Surface analysis, Microscopy & Diffraction

At any level microscopic information can be combined with information on the chemical composition of the features of interest. Even at the microscopy scale visualization of full-3D structures of materials is possible making use of advanced tomography equipment. Typical parameters delivered by this expertise area include: dimensions, shape, morphology, distribution, local chemistry, local enrichments, (local) crystallinity and much more.

Identification of chemicals at the outer few nanometers of a surface requires dedicated surface analysis equipment. Modern facilities include imaging of the distribution of chemicals at a surface, ways to determine the profile of chemicals in subsurface layers and even full 3D-imaging.

The magnifications cover the whole range from easily visible by the eye up to the atomic level

Both the outside and the interior of materials are suitable for examination due to the large diversity of sample preparation capabilities the ECCD has in house. Hard and soft materials require a different approach, also for suspensions preparative methods are available. Cross-sectioning of a material can be done either on larger areas to create an overview or very locally.

Based on a long-term tradition for serving the chemical industry ECCD oversees the benefits and limitations of the technical capabilities so that the right approach can be chosen for every request. Depending on the needs of the customer these facilities can be used either as stand-alone application or in a multi-analytical approach.