{"id":151296,"date":"2026-03-03T11:59:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=151296"},"modified":"2026-03-13T13:12:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T17:12:27","slug":"ucfs-new-4m-electron-microscope-expands-research-access-across-campus-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucfs-new-4m-electron-microscope-expands-research-access-across-campus-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF\u2019s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus, Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today, UCF unveils a $4 million high-resolution transmission electron microscope, significantly expanding advanced materials research capabilities across the university and opening new opportunities for collaboration with industry partners throughout Florida.<\/p>\n

The Thermo Fisher Talos F200X analytical transmission electron microscope enables researchers \u2014 both at UCF and in industries across Florida<\/strong> \u2014 to observe and analyze materials at the atomic scale. Equipped with advanced nanoanalysis tools, the instrument allows direct observation of elemental, chemical, electrical and magnetic states, dramatically enhancing what scientists can measure and understand.<\/p>\n

The instrument will be housed in UCF\u2019s AMPAC Materials Characterization Facility (MCF), directed by Professor Jiyu Fang, and will operate as a shared university resource supporting interdisciplinary research and external partnerships.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new Thermo Fisher Talos F200X analytical transmission electron microscope will revolutionize materials science and engineering at the nanoscale,\u201d says Professor Sudipta Seal, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. \u201cIts advanced analytical capabilities will enable unprecedented insight into structure\u2013property relationships, accelerating innovation across next-generation semiconductors, quantum materials, space and hypersonic systems, and cutting-edge biomedical applications.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis instrument is a catalyst for discovery,\u201d says Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld. \u201cBy giving our researchers and students the ability to see and understand materials at the atomic scale, UCF is unlocking new pathways for innovation across energy, aerospace, semiconductors and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Unique Capability in Florida<\/h2>\n

While other institutions in Florida operate microscopes within the Talos series, UCF\u2019s system offers a distinct combination of capabilities.<\/p>\n

It is the only Talos F200X in the state equipped with both a cold field emission gun and a super X energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy detector. This configuration significantly enhances energy resolution and high-contrast imaging, enabling exceptionally precise chemical mapping at the atomic scale.<\/p>\n

According to Professor Akihiro Kushima, the cold field emission gun allows advanced atomistic-scale analysis even for beam-sensitive materials \u2014 samples that can be damaged under conventional imaging conditions. The improved resolution and signal collection make it possible to analyze delicate materials in ways that were previously difficult or impossible.<\/p>\n

In addition to supporting engineering and computer science research, the instrument will expand capabilities in fields such as planetary science, where nanoscale characterization of extraterrestrial materials can provide new insight into the origins and composition of planetary bodies.<\/p>\n