UVic researchers unlock atomic-scale imaging using a compact SEM
In a development that could redefine how scientists study matter at the smallest scales, a team at the University of Victoria (UVic) has achieved a major advance in electron microscopy. By combining a relatively affordable, low-energy scanning electron microscope (SEM) with cutting-edge computational techniques, they achieved sub-Ångström resolution—less than one ten-billionth of a meter. This level of detail has historically required large, expensive transmission electron microscopes (TEMs), making UVic’s achievement a potential game-changer for labs around the world.
The breakthrough: how it works
Led by Arthur Blackburn, co-director of UVic’s Advanced Microscopy Facility and the Hitachi High-Tech Canada Research Chair in Advanced Electron Microscopy, the team developed an imaging approach that leverages overlapping patterns of scattered electrons to reconstruct a highly precise picture of a sample. By exploiting computational reconstruction techniques, the researchers can extract atomic-scale information from a compact SEM that operates at lower energy levels than traditional high-resolution instruments.
“This work shows that high-resolution imaging doesn’t have to rely on expensive, complex equipment,” said Blackburn. “We’ve demonstrated that a relatively simple SEM, when paired with advanced computational techniques, can achieve a resolution that rivals or even surpasses traditional methods.”
Why this matters: accessibility and impact
The ability to perform atomic-scale imaging without a large TEM brings substantial benefits. The smaller footprint, lower energy requirements, and reduced cost can democratize access to high-end microscopy, enabling more labs—especially in academic institutions and smaller facilities—to conduct frontier research. The team published their findings in Nature Communications, underscoring the broad scientific interest in a method that lowers barriers to high-resolution imaging.
With the technique, researchers can visualize atomic arrangements and defects with unprecedented clarity in materials, catalysts, and nanostructures. This has immediate implications for fields like materials science and nanotechnology, where understanding atomic configurations informs design and performance.
Applications on the horizon
The most immediate applications lie in the study and production of two-dimensional (2D) materials, which are central to next-generation electronics and energy technologies. The UVic method can accelerate characterizations of 2D layers, heterostructures, and nanoscale devices where precise atomic positioning governs behavior. In the longer term, the approach could contribute to structural biology by aiding the determination of complex small protein structures, potentially impacting health research and drug development. While translational timelines vary, the prospect of integrating atomic-scale imaging into standard SEM workflows excites researchers across disciplines.
Looking ahead: what comes next for UVic and the field
Blackburn and colleagues emphasize that the breakthrough is a proof of concept that broadens the toolbox for atomic imaging. Ongoing work will refine the computational algorithms, optimize sample preparation, and explore the method’s limits across different materials. If widely adopted, the approach could enable more rapid, cost-effective investigations into material properties, catalysis, and biomolecular assemblies—areas where precise atomic-scale visualization is a critical driver of innovation.
About the researchers
The work was led by Arthur Blackburn at UVic, leveraging the university’s Advanced Microscopy Facility. The team’s collaboration highlights how combining accessible hardware with advanced data processing can expand scientific capabilities without proportional increases in cost or infrastructure.
Conclusion: a new era for microscopy
By achieving 0.67 Ångström resolution with a low-energy SEM, UVic’s researchers have opened a pathway to widely accessible atomic-scale imaging. The technique promises to accelerate discoveries in materials science, nanotechnology, and potentially structural biology, enabling researchers to see the world at the scale of atoms with machine-friendly equipment and workflows.
