Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) are seeking industry partners to leverage our Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory and Microscopy and Characterization Suite. These laboratories provide cutting-edge equipment such as super inkjet printers and Atomic Force Microscopes for precise and high-resolution detail in material research, fabrication, and characterization.

Microscopy and Characterization Suite (MaCS): The MaCS is a state-of-the-art materials characterization laboratory that provides cross-cutting capabilities that help characterize a wide range of materials, including metals, semiconductors, ceramics, coal and minerals in bulk or powder forms, as well as some organic cellular materials. MaCS contains several high-end pieces of equipment including:

• Two Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopes – Images materials structurally and chemically down to sub-Angstrom scale. Equipped with HAADF, EDS, EELS, EFTEM, Electron Tomography, ASTAR/TopSpin, PicoIndenter, Heating Stage, etc.


• Local Electrode Atom Probe (LEAP) – Creates atom-by-atom maps and images 3-D construction of up to hundreds of millions of atoms.


• Dual Focused Ion Beam – High-resolution, high-vacuum dual-beam SEM/FIB for 2-D and 3-D material characterization and analysis. Equipped with EDS, EBSD and STEM detector.


• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) – Images material surfaces ranging from micrometer to nanometer scale under high-vacuum and low-vacuum environment. Equipped with EDS, EBSD and CL.


• NanoIndenter/Atomic Force Microscope (NIAFM) – Nanomechanical test instrument for measuring the hardness and elastic modulus of materials, and imaging surface morphology down to atomic scale.


• X-Ray Diffractometer – Includes standard and parallel beam for use with thin films, powders, nanomaterials.


• NanoMill – Low-energy, low-angle argon ion milling instrument used for preparing ultra-thin, high-quality transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens.


• Microhardness Tester –Measures and evaluates microhardness of materials.

If you are interested in working with INL and the CAES MaCS, email Javier Martinez (javier.martinez@inl.gov) for more information.

INL is looking for partners who meet the following criteria:

• Seeking a longer-term strategic relationship to achieve mutual objectives and collaborate on funding opportunities.


• Capable of fully funding the work or meeting cost-share commitments to seek DOE or other funding at a minimum level of $200,000.


• Willing to collaborate under a DOE-approved mechanism, such as a User Facility Agreement, Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or Strategic Partnership Project.

Please note that INL is not a source of funding for this opportunity. All work performed at INL must be funded by your company or through funds received from government sources.

We look forward to exploring the possibilities of working together to advance your research, development, and demonstration goals.