Between 2002 and 2008, CNPEM built Brazil's first domestically made scanning electron microscope, a milestone in scientific autonomy and Brazilian microtechnology.
In the mid-2000s, Brazil reached a historic technological milestone with the creation of the first scanning electron microscope (SEM) developed and manufactured entirely within the country. The project, led by the National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas (São Paulo state), represented national mastery of one of the most sophisticated scientific instruments in the world, essential to nanotechnology, materials engineering and biotechnology.
Developing the equipment consolidated Brazilian scientific independence and demonstrated the capacity of its engineers and physicists to build high-performance, low-cost precision instruments.
During the late 1990s, Brazil imported all of its electron microscopes, at prices exceeding USD 500,000 per unit. This technological dependence limited the expansion of university laboratories and research centres. In 2002, CNPEM, in partnership with the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS) and the Institute for Technological Research (IPT), launched a programme to build highly complex scientific equipment domestically.
The aim was to create a scanning microscope with national components, local maintenance and an affordable price, allowing universities and public institutes to access cutting-edge technology without relying on imports.
The Brazilian SEM project involved more than 30 engineers and physicists specialising in precision electronics, electron optics and vacuum control. The team designed detection systems, electron columns and sample chambers entirely within the country. Beam and scanning control was implemented through embedded software written in C and Assembly, running on ARM-architecture microprocessor controllers.
The electron gun used a tungsten cathode with thermionic emission, producing an electron beam less than 5 nanometres in diameter. The resolution achieved was comparable to imported models from JEOL and Hitachi of the period. The team also developed a magnetic lens system with digital focus control, optimising performance while reducing costs.
The body of the microscope was manufactured from high-purity aluminium alloys, CNC-machined at CNPEM itself. The vacuum system was built with turbomolecular pumps of national design, using Viton seals and locally calibrated Pirani pressure sensors.
To ensure thermal stability and minimise vibration, the base was moulded from polished granite with nitrile rubber vibration isolation — an innovative and sustainable approach that dispensed with imported materials and reduced emissions during production.
The control system of the Brazilian SEM was operated through a graphical interface on Linux, enabling scanning, magnification, contrast, measurement and real-time image capture. The open architecture of the software allowed the code to be adapted for different applications — from metallurgical analyses to biological samples — with no additional licensing cost.
The source code was made available to public universities under a free licence, encouraging educational use and the creation of new versions. This decision was a pioneering example of open science applied to scientific instrumentation.
The Brazilian SEM was used at several institutions, including UFRGS, UFPE, ITA and UFABC, for research into nanomaterials, polymers and biotechnology. The equipment also served industry, enabling failure analysis, quality control and surface inspection without the need to send samples abroad.
In 2008, the project received the Finep Award for Technological Innovation, recognising its economic and social impact. The equipment reduced the acquisition cost of electron microscopes by more than 60% and fostered the development of new start-ups in scientific instrumentation.
The Brazilian microscope operated with electricity consumption up to 40% lower than equivalent imported models. Its vacuum system used low-noise, high-efficiency pumps, and the control software automatically managed a power-saving mode during periods of inactivity.
The project also adopted sustainable production practices, prioritising local suppliers, recyclable materials and low-impact machining processes. The aluminium casings were recycled internally, and the solvents used to clean the chambers were regenerated in a closed loop.
Developing the Brazilian SEM trained dozens of engineers and technicians specialising in electron optics and scientific instrumentation. The project led to the creation of the National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNNano), inaugurated in 2011, which would become a continental reference in microscopy and the fabrication of devices at the nanometre scale.
Today, Brazil exports knowledge and know-how in this field, and the design of the first national SEM is preserved as scientific heritage at CNPEM, representing the country's transition from importer to producer of high technology.
The Brazilian scanning electron microscope was a turning point in the history of national engineering. It brought together science, sustainability and technological independence, making the country capable of manufacturing high-precision instruments of international quality. Ecobraz's Virtual Museum of Electronics celebrates the national SEM as a symbol of innovation applied to research and sustainable development.
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