Research at the University of Limerick will become even more focused following the launch today of a new multi-million euro microscope.
The new Titan Themis device will enable scientists to examine materials at an atomic level.
The €6 million device is one of only a small number around the world.
Its capabilities have been enhanced by a further €3 million worth of specialist equipment.
These include microscopy, ultra-fast detectors and environmental holders.
The reaction rates of atoms’ will be captured at a speed of up to 1,600 frames per second - a massive increase on the 10 frames per second maximum currently in use
These, the university says, will enable it to study in real-time the behaviour of materials across different environments.
"For the past 70 years, we have been observing materials in a vacuum and not in the conditions these materials are used on a day-to-day basis," said Dr Andrew Stewart of UL’s Department of Physics and the Bernal Institute.
"The holders allow us to introduce specific triggers into samples allowing us to see how these materials, at an atomic level, interact with the world, for example, how they react when exposed to different gases, liquids, heating, biasing or cryo-cooling."
The double-corrected, monochromated Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) will be based at the University of Limerick’s Bernal Institute.
Science Foundation Ireland and the university have jointly funded the device and its presence has already unlocked funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 innovation fund.
