Objective
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is expanding across semiconductor metrology & inspection (M&I) and biological cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), yet both fields share the same bottleneck: insufficient contrast. In cryo-EM, most specimens are weak-phase objects, limiting visualization from single proteins to cells. In M&I, throughput and yield hinge on contrast, especially for 3D reconstructions of next-generation devices.
Complementary photon pathways help: Collecting light by cathodoluminescence (CL) adds band-structure and defect information. Injecting light directly enhances contrast and enables control over the specimen state (e.g. steady-state or ultrafast heating to capture transient configurations).
Commercial solutions have focused mainly on CL, typically sacrificing specimen tilt and preventing the use of frontier TEM techniques such as tomography. Light injection has been inadequately addressed, especially at the high optical powers required, where miniature in-column optics suffer heating, drift, and alignment instability.
Building on ERC Starting Grant NanoEP, we propose ‘Stork’: a compact, affordable, module that integrates with conventional TEMs to both collect and inject light at the specimen. Stork operates across a wide spectral range, delivers dispersion-free injection, and designed to work with state-of-the-art holders (e.g. electrical biasing) and advanced TEMs (e.g. cryo-EM). Installed outside the objective lens pole-pieces, it preserves normal TEM function – enabling full-tilt tomography previously blocked by CL add-ons. By optimizing mechanical and thermal stability, Stork enables robust light-enhanced experiments and new routes to higher contrast. Furthermore, it also contributes to pump–probe studies in ultrafast TEMs.
By providing broadband optical access without geometric penalties, Stork will accelerate the adoption of light-enhanced methods in biological cryo-EM and advanced semiconductor characterization.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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32000 Haifa
Israel
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