Material expertise and characterization services

Understanding the microstructure of your materials begins with precise preparation – grinding, polishing, and etching. From additive manufacturing to fatigue failure, our sample preparation techniques ensure accurate and reproducible results.

We then apply a combination of high-resolution imaging techniques to reveal fine details at the micro- and nanoscale:

• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM): equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental analysis, and an environmental chamber for imaging sensitive or non-conductive materials under controlled conditions.
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM): used for nanostructure analysis on ultra-thin samples, which we prepare in-house using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) system capable of slicing down to ~200 nanometers.
• Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) and optical microscopy complement our microstructure inspection toolkit by enabling 3D, non-destructive, and fast visual analysis.

Chemical composition, molecular structures, and phase transitions leave distinct signatures. Our spectroscopy and diffraction techniques capture them with high precision at both the molecular and atomic scale.

Our equipment includes:

• Raman Spectroscopy with micrometre-scale spatial resolution, ideal for identifying molecular bonds, stress states, or contaminants in solid materials, coatings, or devices.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) covering the infrared range, with extensions into the near-infrared and visible spectrum.
• X-ray Diffraction (XRD) with multiple configurations for high-precision structural analysis and phase identification: the Bragg-Brentano Materials Research (MRD) and multipurpose diffractometers are both equipped with heating and cooling chambers for in-situ measurements under temperature variation or controlled humidity.

Surface features such as roughness and wear can make or break product performance. We measure them with nanometre-level precision to help you optimize material behavior, adhesion, and durability.

Our equipment includes:

• Confocal microscopy and white-light interferometry which provide 3D surface topography with vertical resolution down to the nanometer range.
• A nanotribometer, for measuring friction and wear under controlled conditions, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), for nanoscale surface imaging and mechanical property mapping.

Thermal fatigue, material degradation, and early failure are avoidable—if you test for them. We simulate extreme temperature and environmental conditions to evaluate how your materials perform over time, ensuring reliability and compliance in real-world applications.

Our capabilities include:

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): analyzing thermal transitions, thermal stability, and specific heat over a wide temperature range (–150 °C to 725 °C).
• Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA): measuring weight changes in materials during controlled heating (20 °C to 950 °C).
• Environmental and mechanical reliability testing, such as:
  Inspecting and qualifying electronic assemblies, printed circuit boards (PCBs), and electrical connectors;
  Performing vibration and shock testing. Conducting temperature and humidity cycling to replicate harsh environments for accelerated aging;
  Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) to detect early-life product failures.

Non-destructive optical stress analysis in ceramic watch components

This article explores the use of optical spectroscopy (Raman and fluorescence) to assess mechanical stress in non-metallic watch components (rubies, corundum, zirconia, sapphire). These non-contact, high-resolution techniques reveal stress distributions—residual or induced—and highlight significant variability in ruby components. Results demonstrate the potential of these methods for quality control in watchmaking and suggest applicability to other materials (e.g., silicon, quartz) and joining methods (e.g., brazing).

Nouvelles techniques de contrôle optique de composants en matériaux non-métalliques pour des applications horlogères, Dagon, M., Vallat, E., Sereda, O., Gobet, J., 2020, Société Suisse de Chronométrie.

Efficient synthesis of conductive nanostructured IrO₂–TiO₂ materials

This study presents a simple one-pot synthesis of conductive, high-surface-area IrO₂–TiO₂ nanocomposites via a modified Adams fusion method. The process yields intimately mixed nanoscale oxides, with a percolated IrO₂ network embedded in a TiO₂ matrix. These materials demonstrate enhanced electronic conductivity and elevated electrochemical surface area. Structural and morphological analyses confirm uniform dispersion and controlled porosity. The one-pot Adams method thus provides a straightforward and scalable route for producing IrO₂–TiO₂ composites with properties suited for applications such as electrocatalysis and energy conversion.

A simple one-pot Adams method route to conductive high surface area IrO₂-TiO₂ materials, Oakton, E., Lebedev, D., Fedorov, A., Krumeich, F., 2016, New Journal of Chemistry. DOI: 10.1039/C5NJ02400E