FIM Group

Atom Probe microanalysis is able to provide unique information on the atomic-scale chemistry within the bulk of a material, as depicted in 3D map below, that shows a grain boundary and several precipitates in an oxide-dispersion strengthened steel. Over more than 40 year of history, the Oxford FIM and Atom Probe Group has been one of the world leaders in the development of the atom probe technique and its application to Materials Science problems.

Current research activities include:

• materials for nuclear fusion, including ODS steels and W-Re alloys;
• materials for nuclear fission, particularly Zr-based alloys, Fe-Cr alloys, stress corrosion cracking or irradiation induced precipitation in steels;
• semiconducting materials, including compound semiconductors for light-emission application, magnetic semiconductors, thermoelectrics;
• high-efficiency catalysts;
• high-strength steels...

In parallel to the FIM Group, The Department of Materials in Oxford hosts an EPSRC funded national facility for atom probe analysis named Opal. This facility enables scientists from either the university or industrial sectors who foresee the need for atom probe characterisation in their research to access two state-of-the-art instruments and is supported by experienced postdoctoral staff members.

The FIM Group is also proud to have hosted the International Atom Probe Workshop 2009 - New Frontiers of Atom Probe Applications from the 13th to the 16th of September.