Looking Back at 2023

As a New Year kicks off, it is always interesting and informative to look back at the year just past. For Oxford Instruments NanoAnalysis, 2023 has been another busy year, with a new release of the AZtec software, increasing integration with the RISE product and a hectic programme of virtual and face-to-face events.

However, there are two events that stand out for me from 2023.

Launch of Unity

The first is the launch of our Unity Imaging Detector, and with it, the introduction of a whole new way that SEM analysis can be performed – BEX.

Before Unity – Hit and Miss

At the start of 2023, analysis on an SEM was a static, step-by-step process, and it could depend heavily on experience-based instinct to obtain good results in a timely manner. Topographical information about a sample was obtained using a secondary electron signal, while indicative compositional information was obtained from a backscattered electron signal. Combining these data resulted in the typical black and white electron microscope image.

Based on these indicative results, an area is selected for closer scrutiny. EDS analysis is applied to obtain firm compositional information. If nothing of interest is found in the area of sample selected, the process begins again.​

After Unity

Unity takes Backscattered Electrons and X-ray signals and combines them, providing a single, instant visual output that combines topographic, crystallographic, atomic number and elemental information. This gives important benefits whether you want to home in something specific or need to see the sample in its entirety:

Targeted Analysis

The ingenious design of Unity allows the data to be acquired under standard EM conditions while you navigate around your sample. So, you now don’t have to trust luck and judgement to find areas of interest. Instead, using the BEX technique, Unity allows you to immediately review the results, and either focus in on points of interest or move on.

This video of a Fly Ash sample was acquired at WD 8.94 and 20 kV. You can see how quickly and easily we can move and change the field of view using Unity, and then capture a high resolution image within seconds. 

Another key benefit evident here is how well Unity and BEX imaging copes with sample topography and reduces shadow to a minimum.

Entire Sample Imaging

Unity imaging also enables accurate, high-definition chemical mapping of the entire sample. What once could have taken hours or event an overnight run to acquire can now be achieved in minutes with Unity, using the Cartography mode.

In this next video, the high resolution data in the video is of 3D printer powder on a 12 mm aluminium stub. Unity was used to acquire the data from the entire stub, which took approximately 30 minutes.

If you want to see for yourself, follow this link to find the image (you will have to scroll a small amount) on the product page. The built-in zoom function allows you to see the resolution and quality of this image first-hand.

Innovation Centre Launch

We could always demonstrate our SEM analytical systems at our offices in High Wycombe, but we wanted to turn our demo area into something much more significant than a facility to promote our products. That’s why we brought together the best of Oxford Instruments analytical innovations to form the Materials Analysis Innovation Centre in High Wycombe.

In this impressive space, we have five SEMs, decked out with Backscattered Electron and X-ray ​(BEX), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS) and Raman Imaging and Scanning Electron (RISE) capabilities. 

To this array of SEM analytics, we have added substantial analysis capability within the centre with:

• Benchtop Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, including broadband X-Pulse benchtop spectrometers, which identify structure, characterise reaction dynamics and measure physical and chemical properties of molecules, compounds and mixtures

• Atomic Force Microscopy, with the addition of a Jupiter XR which characterises a variety of materials properties at the nanoscale. This system complements the existing Cypher VRS to provide high performance measurements on a wide range of samples.

Labs are fitted out with multiple screens to provide the best experience during face-to-face training or collaboration. They are also fully connected to allow the experience to be replicated virtually, as well being equipped with a range of recording equipment to allow capture and retention for sharing or future review.

While the centre still allows us to showcase our world-leading analytical instrumentation, it is now also an ideal space for the provision of training by our technique experts. Additionally, it is a state-of-the-art hub for collaboration, where invited scientists and researchers can access both the technology and the expertise at the core of the Innovation Centre.

You may have seen that we recently held an event to mark the inauguration of the Innovation Centre, to which we invited leading figures and collaboration partners from the scientific community as well as local community leaders to join us for a tour of the High Wycombe site and a demonstration of the centre’s capabilities. It was perfect as a kick-off for this excellent new resource that we hope will become a major centre of advancement for materials analysis.

Roll on 2024

Along with my colleagues, I am now waiting eagerly to see what the coming year has in store. We have put a lot into planning, of course, and we hope through enacting these plans to continue to make an important contribution to analysis at the nanoscale. And, I’m sure there will be the occasional curveball that come at us from time-to-time, which require us to stay on our toes and make things (even more) interesting.

Here is wishing that 2024 is as good to you as I hope it is to me.

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