Ion microscopes use ionized atoms, e.g. helium, neon, or gallium, which are accelerated and focused to a spot size as small as half a nanometer. Such focused ion beam (FIB) instruments can be used to generate high magnification images well beyond the capabilities of traditional optical microscopy. They also can be used to add, subtract, or otherwise modify specimens at the nanometer scale, allowing researchers to nanofabricate devices for a variety of applications.
This wide array of capabilities makes an ion microscope an ideal instrument for imaging, characterization, and nanofabrication. Typical applications are in advanced materials (graphene and polymers), energy (including advanced batteries and solar photovoltaics), life sciences (pharmaceuticals and biology) and semiconductor circuit analysis and modification.