News
31.01.2025
Inauguration of the New Jeol NeoARM Microscope
Yesterday, January 30th, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, together with the Minister of Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, inaugurated the new JEOL NeoARM microscope. The event was also attended by PhD. Joan Guàrdia, Rector of the Universitat de Barcelona, PhD. Francesca Peiró, scientific coordinator of the ELECMI node, PhD. Juan Fran Sangüesa, Director of the CCiTUB, and PhD. Maria Terrades, Director of the Parc Científic de Barcelona
During the institutional speeches, the President of the Generalitat praised the fact that a public institution like the University of Barcelona, with significant influence in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe, has this type of equipment and makes it available to the public. For his part, the Rector of the University of Barcelona stated that the microscope was a fundamental new tool for research that would open new questions requiring commitment, trust, and collaboration.
PhD. Peiró, during her speech, discussed the more technical and scientific aspects of the new microscope, and PhD. Juan Fran Sangüesa highlighted the uniqueness and impact of the JEOL NeoARM. He also mentioned the need to establish a common research strategy among institutions and centers in Catalonia and emphasized the importance of recognizing the professional careers of the technical staff managing these large facilities, who require high specialization and training.
This innovative microscope represents a significant advancement in the field of electron microscopy and positions the Universitat de Barcelona as a benchmark both in Catalonia and at the national level.
The new microscope is located in the TEM laboratory of the Scientific and Technological Centers of the UB (CCiTUB) and is also part of the unique infrastructure of the ICTS ELECMI (Electron Microscopy Applied to Materials), where the UB is a recognized node by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. The equipment is already available to the scientific community, research institutions, and companies.
Applications
The JEOL NeoARM microscope incorporates advanced features, such as a spherical aberration corrector in the probe, precision detectors, a state-of-the-art energy filter, and a direct electron detection camera. This equipment also offers great versatility, as it allows working with both high and low operating voltages, as well as in liquid environments, replicating physiological and *in-operando* conditions in which certain biological, electrochemical, and physical processes occur, enabling their observation in real time.
This new technology will drive new research and innovation lines in cutting-edge areas at the intersection of materials science and life science. Therefore, the microscope is configured to adapt to different experimental requirements, such as the necessary spatial resolution, applied radiation dose, and capture speed, considering the specificities of the samples and the dynamic phenomena to be studied.
The advanced techniques of this microscopy become a key transversal tool, aligned with the RIS3CAT strategy for smart research and innovation in Catalonia. The various operating modes, the combination of spectroscopic signals, and the possibility of applying external stimuli to recreate *in-operando* conditions allow for the analysis of matter with exceptional spatial resolution. This facilitates the simultaneous acquisition of images, quantitative information, and dynamic data, contributing to a better understanding of interaction phenomena at the nanoscale and promoting the development of new materials, biomarkers, biosensors, and micro-nano devices aimed at technological innovation and social progress.
MERIT Project
The new equipment involved an investment of 3.35 million euros, half of which was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the FEDER Operational Program of Catalonia. This was made possible thanks to the MERIT project, led by the UB in collaboration with IBEC, the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, IDIBELL, IDIBAPS, and the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation.