Welcome
The Laboratory of Electron Microscopy supported the research of the science journal "Die Spur des Sandes - die geklauten Strände von Gran Canaria" by SWR with electron microscopic examinations and provided scientific insights into the origin and composition of the sandy beaches of Gran Canaria.
Click here to watch the video.
A Cover Art for the paper of S. Hettler et al: “Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis of the Microstructure of Nanocrystalline Small-Molecule Semiconductors in Functional Organic Thin-Film Transistors” published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (18, 12, 18073–18081, 2026 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6c01886) was chosen as supplementary Cover Art (https://pubs.acs.org/toc/aamick/18/12). The Cover Art illustrates how transmission electron microscopy analyses help to understand the growth of thermally evaporated nanocrystalline small-molecule organic semiconductors in functional organic thin-film transistors.
Highlight of the year: Our TEM Symposium! Thank you to the invited speakers for their fantastic presentations! Thank you for the many poster contributions on exciting research topics, and thank you to everyone who helped with the organization!
KIT News Article: https://www.kit.edu/kit/202509-neues-transmissionselektronenmikroskop-am-kit-eroffnet-atomare-einblicke.php
Dr. Simon Hettler receives the award “Best Image in Materials” for his contribution entitled “Misfit (a)symmetry” at the Microscopy at the frontiers of science (MFS) conference 2025 held in Valencia.
Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of a flake of the misfit layered compound (MLC) SmS-TaS2 framed by a high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM) image taken from a nanotube made of the MLC LaS-TaS2. MLCs are made up of two slabs of different materials (e.g. TaS2 and SmS or LaS), which are stacked alternatively. Due to the lattice mismatch between the two subsystems, the compound is incommensurate. The two slabs are revealed in the HRSTEM image frame and the complex interplay between the hexagonal TaS2 and the rocksalt lattice of SmS are reflected by the multitude of spots in the SAED pattern.
From September 1 to 4, 2025, the Electron Microscopy Conference in Karlsruhe (MC2025) will take place – and the LEM at KIT will be particularly well represented this year.
Our contributions at a glance: 2 workshops, 3 oral presentations, and 14 poster presentations.
We look forward to presenting our latest research results and developments and to engaging in discussions with the scientific community.
Visit us at the conference – we look forward to the exchange!
More details
Stop by our shop window at Kaiserstraße 143 in Karlsruhe and discover the hidden world of mint, thyme & more – captured in stunning detail with the electron microscope.
ART | SUMMER | TECHNOLOGY – surprising, inspiring, free of charge.
Curious about our research in the Cluster of Excellence? Watch the video to learn more!
Watch video
At the KIT Study Info Day, Simon Hettler from the Laboratory for Electron Microscopy and Phillip Willke from the Physics Institute (PHI) gave a talk on "Quantum Physics in Your Smartphone."
They explained how quantum effects like tunneling and semiconductor physics shape everyday technology — in smartphones, cameras, and memory chips.
A key focus was on electron microscopy, which makes nanostructures visible and helps us better understand quantum physics.
Thanks to everyone who joined and showed interest! We look forward to seeing you again at KIT.