its catalytic properties.
Super microscope is also in demand in nanomedicine. Using it, you can check how securely the drug molecule is attached to a nanoparticle that acts as a drug transport.
And also, with its help it is possible to consider crystalline structures of meteorite dust particles. Although, all this is just a good start for the future.
