KNMFi Insights
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A Brief History Of KNMFi
Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi) was founded in 2008 as an open access technology platform/research infrastructure for structuring and characterizing of functional materials at the micro- and nanoscale. In 2021, the scope of KNMFi was widened with the addition of digitalization and research data management. Operating with a collaborative approach to user access, KNMFi is currently organized in three laboratories hosting 23 technologies.
KNMFi is open to users from KIT, Helmholtz Centers as well as to worldwide users from industry and academia. Access is free of charge as long as results are intended to be published and are co-authored by KNMFi members or the resulting publication includes an acknowledgement to KNMFi. Registered users can apply to access KNMFi technologies via the KNMFi online proposal submission system.
Since 2026, KNMFi has been integrated into the Karlsruhe High Technology Hub (KarlTech).
Highlights
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A Scientific Breakthrough in Designing Refractory-based Alloys
This publication reports on the combination of high‑temperature oxidation resistance and room‑temperature ductility in a single‑phase Cr‑36.1Mo‑3Si alloy (at.%), which is unique among refractory‑based alloys. Target preparation by focused ion beam (FIB) was used to produce needle‑shaped samples for atom probe tomography (APT) to investigate the oxidation behavior. The three‑dimensional elemental distribution at near‑atomic resolution obtained by APT revealed the presence of nanosized SiO₂ particles formed during high‑temperature oxidation within the passivating Cr₂O₃ oxide scale. These particles are one of the key factors contributing to the alloy’s exceptional high‑temperature oxidation performance and were detected only through the use of KNMFi facilities.
Image: Concentration color maps of chromia scale (top part) and the Cr-depleted subsurface layer (bottom part) of a reconstructed APT tip Cr-36.1Mo-3Si AC taken at the scale/substrate interface after 800°C/100 h oxidation. The determined concentrations from the locations highlighted by red dots in the maps confirm the presence of Cr2O3, Cr-depleted solid solution and SiO2
Publication: Hinrichs, F., Winkens, G., Kramer, L.K. et al. A ductile chromium–molybdenum alloy resistant to high-temperature oxidation. Nature 646, 331–337 (2025).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09516-8