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) in its Materials Characterisation laboratory. This cutting-edge equipment is one of the few fully equipped SEMs in any Nigerian university and is valued at millions of naira.
The SEM machine is designed to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analyses, capture images, perform image-centric analysis, and execute X-ray spectral mapping and line scanning using a Back Scattered Electron Detector (BSED). Its remarkable functionality allows for thorough analysis, visualization, and quantification of microstructures.
Professor Emenike Ejiogu, Director of ACE-SPED, highlighted that the procurement and installation of the SEM align with the centre’s sustainability objectives. He stated, “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.”
The installation of the SEM machine provides opportunities for researchers and industries to conduct their analyses within Nigeria, eliminating the need to spend substantial amounts of dollars overseas.
Additionally, Prof. Ejiogu mentioned that Katchey Company Limited, a Dealer Partner of Thermo Fisher Scientific, supplied the Axia ChemiSEM equipment. Katchey Company Limited will also provide after-sales support services for optimal usage of the Scanning Electron Microscope and other equipment supplied. The SEM, which features a powerful combination of SEM and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), holds significant value across various sectors, particularly for industries that rely heavily on SEM analysis.