Mexico's national research petroleum institute, the Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo (IMP), will open its new centre for advanced microscopy and research this week
In planning since 2002, the center features a complete suite of FEI tools that enable advanced nanoscale research and development.
The opening was announced jointly by IMP and FEI.
The state of the art center features FEI's XL 30 environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), a Nova 200 NanoLab, the first DualBeam installed in Latin America, two Tecnai transmission electron microscopes (TEMs), and FEI's flagship product, a Titan S/TEM, the world's most powerful commercially-available microscope.
Researchers at IMP will use the FEI tools for a variety of applications including the study and development of catalysts for more efficient fuels, fuel cell membranes, and new nano-enabled materials such as anticorrosive products for oil refineries and pipelines, among others.
"Throughout the planning process for our new center, we focused on selecting tools that would deliver groundbreaking results and reliability for our researchers and developers working on a wide spectrum of projects," explained Marcelo Lozada y Cassou, director of the molecular engineering programme.
"With FEI's proven solutions, history of technology innovation and excellent record for customer support, we believe IMP's center is well positioned for the future".
Opening ceremonies for the new center will be attended by prominent officials of Pemex and leading research Institutes of Mexico.
"FEI's tools are supporting important scientific projects aimed at solving some of the world's most critical challenges".
"As the world's energy needs increase dramatically and traditional fuel sources diminish, the need for new and more environment-friendly fuel sources has new urgency," said Don Kania, FEI's president and CEO.
"We are pleased to have been selected by IMP as their partner for tools and industrial applications that will support the development of nano-enabled products that can address both energy and environmental issues".
IMP is a fully decentralised and legally-independent public organisation of the federal government of Mexico.
Its fundamental objectives are the scientific research and technical development required for the petroleum, petrochemical and chemical industries, the supply of technical services to these industries, and the commercialisation of services and technological products resulting from research.
It is also responsible for the development of highly specialised human resources to support the areas in which the Institute and its associates are involved.
