ACE-SPED UNN installs high tech equipment in materials characterisation lab

A Cutting-Edge Addition to ACE-SPED’s Laboratory Facilities

The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has installed a state-of-the-art Axia ChemiSEM Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), worth millions of naira, in its Materials Characterisation Laboratory.

This advanced equipment stands as one of the few fully equipped SEMs in any Nigerian university, offering both qualitative and quantitative analyses, image capture, and X-ray spectral mapping with a Back Scattered Electron Detector (BSED). Its remarkable functionality allows for thorough analysis, visualization, and quantification of microstructures, making it an invaluable asset for research and industry applications.

Promoting Sustainability and Collaboration

In a statement, the Director of ACE-SPED, Prof. Emenike Ejiogu, emphasized that the procurement and installation of the SEM align with the Centre’s sustainability objectives. “While our staff and students will benefit from the capabilities of the equipment, we are also open to doing business with researchers and other entities,” he said.

Prof. Ejiogu further highlighted that the SEM machine provides opportunities for researchers and industries to conduct their analyses within Nigeria, reducing the financial burden of outsourcing such services overseas. “This advancement eliminates the need to spend substantial amounts of dollars abroad for similar analyses,” he added.

The Industrial Liaison Officer of ACE-SPED, Prof. Victor Aigbodion, identified numerous sectors that could benefit from the SEM’s services. These include industries involved in quality control, failure analysis, nanowires for gas sensing, semiconductor inspection, microchip assembly, analysis of gunshot residue, jewelry examination, bullet marking comparison, handwriting and print analysis, banknote authenticity verification, paint particle and fiber analysis, among others.

“The installation of this high-tech SEM at ACE-SPED marks a significant step forward in promoting cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration between academia and industry in Nigeria.”

Prof. Aigbodion urged researchers and industries to leverage the facility by submitting their samples for analysis, emphasizing that services typically sought abroad are now accessible locally.

Laboratory technicians at ACE-SPED are currently undergoing specialized training to ensure optimal utilization of the equipment. According to one of the trainers, Muhammad Couller from South Africa, the Axia ChemiSEM is a high-tech machine equipped with a one-year warranty and a projected average lifespan of at least a decade with proper maintenance. “Our team will provide any necessary service as may be requested by ACE-SPED even after the warranty has elapsed,” he stated.

Beyond the SEM, the Materials Characterisation Laboratory is equipped with additional high-tech instruments, including FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), XRF (X-ray Fluorescence), and XRD (X-ray Diffraction). These tools are essential for characterizing energy materials and other advanced materials such as lithium ore and cobalt, further enhancing the Centre’s capacity for groundbreaking research.

The installation of the Axia ChemiSEM Scanning Electron Microscope at ACE-SPED underscores the Centre’s commitment to advancing materials research and sustainable energy solutions. With its focus on fostering innovation and collaboration, ACE-SPED continues to position itself as a leading hub for scientific excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa.