Date: 30 September 2024
Location: CNR Nano, Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Unimore), Modena
Speaker: Emanuele Mondonico, FEI Italia
As part of the ongoing collaboration between SMART-electron, CNR Nano Modena, and Thermo Fisher Scientific, a specialized technical training workshop was co-organised to introduce researchers to advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) applications using a monochromator in combination with the Quantum GIF (Gatan Imaging Filter). The workshop was held at the facilities of CNR Nano in Modena, where the newly inaugurated SPEQTEM system—an advanced Thermo Fisher Spectra 300—has been installed as part of national and European research infrastructure efforts.
This hands-on training session brought together researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and technical staff from across the SMART-electron community and beyond. Participants were introduced to advanced TEM techniques with an emphasis on high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-filtered imaging. The interdisciplinary group included early-career scientists and experienced microscopists working in fields such as quantum materials, nanoscale optics, and energy conversion systems. The workshop fostered collaboration, knowledge sharing, and peer-to-peer learning in a practical laboratory setting.
Training modules focused on key applications relevant to quantum materials, ultrafast phenomena, and local electromagnetic field mapping. Attendees learned how to optimise electron beam conditions, configure the GIF for energy-filtered imaging, and apply these tools in the analysis of coherent excitations and low-loss electronic structure features. Instructors from both Thermo Fisher and CNR Nano provided theoretical background and guided participants through real-time experiments on the SPEQTEM system.
This training initiative not only enhanced operational competencies but also supported the SMART-electron project’s broader objectives related to skill development, research capacity building, and the dissemination of novel methodologies in quantum-enabled electron microscopy. The event exemplified the value of collaborative, cross-sector training for maximizing the impact of high-end research infrastructure.
