Top 10 Companies in the Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Industry (2025): Market Leaders Powering Global Microscopy

In Business Insights
December 13, 2025

The Global Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Market was valued at USD 128.5 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 242.7 Million by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This growth is being driven by advancements in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rising research in life sciences, and the expanding applications of nanotechnology and materials science.

As scientific research pushes the boundaries of resolution and precision, the demand for high-performance sample preparation materials has never been greater. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Industry—a mix of established global suppliers and innovative specialists shaping the future of nanoscale imaging.


🔟 1. Quantifoil

Headquarters: Jena, Germany
Key Offering: Standard and Holey Carbon Films, MicroQuant Grids

Quantifoil is a globally recognized leader in the manufacture of precision support films for electron microscopy. Renowned for its high-quality, reproducible carbon films, the company specializes in holey carbon grids that are essential for single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. Their products are characterized by exceptional uniformity and low background noise, making them a preferred choice for high-resolution structural biology research.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of patented holey carbon film technology

  • Specialized grids for cryo-EM and tomography applications

  • Commitment to producing films with minimal thickness variation

Download FREE Sample Report:
Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Agar Scientific

Headquarters: Essex, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Ultra-Thin Carbon on Holey Carbon Films, Lacey Carbon Grids

Agar Scientific is a major supplier of microscopy consumables with a comprehensive portfolio of carbon support films. The company serves a global customer base in academia and industry, providing films noted for their stability under the electron beam. Their lacey carbon grids are particularly valued for their robust structure, which provides ample support while offering large, clear areas for imaging.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Extensive range of grid types and coatings

  • Focus on product consistency and batch-to-batch reliability


8️⃣ 3. Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS)

Headquarters: Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: EMS Ultra-Thin Carbon Films, Holey Carbon Coated Grids

EMS is a leading North American supplier of electron microscopy supplies, offering a wide array of ultra-thin carbon support films. The company is known for its strong distribution network and technical support, providing products that cater to both biological and materials science applications. Their films are engineered to minimize charging and provide a clean background for high-contrast imaging.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of films with enhanced conductivity

  • Specialized products for challenging sample types


7️⃣ 4. Ted Pella, Inc.

Headquarters: Redding, California, USA
Key Offering: PELCO® Ultra-Thin Carbon Support Films, Holey Films

Ted Pella has been serving the microscopy community for decades, offering a vast selection of consumables under its PELCO® brand. Their ultra-thin carbon films are praised for their high quality and reliability. The company provides extensive technical resources and customer support, making it a trusted partner for researchers requiring precise and dependable sample preparation materials.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Broad portfolio including standard and specialty grids

  • Investment in cleanroom manufacturing processes

Download FREE Sample Report:
Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Woomyoung

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: WM Ultra-Thin Carbon Films, Holey Carbon Grids

Woomyoung is a significant player in the Asian market, known for producing cost-effective yet high-performance carbon support films. The company has gained a strong foothold by supplying reliable products to a growing number of research institutions and industrial labs across the Asia-Pacific region. Their focus on manufacturing efficiency allows them to offer competitive pricing without compromising on essential quality parameters.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expansion of product lines to meet diverse application needs

  • Focus on the rapidly growing Asian research market


5️⃣ 6. Beijing XXBR Technology

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Carbon Support Films for TEM, Graphene Oxide Films

As a key Chinese manufacturer, Beijing XXBR Technology is capitalizing on the country’s massive investment in scientific research. The company produces a range of carbon support films that serve the domestic and international markets. They are actively involved in developing next-generation materials, including graphene-based supports, to address the evolving demands of high-resolution microscopy.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • R&D into novel carbon nanomaterials for microscopy

  • Strategic positioning within China’s booming tech sector


4️⃣ 7. Beijing Xinwang Weituo Technology

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Standard Ultra-Thin Carbon Films, Custom Grid Coatings

This company is another important Chinese supplier focused on the microscopy consumables market. Beijing Xinwang Weituo Technology provides a variety of carbon-coated grids suitable for routine and advanced TEM applications. Their strategy involves meeting the high-volume needs of China’s extensive academic and industrial research sectors with consistent and affordable products.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Scaling production capabilities to meet domestic demand

  • Exploring custom coating services for specialized applications


3️⃣ 8. Head (Beijing) Biotechnology

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Ultra-Thin Carbon Films for Life Sciences, Cryo-EM Grids

Specializing in consumables for the life sciences, Head (Beijing) Biotechnology focuses on products that support biological TEM and cryo-EM. Their films are designed to be biocompatible and provide optimal conditions for imaging delicate biological macromolecules. The company is growing alongside China’s expanding biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of films tailored for biological samples

  • Collaborations with academic research groups


2️⃣ 9. Lehua Electronic Technology

Headquarters: Beijing, China
Key Offering: Carbon Support Films, TEM Sample Preparation Supplies

Lehua Electronic Technology is a supplier that supports the broader electronics and materials science research community in China. They provide ultra-thin carbon films that are essential for characterizing nanomaterials, semiconductors, and other advanced materials. Their products are integral to quality control and R&D processes in high-tech industries.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Serving the nexus of microscopy and electronics manufacturing

  • Ensuring product supply chain resilience within Asia


1️⃣ 10. Other Niche and Regional Specialists

Description: A collective of specialized manufacturers and distributors serving specific regional markets or application niches. This includes companies that produce custom-order films, graphene-based supports, or those focusing on unique grid geometries not offered by larger players. These specialists are crucial for driving innovation and meeting the highly specific demands of cutting-edge research projects.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Pioneering alternative support materials like graphene and silicon nitride

  • Filling gaps in the market with customized solutions

Get Full Report Here:
Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔬 Outlook: The Future of Ultra Thin Carbon Support Films Is Higher Resolution and Smarter Integration

The ultra thin carbon support film market is undergoing a significant transformation. While standard amorphous carbon films remain the workhorse for many labs, the industry is investing in advanced materials, more precise manufacturing, and integration with automated workflows.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Shift towards sub-3nm films for atomic-resolution cryo-EM and TEM

  • Increased adoption of functionalized films for improved sample adhesion

  • Integration of support films with automated sample preparation systems

  • Growing R&D into graphene and other 2D materials as next-generation supports

Get Full Report Here:
Ultra Thin Carbon Support Film Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying essential tools for scientific discovery—they’re enabling the next wave of breakthroughs in nanotechnology, medicine, and materials science.