With the new analytical high-resolution electron microscope Iliad Spectra Ultra (S)TEM, KIT is now expanding its possibilities in materials research. As an important building block for the further development of cutting-edge materials science research at KIT, it is available to all researchers at KIT and beyond. The device was officially inaugurated at the beginning of September 2025 at a festive international symposium on electron microscopy at KIT.

The new microscope enables the investigation of micro- and nanostructural processes. The focus is particularly on defects such as dislocations, pores or foreign atoms that influence the behavior of materials. "The new device will give us unique insights into the world of atoms. We will be able to visualize fundamental mechanisms in materials and thus tackle completely new research questions," says tenure-track professor Yolita M. Eggeler, head of the Laboratory for Electron Microscopy (LEM) at KIT.

The microscope from ThermoFischer Scientific not only allows imaging with atomic resolution, but also precise analytical investigations into the chemical composition and electronic structure of a wide range of materials, including radiation-sensitive samples. In addition, the device enables in-situ experiments in which researchers can directly observe material processes, for example at high temperatures in a gas atmosphere or under external mechanical loads.

It can be used via the LEM's electron microscopy service 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", the Research Training Group and the Collaborative Research Centers.

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