Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This webinar gives an overview of the Materials Research Facility and the capabilities of the newly installed equipment, TESCAN AMBER X Plasma FIB with EBSD and EDX, as well as upgrades to the existing Helios GaFIB which includes an EBSD detector and cryogenic stage with vacuum transfer capabilities.
This investment is led by the University of Bristol in partnership with the University of Oxford, with equipment installed at UKAEA. Focused ion beam (FIB) is an essential tool in materials science, both for 3D characterisation of the structure and chemistry of materials, but also as a specimen preparation method for other techniques. Cutting-edge instruments for atom probe tomography (APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and micro-mechanical testing all rely on the use of FIB to prepare suitable specimens for analysis. Crucially, there are few FIB instruments in the UK that can analyse radioactive material, and this presents a bottleneck to the nuclear research community. This is particularly important for the recently funded NNUF National Nuclear Atom Probe Facility at the University of Oxford, which relies on FIB for specimen preparation of APT specimens but has no active FIB of its own. This proposal would add to the FIB capability at the UKAEA Materials Research Facility and the University of Bristol to create a national facility for focused ion beam on nuclear materials, concentrating on neutron-activated specimens critical for both the nuclear fission and fusion research communities.
Learn more and how to access the facilities on our website: mrf.ukaea.uk
UKAEA’s mission is to deliver sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic impact. Fusion, the process that powers the sun, can play a big part in our carbon-free energy future.
UKAEA leads the world in fusion research with a wide range of programmes covering robotics, materials testing and development, and tritium science. Our scientists and engineers are working with partners around the globe to develop fusion as a new source of clean energy for tomorrow’s power stations.
Find out more: gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
This webinar gives an overview of the Materials Research Facility and the capabilities of the newly installed equipment, TESCAN AMBER X Plasma FIB with EBSD and EDX, as well as upgrades to the existing Helios GaFIB which includes an EBSD detector and cryogenic stage with vacuum transfer capabilities.
This investment is led by the University of Bristol in partnership with the University of Oxford, with equipment installed at UKAEA. Focused ion beam (FIB) is an essential tool in materials science, both for 3D characterisation of the structure and chemistry of materials, but also as a specimen preparation method for other techniques. Cutting-edge instruments for atom probe tomography (APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and micro-mechanical testing all rely on the use of FIB to prepare suitable specimens for analysis. Crucially, there are few FIB instruments in the UK that can analyse radioactive material, and this presents a bottleneck to the nuclear research community. This is particularly important for the recently funded NNUF National Nuclear Atom Probe Facility at the University of Oxford, which relies on FIB for specimen preparation of APT specimens but has no active FIB of its own. This proposal would add to the FIB capability at the UKAEA Materials Research Facility and the University of Bristol to create a national facility for focused ion beam on nuclear materials, concentrating on neutron-activated specimens critical for both the nuclear fission and fusion research communities.
Learn more and how to access the facilities on our website: mrf.ukaea.uk
UKAEA’s mission is to deliver sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic impact. Fusion, the process that powers the sun, can play a big part in our carbon-free energy future.
UKAEA leads the world in fusion research with a wide range of programmes covering robotics, materials testing and development, and tritium science. Our scientists and engineers are working with partners around the globe to develop fusion as a new source of clean energy for tomorrow’s power stations.
Find out more: gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority
