Topic: Microscopic Instruments and Microstructural Processing Technologies for Materials

The ongoing advancement of materials science relies heavily on the ability to visualize, manipulate, and engineer material structures at the micro- and nanoscale. Cutting-edge microscopic instruments not only enable high-resolution observation of microstructures but also play a pivotal role in micro- and nanoscale fabrication and the optimization of material properties. These technologies are fundamental to the discovery of new materials and the enhancement of existing ones for applications across electronics, energy, biomedical devices, and structural systems.

In recent years, rapid developments in electron microscopy, focused ion beam (FIB) systems, scanning probe techniques, and advanced sample preparation methods have enabled in-depth studies of composition, morphology, defects, and phase evolution with unprecedented accuracy. Meanwhile, microstructural processing technologies, such as laser-based fabrication, micro-machining, and nano-patterning, offer powerful tools for tailoring material properties at the structural level.

This Special Issue highlights recent progress in both the development and application of microscopic instrumentation and microstructural processing technologies in materials research. It provides a platform for researchers to share innovations in imaging, fabrication, and processing techniques, and to explore their integration into novel approaches for materials design and engineering.

Microscopy, microstructural processing, electron microscopy, in-situ characterization, micro/nano fabrication, 3D imaging, materials analysis