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2007200620052004200320022001
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01.03.2003
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Delivery of TOF-SIMS IV to ICI, UK
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The Measurement Science Group of ICI, one of the biggest companies in the UK, has recently taken delivery of a well equipped TOF-SIMS IV. The 'Surface Science Team' involved at the Teeside laboratories in the North East of England includes Dr Ian Fletcher, Dr Isla Mathieson and Stan F Davies, with many years experience of surface science to help them fully utilise the new instrument.
This is one of the first TOF-SIMS IVs delivered with the new primary ion Gold source, which will give very significant enhancement of the imaging of molecular distributions, an important application for the Group. Actually this is the only instrument so far supplied to be equipped with all the current ION-TOF primary ion sources, Au, In, Ga, O2, SF6, and the noble gases. Other applications of importance to them are the analysis of biological samples, analyses involving volatile/mobile species and adhesion studies.
The laboratory is also equipped with a Kratos Axis Ultra XPS instrument making a powerful analytical capability with the TOF-SIMS IV and enabling the Group to offer a full commercial surface analytical service to anyone with surface analysis requirements.
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15.03.2003
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Liquid Metal Gold Cluster Ion Source
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There has been enormous market interest in our new Liquid Metal Gold Cluster Ion Source, announced recently.
It has been understood for some time that heavy polyatomic ions such as SF5 give much improved secondary ion yields for organic species. The new Gold source combines the high secondary ion efficiency of polyatomic bombardment with the high brightness and focus quality known from other LMI sources like Gallium or Indium. It provides a pulsed and mass separated ion beam of Au, Au2 or Au3 for high sensitivity spectroscopy and high resolution imaging. Results with Au3 show up to 100 times higher secondary ion yields than the conventional Gallium source, with comparable ion column performance.
We think that the new source will displace the established 3-lens Gallium source as the first choice primary ion gun for organic surface analysis in the future. Recent new customers involved in wide ranges of sample types confirm our thoughts.
If you want more details and some example of applications, please complete the enquiry form on this web site.
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06.06.2003
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La Trobe University starting TOF-SIMS Service in Australia
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The TOF-SIMS IV in the Centre for Materials and Surface Science at La Trobe University in Australia is the only TOF-SIMS in the state of Victoria. The facility is operated by a consortium of La Trobe University, CSIRO Molecular Science, Amcor Research and Technology and Deakin University. Dr Paul Pigram, the Director of the Centre, says that the TOF-SIMS IV will open up a number of expanded research areas, such as micro-patterning polymer systems, surface chemistry of bacteria, surface modification of packaging materials, analysis of lubricant systems on steels, and investigation of the surface properties of biomaterials. Professor Liesegang, project supervisor, sees useful commercial developments, in improved paint systems for the automobile industry, and improvement of sealing and adhesion properties of packaging. The other member of this team, Narelle Brack, is responsible for developing TOF-SIMS applications and customer liaison.
Associate Professor John Liesegang,
Dr Narelle Brack and Dr Paul Pigram
with the TOF-SIMS IV
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01.09.2003
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Dave Briggs recommends a TOF-SIMS IV
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Many readers will know or have heard of Dave Briggs, past Company Research Associate and Manager of the Surface Analysis Laboratory of ICI at Teeside in the UK, founder and Editor in Chief, until very recently, of the journal Surface and Interface Analysis, and the owner of a Surface Science Consultancy, SIACON Consultants Ltd. In February 2000 he was appointed Professor at the University of Nottingham and asked to initiate a Centre for Surface Chemical Analysis. His joint appointment is with the Schools of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Materials. Key colleagues in this intra-University collaboration are Prof Martyn Davies (Pharmacy), Prof Mike Chesters (Chemistry) and Prof Angela Seddon (Materials). Their first purchase, after extensive investigations by Dave, is a TOF-SIMS IV. Dave particularly liked the dual source (Cs/EI) optical column (with its SF6 ion source possibility), the easy addition of a UHV sample preparation chamber and the sample heating/cooling system. We are sure that this group will produce many interesting analytical results in the years to come.
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05.09.2003
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Gold, the source of choice at the moment
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As we forecasted in a previous news item our liquid metal Gold ion source has quickly replaced Gallium as the source of choice for analysis of organic materials. The improvement in the imaging of molecular species over Gallium and Indium was evident from the offset. With experience we found that the lateral resolution when using Gold was the same as with Gallium. The technology we use to separate the polyatomic cluster ions and the monoatomic ions from each other in the ion gun works extremely well. Clearly customers have nothing to loose and everything to gain by choosing our Gold source.
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