A breakthrough in accessible atomic-scale imaging
In a development that could reshape how scientists study matter at the smallest scales, researchers at the University of Victoria have demonstrated a method to visualize atomic‑scale structures using a compact, low‑energy scanning electron microscope (SEM). Led by Arthur Blackburn, co‑director of UVic’s Advanced Microscopy Facility, the team combines a streamlined instrument with advanced computational techniques to reach sub‑Ångström resolution—well below the width of a single atom.
From high-cost giants to affordable precision
Traditionally, achieving atomic‑scale imaging required bulky, expensive transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) and specialized facilities. This new approach shows that high‑quality, atomic‑level images can be obtained with a relatively simple SEM when paired with innovative data processing. “This work shows that high‑resolution imaging doesn’t have to rely on expensive, complex equipment,” Blackburn says. “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 science behind the leap
The researchers achieved 0.67 Ångström resolution by exploiting overlapping patterns of scattered electrons to assemble a highly detailed image of a sample. This method, which leverages precise computational reconstruction, effectively extracts more information from a lower‑energy electron beam than conventional SEM imaging would allow. The result is a step change in what a lower‑cost instrument can reveal about material structure at the atomic level.
Implications across fields
The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, opens doors for laboratories worldwide to conduct high‑resolution imaging without the need for sprawling facilities. The accessibility is particularly impactful in materials science and nanotechnology, where atomic‑scale insights drive the discovery and optimization of next‑generation materials and devices.
Immediate and long‑term benefits
In the near term, researchers can more rapidly study two‑dimensional materials, a cornerstone of future electronics and catalysis research. The technique enables detailed visualization of atomic arrangements in ultrathin materials, helping scientists understand defects, interfaces, and structural properties that govern performance. Over the longer horizon, the method could contribute to structural biology by aiding the determination of small protein structures, with potential benefits for health and disease research.
What this means for the research community
By lowering barriers to high‑resolution imaging, UVic’s approach invites broader experimentation and collaboration. Institutions previously limited by cost or space can now consider atomic‑scale studies using existing SEMs complemented by modern algorithms. This democratization of access is likely to accelerate discoveries in materials science, electronics, and biology, while reducing the resource burden on laboratories around the world.
About the researchers
Arthur Blackburn, the Hitachi High‑Tech Canada Research Chair in Advanced Electron Microscopy, and his team at UVic’s Advanced Microscopy Facility led the work. Their findings contribute a practical path toward achieving state‑of‑the‑art imaging without the high energy, high expense historically required, signaling a new era for nanoscale visualization.
