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Nano-characterization platform (PFNC)


Characterisation of advanced materials and components to support disruptive innovation

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Published on 10 February 2026
The nano-characterisation platform (PFNC) has around fifty complementary state-of-the-art pieces of equipment for studying the morphological, physical, chemical and electrical properties of innovative materials and components for micro and nanotechnologies. ​


©CEA/A. Aubert 



Around a hundred researchers operate this equipment to support the technological developments of start-ups, large corporations and equipment manufacturers seeking to perfect their characterisation instruments. ​

They characterise advanced materials, complex stacks, new architectures and manufacturing processes using dedicated analysis and characterisation protocols. To access complementary techniques, they rely on the​ ESRF, ILL or academic partners if necessary​.

The platform provides its partners with results and interpretations tailored to their needs: 2D maps at atomic scale, multi-scale 3D reconstructions, analysis spectra, crystallographic structures, surface compositions, among others.​


Contact CEA-Irig : ​​    ​​Thierry Deutsch​​        Gaël De Paë​pe

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What expertise is available to manufacturers?​​

• Development of nano-characterisation techniques and protocols​

• Préparation d’échantillons avancée, automatisation 

• Advanced sample preparation, automation ​

• Eco-responsible materials and technologies​ ​


©CEA/A. Aubert​


Cutting-edge pre-industrial equipment​

©CEA/A. Aubert

​• ThermoFisher Scientific Helios 5 FX Focused Ion Beam for ultra-thin section preparation​

• Aberration-corrected analytical transmission electron microscopy: JEOL NeoARM ​

• 3D morphology by small-angle X-ray scattering: Xeuss 2.0 from Xenocs​

• Tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer: nanoTOF from Physical Electronics​

• High-energy photoelectron spectrometer for buried interfaces: Quantes from Physical Electronics​​

​​How to work with the nano-characterisation platform?​​

The CEA teams (Irig, Leti, Liten) support manufacturers' innovation needs at all stages of development through bilateral contracts or joint laboratories. The platform has around ten partners, including Physical Electronics (ULVAC-PHI) and the SIMAP laboratory through the SATenAURA equipment.​


​©CEA/A. Aubert

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