Lab Objective
The Laboratory’s objective is the volumetric, chemical and surface structural characterization of materials at the micrometric, nanometric and atomic level; these materials are designed and used in the development of technologies and products for the oil and gas industry. Moreover, we strive to satisfy our customers’ needs, offering continuously step-ahead solutions for their short and long term requirements. |
Introduction
The characterization of nanostructured materials, designed for oil and gas industrial applications, requires the use of high spatial resolution methods to determine forms, chemical composition and crystalline structures, achieving this way, an objective basis for the understanding, design and optimization of their properties. Characterization of micro and nanometric devices and components also requires high resolution in both nondestructive observation and quality control and assurance.
Structural characterization is very relevant to nanostructures production and their applications, since it is vital to understand, design and optimize their properties. Electron microscopy characterization occupies a chief place among the available techniques, offering high spatial resolution. Nanostructured materials are made up by nanoblocks, with at least one dimension below 100 nm in length, thus the high spatial resolution attains an essential meaning among the characterization procedures.
Microscopy techniques demand big investments; however they are the most powerful methods for nanostructural characterization. IMP personnel are specialized in different electron microscopy characterization techniques; this allows for achieving benefits in scientific research, education and new technologies developments.
The resolution power of electron microscopes is quite high because of the use of electrons, which can be manipulated to obtain either surface images (Scanning Electron microscopy, SEM) or through the sample thickness images (Transmission electron microscopy, TEM; or scanning-transmission, STEM). Properly used, electron microscopy allows obtaining a wide range of images, from micrometric characteristics through atoms columns.
On the other hand, electron microscopy offers the option of characterizing the chemical composition of materials and the determination of crystalline structures. At the IMP Ultra High Resolution Electron Microscopy Laboratory we have the required tools (detectors, software, and etcetera) to support research scientists during both the chemical and structural characterization of materials.
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