New Transmission Electron Microscope at KIT Enables Atomic-Level Insights

With the new analytical high-resolution electron microscope Iliad Spectra Ultra (S)TEM, KIT expands its capabilities in materials research. As a key component for advancing cutting-edge materials science at KIT, it is available to researchers both within KIT and externally. The instrument was officially inaugurated on September 5, 2025, during an international symposium on electron microscopy held at KIT.

New Possibilities for Precise Analysis

The new microscope enables the investigation of microstructural and nanostructural processes. Focus is placed on defects such as dislocations, pores, or foreign atoms that influence the behavior of materials. “With this new instrument, we gain unique insights into the atomic world. We will be able to visualize fundamental mechanisms in materials and thus explore entirely new research questions,” says Tenure-Track Professor Yolita M. Eggeler, head of the Laboratory for Electron Microscopy (LEM) at KIT.

The microscope from ThermoFisher Scientific not only allows imaging at atomic resolution but also enables precise analytical investigations of the chemical composition and electronic structure of a wide range of materials, including radiation-sensitive samples. In addition, the instrument facilitates in-situ experiments, in which material processes can be directly observed under conditions such as high temperatures, gas atmospheres, or external mechanical stress.

Usage is coordinated through the Electron Microscopy Service of LEM and is also available via the Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi). The microscope also plays a key role in several research projects, including the Cluster of Excellence “3D Matter Made to Order”, graduate schools, and collaborative research centers.

jho, September 23, 2025