Albert Polman receives STW Valorisation Grant for new microscope
Technology Foundation STW has awarded a 'Phase 2 Valorisation Grant' of 200,000 euros to AMOLF group leader professor Albert Polman for the commercialization of the cathodoluminescence microscope developed in his group.
The new instrument uses an electron beam to excite a material’s surface and collects the emitted visible and infrared light. Both the spectrum and the angular distribution of light are determined, with a spatial resolution that is determined by the electron beam spot size of only 10 nm. The instrument can thus make optical images with a resolution much smaller than the wavelength of light. The STW Grant will enable further development of the instrument that will be brought on the market by the start-up company Delmic.
Valorisation Grants
STW Valorisation Grants support entrepreneurial researchers and help them to translate innovative ideas into commercial products. A Valorisation Grant enables the development of a commercial prototype after scientific research has lead to a proof-of-principle. The prototype can then be replicated as a commercial product. Polman received an initial 'Phase 1 Valorisation Grant' in 2012.
An editorial article on the new instrument appeared in Nature earlier this year (Nature 493, 143 (2013)). It was also highlighted in Microcopy and Analysis.
About Polman
After seven years as AMOLF director, Polman announced in April 2013 that he wants to fully concentrate on the further expansion of the FOM focus group 'Light management in new photovoltaic materials' at AMOLF and on the leadership of his own research group. Professor Vinod Subramaniam has been appointed as the new director of FOM Institute AMOLF with effect from 1 September 2013.