The Materials-Envi Lab (MEL) at VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava (VŠB-TUO) has acquired two exceptionally advanced instruments that will significantly broaden research possibilities in materials science and environmental engineering. The Helios 5 CX microscope ranks among the world’s most modern electron microscopes, and an extremely sensitive EPR spectrometer can detect free radicals, metal ions, and defects that other methods overlook.
The newly acquired Helios 5 CX microscope combines Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with a Focused Ion Beam (FIB). This allows not only for detailed imaging of materials with nanometer resolution but also for their precise modification and preparation for further analyses. Thanks to ion microfabrication, advanced 3D control, and automation, it has become an indispensable tool for creating ultrathin lamellae with thicknesses of tens of nanometers – a key step for advanced single-atom analysis.
“This instrument will be utilized across various faculties at VŠB-TUO, especially in collaboration with the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology within the REFRESH project. The project links research on material structures with their practical applications in energy engineering chemistry, mechanical engineering, and semiconductor technologies,” said Radek Zbořil, head of MEL, who also leads one of the REFRESH living labs.
Another significant contribution to research is the EPR spectrometer for detecting paramagnetic centers with extreme sensitivity, down to nanomolar concentrations. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) technology finds wide application in chemistry, physics, biology, and materials research. “In our team, we primarily use it for developing materials for energy conversion and storage, sustainable chemistry, and environmental applications,” added Zbořil.
