The Space Nanomaterials Atom Probe (SNAP): Atom by atom resolution of Material and Space Science Challenges

The Space Nanomaterials Atom Probe (SNAP) represents the ideal solution for near-atomic characterisation of materials, with a specialist focus on space materials to support the booming UK space sector. In many cases, atom probe tomography (APT) is the only way to visualise the chemistry and isotopic composition of a material in three dimensions and with atomic resolution. The datasets reveal nanoscale structures that often define the overall material properties. Alongside our focus on space materials, the datasets produced by SNAP will be key to develop new quantum, semiconductor and energy-sector devices.
Aim
Our aim is to create SNAP: a user accessible next generation APT facility focussed on space materials research that will deliver first-of-their-kind characterisation of challenging materials vital to the space sector and energy transition (e.g., irradiated materials, semiconductor- thermoelectric-, functional-, and battery-related materials, and heterogeneous catalysts, etc).
Objectives
Our objectives are to: install the SNAP infrastructure; demonstrate the new capabilities of SNAP to characterise challenging materials (e.g., those that have been damaged by space weathering processes); provide a correlative materials characterisation and development service to the international community; grow a sustainable user base; and deliver impact including through collaboration with the commercial space sector.
Context
SNAP will be the first atom probe tomography (APT) facility in Scotland, the first UK-based LEAP-6000XR instrument, and the first APT facility worldwide to focus on space materials research, leveraging Glasgow as the heart of the UK space sector. SNAP is supported by APT expertise across the University of Glasgow (UofG), and the UK/international APT and space science communities. Co-locating SNAP with UofG’s complementary world-leading microscopy and materials engineering facilities will form an accessible one-stop-shop for correlative, multi-scale and multi-property materials characterisation.
Applications and benefits
The LEAP-6000XR is a significant advance on previous models and will enable first-of-their-kind measurements on new materials. SNAP’s deep-ultraviolet laser system improves sample success rates, data quality and dataset size on many materials. Automated operation enhances accessibility and ease of use. SNAP will analyse a range of previously challenging materials with low electrical/thermal conductivities and/or complex microstructures (e.g., semiconductor-, thermoelectric-, functional-, and battery-related materials, heterogeneous catalysts etc). This new functionality combined with a vacuum-cryo-transfer module (VCTM) permits measurements of volatile elements including hydrogen within materials, vital for evaluating hydrogen embrittlement, and will be particularly important for assessing space weathering damage and hydrogen implantation into spacecraft components.
SNAP’s grand challenge
Humanity aims to put people back on the Moon in permanent human settlements by the end of the decade. Such permanent infrastructure will be exposed to the harsh environment of space, which will induce nanoscale damage into these structures that is currently poorly understood and may result in catastrophic failure. SNAP, alongside UofG’s existing correlative analytical suite and James Watt Nanofabrication Centre’s materials fabrication labs, is the ideal tool to assess and mitigate against these processes that threaten our future in space. SNAP will form a collaborative consortium to address this challenge including academia (Universities of Oxford, Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt) and the local space sector (Inex, and Benchmark Space Systems). In addition to this key topic, with its advanced characterisation capabilities, SNAP will provide unique atomic-scale information on traditionally challenging materials across EPSRC’s remit and UKRI’s portfolio more broadly.