Groundbreaking advance brings atomic-scale imaging to compact microscopes
In a development that could redefine what laboratories can achieve without investing in prohibitively expensive equipment, researchers at the University of Victoria have demonstrated sub-Ångström imaging using a low-energy scanning electron microscope (SEM). The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, shows that high-resolution, atomic-scale images are no longer the exclusive domain of large, costly transmission electron microscopes (TEM).
The team, led by Arthur Blackburn, co-director of UVic’s Advanced Microscopy Facility, unveiled a novel imaging approach that leverages overlapping patterns of scattered electrons to assemble incredibly detailed pictures of a sample. This method achieved a resolution of 0.67 Ångström, which is less than the size of a single atom and far finer than what many standard SEMs can produce. What makes this notable is not just the resolution, but the path it opens: high-end imaging can be performed with more accessible hardware when paired with sophisticated computational analysis.
“This work shows that high-resolution imaging doesn’t have to rely on expensive, complex equipment,” Blackburn said. “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.”
The implications extend well beyond a single lab. By lowering the barriers to atomic-scale visualization, researchers in materials science, nanotechnology, and structural biology can conduct advanced investigations without the space and budget demands of a TEM facility. The breakthrough could accelerate developments in 2D materials—an area of intense interest for next-generation electronics—while also paving the way for structural insights into biological molecules that are crucial for health research.
Why this matters for science and industry
The ability to image at sub-Ångström scales with a compact SEM represents a shift in how scientists plan experiments and allocate resources. In materials science, researchers can study crystal defects, surface reconstructions, and nanoscale interfaces with more flexibility. For nanotechnology, the technique provides a practical tool for characterizing novel materials and devices that require precise atomic-scale understanding. In the long term, if validated across diverse samples, the method could enable routine atomic imaging in teaching labs and smaller research facilities, democratizing access to cutting-edge microscopy.
The research also underscores a broader trend: the convergence of hardware, software, and data analytics to push instrument capabilities beyond traditional limits. By combining a straightforward scanning approach with computational imaging, the UVic team demonstrated that the sensor, not just the optics, can be leveraged to extraordinary effect. This philosophy—extracting more information from existing tools through clever processing—could influence many other scientific instruments in the coming years.
From 2D materials to potential health insights
The most immediate beneficiaries are researchers working with two-dimensional materials, where precise atomic structure determines electronic properties and potential applications in flexible electronics and quantum devices. However, Blackburn suggests a broader horizon: understanding the arrangement of atoms in small proteins or complexes could, in time, contribute to breakthroughs in health and disease research by revealing structural details that were previously inaccessible without specialized equipment.
As the field evaluates this new approach, laboratories worldwide will be watching to see how broadly the technique can be applied across different sample types and environments. If the method proves robust, it could redefine the standard toolkit for atomic-scale imaging, enabling more laboratories to participate in front-line research without prohibitive cost or space requirements.
In sum, the UVic team’s achievement in sub-Ångström imaging with a low-energy SEM marks a promising step toward more affordable, accessible atomic-scale microscopy—and a potential catalyst for faster discoveries in materials science, nanotechnology, and beyond.
