Optical Microscope for Imaging High-Speed Precision Surface Processes

2026-07-22

SURFLIGHT is at the forefront of optical microscopy innovation, aiming to bring an exceptional microscope to the market. We have developed a high-resolution microscope (up to 2 nm) capable of monitoring ultrafast surface processes (μs-scale) on non-transparent materials under real operational conditions. This innovation holds promise for industries like semiconductors, batteries, and green energy, where it is critical to visualize surface phenomena label-free and in real-time. SURFLIGHT's microscope excels in identifying active sites on surfaces and nanomaterials, essential for catalytic reactions or solar energy conversion. This technology streamlines catalysis R&D by offering real-time visualizations, cutting costs, and optimizing catalyst utilization. Moreover, it minimizes the need for repetitive tests, conserving time and resources, while enhancing catalyst lifespans and reducing replacements through real-time monitoring of catalyst degradation under real-world conditions. Most importantly, it safeguards against large-scale process failures, resulting in substantial cost savings in materials and reduced downtime. A thorough market analysis within SURFLIGHT will allow us to step up our dialogue with academic as well as industrial partners and thoroughly characterize the industry’s demands and needs for the microscope. This will allow us to undertake a final optimization of the microscope once identified the initial targeted customer sector. This ERC PoC will be central for pursuing these goals. We envision SURFLIGHT in the market rapidly and attracting commercial interest from a wide range of industrial sectors.

Germany

2025-12-01