MAPEX Core Facility for Materials Analytics

  • Marco Schowalter about the Titan 80-300 ST:

    "We can image the atomic structures of materials, exploring how this leads to the functionality of devices ranging from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to catalysts and high-power transistors."

  • Lars Robben about the Stadi MP:

    "X-ray diffraction allows us to examine the structure of materials. With this knowledge, the structural origins of material properties can be identified and tuned."

  • Isabell Grothaus about the CD Spectrometer:

    "We exploit the method to monitor structural changes in proteins upon changes in their environment, introduction of mutations or alterations in post-translational modifications."

  • Marcos Toro about the AFM:

    "Atomic force microscopy lets us visualize surfaces at the atomic level, providing detailed topographical maps that reveal nanoscale features essential for cutting-edge research."

  • Wolf-Achim Kahl about the Xradia 520 Versa:

    "3D insights into mineral textures help me to understand how reactive processes in the ocean crust influence the geochemistry of the rocks and ocean, and even the development of microbial habitats."

  • Florian Krause about the Titan Spectra 300:

    "We can uncover the precise structure of materials down to the range of picometers. This allows us to reveal details like electric fields inside nanostructures on the sub-atomic scale."

  • Ella Schmidt about the D8 Advance X-ray Diffractometer:

    "We unravel past climate histories, investigate the absorption properties of porous materials, and explore the structural complexities of nanoparticles."

  • Jon-Olaf Krisponeit about the Low-energy Electron Microscope:

    "I can visualize surfaces in real-time while growing structures or films on them. This allows me to to study surface phenomena and thin films with great clarity."

  • Jens Falta about the coupled STM, XPS, and LEED System:

    "We can probe the elemental composition, chemical states, and structure of surfaces. This offers insights critical for the development of advanced materials and coatings."

  • Mangir Murshed about the LabRam ARAMIS:

    “Using the microfocus Raman spectroscopy, I analyze the fingerprints of molecules and crystals, revealing their chemical composition and structural details.”

  • Marcos Toro about the coupled Raman-VSI Spectrometer:

    "Coupling two optical methods for the analysis of surfaces allows us to study the molecular composition and the topological features of a surface in one instrument."

More than a tool box:

We work together to push materials analytics beyond the state of the art in five investigation areas, coupling experimental characterization with materials modelling and simulation.

A click on the logo will lead you to the Instrument Database.

3D Materials Analytics

We use X-rays to non-destructively inspect the three-dimensional distribution of matter inside the object of investigation.

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XRM picture

Electron Microscopy

We investigate our samples using high-energy electron beams to obtain images with resolution down to the atom scale.

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Momentum resolved STEM

Surface Analytics

We combine microscopic and spectroscopic techniques to monitor processes at materials surfaces.

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vertical Scanning Imaging and superimposed Raman Shift

Spectroscopy

We perform in-situ and real-time chemical, electronic and optical characterization of materials under different conditions, e.g. to identify and map different phases.

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Spectroscopy picture

X-ray Diffraction

We support structure investigations of materials from crystalline nanomaterials to macroscopic single crystals at ambient and non-ambient conditions.

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X-Ray Diffraction

Materials Modeling

We develop and apply computational methods from quantum mechanics to continuum theories to design and understand new materials and processes.

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Nanoparticles

Research Highlights and News

Effect of intrinsic heat treatment on the precipitate formation of X40CrMoV5–1 tool steel during laser-directed energy deposition: A coupled study of atom probe tomography and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction pic
3D Materials Analytics| Correlated Workflows| X-Ray Diffraction| Electron Microscopy|

Effect of intrinsic heat treatment on the precipitate formation of X40CrMoV5–1 tool steel during laser-directed energy deposition: A coupled study of atom probe tomography and in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction

Antonio Carlos de F. Silveira, Lisa T. Belkacemi, Pedro José de Castro, Marco Schowalter, Rainer Fechte-Heinen, Jérémy Epp

Acta Materialia 283 (2025): 120488

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120488

Additively manufactured components are generally heat treated to remove the undesired…


Hexagons on rectangles: Epitaxial graphene on Ru pic
Spectroscopy|

Hexagons on rectangles: Epitaxial graphene on Ru(1010)

Lars Buß, Giovanni Zamborlini, Cathy Sulaiman, Moritz Ewert, Mirko Cinchetti, Jens Falta, Jan Ingo Flege

Carbon 231 (2025): 119600

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119600

Ruthenium is emerging as a promising candidate to replace copper in highly integrated electronics by enabling barrierless…


Characterization of structure and mixing in nanoparticle hetero-aggregates using convolutional neural networks: 3D-reconstruction versus 2D-projection article picture
Electron Microscopy|

Characterization of structure and mixing in nanoparticle hetero-aggregates using convolutional neural networks: 3D-reconstruction versus 2D-projection

Christoph Mahr, Jakob Stahl, Beeke Gerken, Florian F. Krause, Marco Schowalter, Tim Grieb, Lutz Mädler, Andreas Rosenauer

Ultramicroscopy 265 (2024): 114020

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2024.114020

Structural and chemical characterization of nanomaterials provides important information for…


Instrument manager

Dr. Wilken Seemann

University of Bremen
IW3, Room 2190
Am Biologischen Garten 2
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218 64954
E-Mail: Instrument Manager

Science manager

Dr. Hanna Lührs

University of Bremen
IW3-Building, Room 2230
Am Biologischen Garten 2
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218 64580
E-Mail: MAPEX

Scientific coordinator

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lucio Colombi Ciacchi

University of Bremen
TAB-Building, Room 3.30
Am Fallturm 1
28359 Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218 64570
E-Mail: Scientific coordinator

MAPEX-CF is part of the MAPEX Center For Materials and Processes of the University of Bremen.

MAPEX-CF is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and is listed under the RIsources portal.

Find analytical equipment available in the MAPEX groups using our Instrument Database.

Updated by: MAPEX