Nov. 28, 2006 — The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has placed a $11.5 million dollar order for seven FEI microscopes that will form the core of the University’s new Center for Electron Nanoscopy (CEN).

The order represents the largest product sale ever for FEI and includes two Titan scanning/transmission electron microscopes (S/TEMs), a Tecnai 20S-Twin TEM, a Helios NanoLab 600 DualBeam, a Quanta 200 3D ESEM DualBeam, a Quanta FEG SEM and an Inspect S low-vacuum SEM.

The range of equipment will be utilized for a wide spectrum of advanced research conducted by DTU’s researchers and companies that operate at the university.

The company said one of the Titan S/TEMs will be equipped with an environmental chamber and will be used for collaboration between DTU and FEI to advance environmental TEM (ETEM) applications for in-situ catalyst observations.

Such studies could play an important role in catalyst research and development for alternative fuel cells, environmental catalysis (clean air and water), and petrochemical industries. In addition, some of the equipment will be used to teach entry level SEM applications for the university’s curriculum.

“Uniquely, one of the Titans at DTU will combine aberration correction and monochromation with the ability to introduce gases into the electron microscope,” said commented Rafal Dunin-Borkowski, director of the new center, in a prepared statement. “This will allow catalyst materials to be studied in their working environment with ultimate spatial resolution. Such capabilities are a big step forward for the development of new materials and nanotechnology in general.”

Installation of the systems is targeted for the second half of 2007 and DTU’s Center for Electron Nanoscopy is scheduled to open at the end of 2007.