TESCAN has Installed Their 3000th Microscope to Help Scientists Develop Fuel Cells and Special Prostheses

The jubilee electron microscope with production No. 3000 was installed at the University of Freiburg, Germany. The system is a TESCAN AMBER X, which is amongst the latest models from the Brno-based manufacturer. It combines ultra high-resolution imaging with a plasma ion beam for high-speed sample surface milling.

TESCAN AMBER X Xe plasma FIB-SEM installed at the University of Freiburg.
TESCAN AMBER X Xe plasma FIB-SEM installed at the University of Freiburg.

The official opening of TESCAN AMBER X was marked with a presentation that took place in the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) where the microscope is housed. The first two research projects that will utilise the capabilities of the microscope were also presented.

The first project lead by Prof. Stieglitz aims to develop advanced types of neuroprosthetics. These devices should soon replace the missing functions of the neural system in the human body with the use of sensory implants and prostheses. Thanks to them the patient should receive information on hardness and surface of an object when touching it with a special prosthesis.

The other research project where the electron microscope will initially be used is searching for new technologies for fuel cells with the goal being to develop innovative methods of electric energy production. This work will be performed by Dr. Vierrath and his team.

“These two applications show how universal TESCAN AMBER X is for scientific research.  I am very pleased that our microscope will assist with such ambitious and noble projects,” said Sven Gosda, General Manager of TESCAN GmbH.

Last year TESCAN produced nearly 300 electron microscopes in Brno with the overwhelming majority of them destined for international clients. “We are clearly an export company, supplying microscopes worldwide. We are happy to have installed our jubilee microscope in Germany, a market where we are planning to grow in the long-term,” claimed Maroš Karabinoš, TESCAN’s Global Marketing Director in the official presentation. TESCAN has been enjoying consistent growth in Germany and has demonstrated its commitment to the local market by acquiring its existing distributor in 2018 and establishing a local subsidiary, TESCAN GmbH.

While this is the University of Freiburg’s first plasma FIB-SEM, they already have a TESCAN VEGA3 SEM. This has been in operation since 2016.