Tell us a little about your organisation. How do the areas of nanotechnology and sustainability impact your work?

TESCAN Analytics is an SME based in France providing service and expertise in physical, chemical and structural characterization of advanced material surfaces and interfaces for all industrial sectors. These days, advanced materials are increasingly used in nanotechnologies, specifically in the development, production and control of their intrinsic and functional properties required in the use of advanced analytical and observation techniques. TESCAN ANALYTICS is providing a wide expertise in that field. 

What is the newest/most innovative development in nanotechnology that you and/or your organisation is excited about now?

We are very excited about the development of colocalized chemical and structural analysis at the submicrometric scale using the different techniques proposed by TESCAN ANALYTICS: atomic and electron microscopies, X-ray fluorescence and photoelectron spectroscopies, and focused ion beam and secondary ion mass spectrometry. 

What, in your opinion, is the most important thing (tool, process, support, etc.) that is needed right now to help grow and strengthen the nanotechnology community?

We feel that the nanotechnology community would benefit from more advanced tools and devices to conduct research. Specifically, we think that technologies like Transmission Electron Microscopes with ‘in situ’ observation capability at the nanometre scale of real/industrial samples are very important. They allow for the observation at the nanometre scale during heating/electrical bias or in static/dynamic liquid environment, needed for a lot of important applications in laboratory research.

What, in your opinion, are important factors or influences that will affect the direction of the nanotechnology community in the future?

We think that advancement in scientific basic knowledge, production capacities, eco–sustainability, safety, and disseminating ‘positive’ information to the general public will all play a very important role in influencing the growth of and acceptance nanotechnologies.