CHENNAI: A remotely operatable Local Electrode Atom Probe (
LEAP), a high-performance microscope that can provide a precise atom-by-atom view of a material, was commissioned at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras on Monday.
With its microscopic view, the probe set up at the National Facility of Atom Probe Tomography will enable a three-dimensional (3D) atomic scale reconstruction.
It will also provide atomic-scale insights into metallic
materials thereby impacting a wide spectrum of industries ranging from steel to automobiles and energy to transportation sector.
LEAP is expected to impart a major thrust to research in nanotechnology.
Eight top research institutions in the country, spearheaded by
IIT-Madras, have collaborated to establish this platform at a cost of nearly Rs 40 crore.
“We’re going to announce two polices on maintenance and sharing of science infrastructure, such as LEAP, across the country so that it can be used by a large number of people. Secondly, Scientific Social Responsibility is also a priority. Under this, science institutions must take their resources and knowledge to other stakeholders in the society,” said Ashutosh Sharma, secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), at the inauguration of the National Facility of Atom Probe Tomography.
The other partner institutions include IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Ropar along with International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), all of which contributed Rs 2 crore each, besides the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) which contributed Rs 3 crore. The remaining funds came from the DST's ‘Nano-mission’ headed by Prof C N R Rao. Globally, there are almost 100 operational LEAPs.
The Atom Probe tomography (APT) technology has existed for over 50 years. But the Local Electrode APT came into existence approximately 15 years ago.
The modern LEAP instrument, by the virtue of having Laser pulsing methods, enables investigation of a wide range of materials from metals, ceramics to semiconductors and even insulators with a very high acquisition rate of 5 Million ions per hour.
LEAP inventor Thomas F Kelly, IIT-M director Bhaskar Ramamurthi and principle investigator of NFAPT B S Murty among others were present.
Ashutosh Sharma (left), secretary, Department of Science and Technology, and others at the inauguration of the... Read More
