FMRU unveils new state-of-the-art Microscope

Prof Mahabubur Chowdhury, the head of the Functional Materials Research Unit (FMRU), is excited about the recent commissioning of a BioLogic M470 Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM), which represents a significant enhancement to the University’s research infrastructure.

The instrument, valued at approximately R6.5 million, was acquired through funding from the National Research Foundation’s National Equipment Programme (NRF-NEP). It is one of a small number of such systems available in South Africa and will support research across several scientific and engineering disciplines. “Personally, I am excited to see how the instrument will be used beyond our own projects. One of the most rewarding aspects of acquiring shared research infrastructure is seeing researchers from different backgrounds use it in ways that were never originally envisioned,” Chowdhury notes.

He says that the researchers, besides Chemical Engineering, numerous departments can all benefit from access to the facility. “Its applications range from energy technologies and water treatment to corrosion monitoring, biomedical materials, sensors and advanced manufacturing.”

Chowdhury states that the Scanning Electrochemical Microscope allows them to study how materials behave at a very small scale. If a battery, sensor, coating, or catalyst is not performing as expected, the instrument helps the researchers identify exactly where the problem is occurring and why.

“For students, it provides exposure to technologies used in modern research and industry. For academics, it opens new possibilities for investigating complex scientific questions. For industry and external partners, it offers access to specialised measurements that can help improve products, processes and materials.

“The real benefit is that it helps turn ideas into practical solutions by providing a deeper understanding of how materials function.”

Chowdhury led the application for funding through the NRF-NEP and coordinated the process from the initial concept through to the successful acquisition of the instrument. “This acquisition is particularly meaningful because it represents years of effort to build advanced research capabilities within the FMRU. Modern scientific challenges increasingly require sophisticated analytical tools, and having access to equipment of this calibre enables us to tackle research questions that would otherwise be difficult to investigate.” He views it as an investment in people.

“The greatest value of the instrument is not the equipment itself but the students and researchers who will use it to generate new knowledge and develop new technologies.”

He adds that this is a state-of-the-art Scanning Electrochemical Microscope equipped with an extensive range of accessories and measurement modes. To the best of their knowledge, no other system in South Africa currently offers this particular combination of capabilities on a single platform.

“The M470 combines several techniques on a single platform, including SECM, Localised Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Scanning Kelvin Probe, Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique and Optical Surface Profiling. Together, these tools enable detailed studies of surface reactions, corrosion processes, charge transfer behaviour and material degradation.”

He continued: “The addition of the M470 further strengthens the range of advanced instrumentation available at CPUT and creates new opportunities for collaborative research, postgraduate development and industry engagement.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: BoyceAp@cput.ac.za