Born out of research at the University of Bristol, Infinitesima develops tools for nanotechnologists based on atomic-force microscopes.

Nanotechnology is a booming area both for research and innovation. Infinitesima sits firmly in the first wave of nanotechnology businesses. The company provides tools that researchers and technologists need to realise the many possibilities that come from being able to work with materials at near-to-atomic dimensions.

The company builds on research carried out by the scanning-probe microscopy group in the Physics Department at Bristol University. Led by Professor Meryvn Miles, the group has received support from EPSRC's Materials Programme for a series of projects, including research on how to use the atomic force microscope (AFM) to investigate the properties of many different materials.

Infinitesima started business in 2001 with Professor Miles as the founding chairman. The company built on research by Dr Andy Humphris, another of the founders of Infinitesima and now its Chief Technology Officer.

Dr Humphris's research led to the development of the Video-rate Atomic Force Microscope, VideoAFM, the first commercially available AFM that can deliver real-time video images.

"Infinitesima is committed to innovating and creating new tools for nanotechnologists," says Dr Humphris. "The VideoAFM uses a completely new approach to atomic force microscopy that circumvents the limitations imposed by traditional approaches."

Using the VideoAFM, scientists can visualise nano-scale events in real-time, like an optical microscope but with nanometre resolution. "This paves the way to a new era for scientists who can now follow and control chemical or biological processes at the single molecule level."

Tools of this nature are also essential for many industrial applications such as large-area surface inspection and the realisation of nano-scales devices. "It will be very exciting to see how Infinitesima's technology will revolutionise research in biotechnology and nanotechnology," says Dr Humphris.

Born out of research at the University of Bristol, Infinitesima develops tools for nanotechnologists based on atomic-force microscopes.

Infinitesima Ltd