A unique infrastructure for groundbreaking materials research has recently been installed at AMOLF located at the Amsterdam Science Park: the new Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). This super microscope allows researchers to observe materials in action at the atomic scale under the influence of light—a world first that accelerates both scientific and technological innovation. The facility is explicitly open to external users—from universities to corporate R&D teams – with priority given to Dutch users.
Erik Garnett, Group leader, Nanoscale Solar Cells “With our new TEM, we can finally see what really happens during operation—for example, when light hits a solar cell or a catalyst is activated. ”
In traditional electron microscopes, materials are observed in a static state. The TEM at AMOLF goes a step further: it can combine electrons with light and measure this with high temporal resolution. Thanks to a fast detector and being able to produce short electron pulses, researchers can precisely observe how materials behave under realistic conditions such as sunlight or heat with nanosecond resolution—crucial for sustainable technology applications.
The TEM’s capabilities are relevant to many research fields and industries, for example:
These insights aid in designing more efficient, sustainable materials.
The TEM is a joint initiative by a strong consortium:
· AMOLF (coordination & expertise)
· ARCNL
· University of Amsterdam (IoP)
· Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
The facility is explicitly open to external users—from universities to corporate R&D teams—with priority given to Dutch users.
Want to make use of this unique research facility? Follow these steps:
The advanced microscope at AMOLF offers a rare opportunity to innovate at the atomic level. Interested in measurements or collaboration? Contact AMOLF: support.nanolab@amolf.nl
Looking for partners to collaborate. Or looking for a certain expertise? Or would you like to locate your business in the Amsterdam Science Park? Drop us a line and we help you to find a perfect match.
Subscribe to our LinkedIn-newsletter and we will keep you updated on all that our park has to offer. It will arrive to your inbox five times a year and you can unsubscribe easily at any time.
Subscribe