In this interview, AZoMaterials speaks with Professor Sarah Haigh, Professor of Materials Characterization at the University of Manchester, about her pioneering work in electron microscopy and its role in advancing research on two-dimensional materials, catalysts, and automation in microscopy.
Can you please introduce yourself and your role at the University of Manchester?
My name is Sarah Haigh and I am Professor of Materials Characterization at the University of Manchester, where I lead the Electron Microscopy Center. I oversee a facility with seven transmission electron microscopes and support over 500 users each year. My focus is on applying electron microscopy to understand materials at the atomic scale, particularly 2D materials and catalysts.
What makes two-dimensional materials so exciting in your research?
Two-dimensional materials continue to surprise us. When you make materials atomically thin, their properties change dramatically compared to their bulk counterparts.
For example, graphene has become an outstanding conductor and incredibly strong compared to graphite. In clays, we’ve found ion exchange rates can increase by up to five orders of magnitude when atomically thin, which has applications in fuel cells and radioactive waste remediation.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com/peterschreiber.media
Why was studying these materials with electron microscopy such a challenge?
Most electron microscopy is performed in a vacuum, but many exciting material behaviours occur in real-world environments. To bridge this gap, we use graphene layers as windows to study samples in liquids or at solid–liquid interfaces. This approach allows us to retain atomic resolution while observing realistic conditions.
How do Thermo Scientific electron microscopes support your work?
We rely heavily on Thermo Fisher’s transmission electron microscopes. They are versatile, user-friendly, and well-suited for a large facility like ours. Their design allows our users to progress to increasingly complex experiments. Our technical specialists are also crucial in keeping the instruments running smoothly to support the diverse needs of our researchers.
Thermo Scientific's Talos TEM System at the University of Manchester. Image Credit: Prof. Sarah Haigh
You have worked on automation and scripting with Thermo Fisher. How does this benefit your research?
Automation makes transmission electron microscopy more accessible. With automated workflows, we can analyze more samples faster and with less user expertise required. This ensures that the machine achieves atomic resolution across larger regions, helping us avoid bias by only focusing on one area of interest.
What are some of the real-world applications of your research?
One example is our work with BP on Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. These catalysts convert municipal solid waste into jet fuel with an 80 % carbon reduction compared to traditional feedstocks. Using electron microscopy, we study catalyst activation to extend their lifetimes and make large-scale plants more cost-effective.
What do you see as the next big step for electron microscopy in material science?
Automation will continue to be key. We are especially excited about the new Iliad system, which allows high-energy loss spectroscopy directly in the microscope. This could reduce the need for synchrotron experiments and give us faster access to critical information for solving problems in catalysis and other areas.
What do you enjoy most about events like the Microscience Microscopy Congress?
The Congress combines a buzzing exhibition with a strong academic program. It’s one of the few UK conferences where you can connect with all major manufacturers and also be inspired by cutting-edge talks. It’s a great place to discover new ideas and bring them back to the lab.
Finally, what excites you about the new Iliad system?
The Iliad offers greater accessibility, letting us program the microscope in new ways and carry out experiments that weren’t previously possible. Our students are particularly excited to explore these opportunities and push the boundaries of what electron microscopy can achieve.
About Professor Sarah Haigh
Professor Sarah Haigh is Professor of Materials Characterization at the University of Manchester, where she directs the Electron Microscopy Center and the bp International Center for Advanced Materials.
She studied Materials Science at the University of Oxford, completing her DPhil in 2008 under Prof Angus Kirkland, before joining the University of Manchester in 2010 following a role at JEOL UK. Her research focuses on advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, particularly in situ TEM, electron tomography, elemental imaging, and the study of two-dimensional materials and catalysts.
Professor Haigh has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and several book chapters, achieving an H-index above 70. She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Rosenhain Medal from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and selection as a finalist for the Blavatnik Awards in Physical Sciences.
She has also served as Chair of the EMAG group of the Institute of Physics and held leadership roles within the Royal Microscopical Society. Her work continues to advance the role of electron microscopy in addressing critical challenges in materials science, energy, and sustainability.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific – Electron Microscopy Solutions.
For more information on this source, please visit Thermo Fisher Scientific – Electron Microscopy Solutions.
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