Why have a TEAM project?
Electron microscopes can be used to observe extremely fine details of the inner structure of materials. The ability to characterize the atomic-scale structure, chemistry, and dynamics of individual nanometer-scale structures makes this type of microscope a very powerful tool for scientists of all disciplines. However, even the best of today’s electron microscopes have insufficient resolution and sensitivity to meet the growing demands of nanoscience. Although important improvements are being made by several individual research groups, redesigning such a complex instrument around revolutionary new electron optics is beyond the reach of single labs or investigators.
The TEAM project brings together 5 leading microscopy groups supported by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science to jointly design and construct a new generation microscope with extraordinary capabilities. The project is part of DOE’s 20-year roadmap of Facilities for the Future of Science.
With the TEAM microscope it will become possible to study how atoms combine to form materials, how materials grow and how they respond to a variety of external factors. These constitute many of the most practical things that we need to know about materials and will improve designs for everything from better, lighter, more efficient automobiles, to stronger buildings and new ways of harvesting energy.