This new infrastructure, partially funded with €800,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will significantly enhance IREC's research capacity. The project, led by ICREA Professor Albert Tarancón, aims to accelerate the development of more efficient, durable, and sustainable energy technologies.
The new FIB-SEM system will enable researchers to study energy materials and devices under real operating conditions, controlling parameters such as temperature, pressure, and electrochemical cycling. This will allow for real-time analysis of crack development, crystalline phase changes, and degradation processes that limit the performance and lifetime of technologies such as batteries, electrolysers, fuel cells, and solar cells.
In addition to producing high-resolution three-dimensional images, the system will integrate automated tomography, chemical analysis (including lithium detection), crystallographic analysis, and sample preparation for correlative studies. This quantitative information will be essential for multiscale modelling and the design of new energy materials and devices.
This acquisition will be integrated into IREC's Advanced Energy Materials Scientific and Technical Services (SCT-MAE), under the responsibility of technical specialist Albert Llorente. The equipment will be available to both IREC researchers and external users, promoting open access to state-of-the-art scientific infrastructure and reducing reliance on large international facilities.
With this addition, IREC continues to expand its scientific infrastructure and reinforce its commitment to research excellence to address future energy challenges.
