Focus on analytical equipment, sensors, and detectors

Electrochemistry capabilities are now available on the Oxford Instruments Asylum Research Cypher ES atomic force microscope. The company has introduced an electrochemical cell that lets users study EC reactions in situ in processes such as deposition, oxidation, corrosion, and the mass transfer of metals and other materials at the nanoscale. The cell allows for simultaneous electrochemistry and heating and cooling for EC thermodynamics studies. It supports a wide range of working electrode materials and sizes for many experimental conditions and is compatible with most conventional and cutting‑edge electrolytes. It is robust, is easy to assemble and clean, and can work with a user’s choice of potentiostat and in glove boxes. Applications include materials research in electrochemistry, electrodeposition, and energy storage; bioscience; and atomic force and scanning probe microscopy research. Oxford Instruments Asylum Research Inc, 6310 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, www.oxford-instruments.com

According to Agilent Technologies, its 4210 microwave plasma–atomic emission spectrometer has high sensitivity, has detection limits down to ppb levels, and is faster than flame atomic absorption for a typical multielement analysis. Since it runs on air rather than flammable gas, it is safe and economical to operate. To extend the 4210’s analytical performance, sample throughput, and ease of use, Agilent included an advanced valve system, an inert torch, a humidifier, a temperature-controlled spray chamber, a multimode sample introduction system, and enhanced diagnostics software. Automation software enables remote analysis and allows for applications such as onsite process stream sampling and environmental monitoring—for example, of remote river water. The spectrometer can also be used in laboratories in the food, agriculture, petrochemical, environmental, and mining industries. Agilent Technologies, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, www.agilent.com

A new photodetector has joined Opto Diode’s family of SXUV photodiodes. The SXUV20C is an extreme UV (EUV) photodetector for measuring UV light and monitoring the power of EUV lasers. According to the company, it has superior responsivity in the 1–200 nm wavelength region and is designed to be stable over long periods of time when exposed to high-intensity EUV energy. The photodetector can easily be integrated into most UV laser systems; the 20 mm² circular active area provides a substantial surface for easy alignment to the laser. The SXUV20C offers superior hardness in extreme UV environments while providing lower noise than the previously released SXUV20HS1. The new instrument features high photon flux robustness, minimum shunt resistance of 50 MΩ, typical reverse breakdown voltage of 10 V, and typical capacitance of 3 nF. Operating and storage temperatures range from −20 °C to 80 °C and from −20 °C to 100 °C, respectively. Opto Diode Corporation, 1260 Calle Suerte, Camarillo, CA 93012, www.optodiode.com

Hiden has launched its HPR-40 DSA mass spectrometer system for the measurement of gases and vapors in aqueous media. A fine membrane separates the aqueous media from the sample intake and allows permeation by selected gaseous species other than water vapor. Interface types include insertion probes for direct immersion in the liquid media, flow-through patterns for gas type identification, cuvette styles for photosensitive biofuel studies, and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry cells for monitoring electrochemical reactions. The HPR-40 DSA is equipped with automated inlet isolation to protect it from overpressure in case of membrane malfunction. Product development is application driven, with ongoing introduction of new media interface styles to address new user requirements. Application examples include fermentation processing, photosynthesis, electrochemical reaction studies, water quality, and enzyme kinetics analysis. Hiden Analytical Inc, 37699 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI 48150, http://hideninc.com

Princeton Instruments engineered its Sophia-XO:2048 high-speed, ultralow-noise vacuum UV and direct x-ray detection camera to address demanding, very low flux scientific applications. It features a 2048 × 2048, 15 µm² pixel CCD and has greater than 3 fps with 16 MHz readout speed at full resolution, 100% fill factor, and a 16-bit digitization rate. Using only air assist, proprietary ArcTec technology minimizes dark noise by thermoelectrically cooling the CCD to less than −90 °C. Because the back-illuminated CCD has no antireflective coating, it can directly detect a wide range of x rays between about 10 eV and 30 keV. A 6-inch rotatable ConFlat flange with a high-vacuum seal design makes it convenient to interface with UHV instrumentation. The Sophia-XO is suitable for applications such as x-ray spectroscopy, microscopy, plasma diagnostics, and extreme UV lithography in research and OEM environments. Princeton Instruments, 3660 Quakerbridge Rd, Trenton, NJ 08619, www.princetoninstruments.com

Gigahertz-Optik has made available a horizontally constructed photodetector assembly with a wand probe that keeps the detector out of the hot zone of light sources used in UV processes such as curing of inks, coatings, and adhesives. The X1-1-RCH-116-4 UV and blue-light LED curing radiometer can maintain stability in high-temperature and intense UV flood and spot curing environments. The remotely controllable, four-channel X1-1 meter features auto-ranging, continuous-wave, dose, run/stop, offset, and peak hold functions; selectable integration time; a USB interface; and a backlit LCD. The wand-style detector consists of a radiation integrator coupled to a stainless-steel rigid tube that houses a quartz light guide. The guide pipes the light signal to a capsule housing the photosensor and filter assembly. The assembly is protected from direct irradiation, so the RCH detector can operate in temperatures up to 100 °C. Gigahertz-Optik Inc, 5 Perry Way, Newburyport, MA 01950, www.gigahertz-optik.com

JEOL has expanded its InTouchScope series of scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) with a model that comes standard with a field emission gun and low-vacuum capabilities. Based on the company’s JSM-IT300 tungsten SEM, the versatile JSM-IT300HR has a small footprint equivalent to that of a conventional general-purpose SEM. Even under analytical conditions—a working distance of 10 mm and a probe current of 1 nA—it provides a sharp image at a high magnification of ×50 000 to ×100 000. High-quality image observation is also possible in low-voltage and low-vacuum mode imaging. A beam-sensitive specimen can be studied with reduced thermal damage, and fine structures of an insulating material can be readily examined. A large stage accommodates various sizes and types of specimens. The graphical user interface integrates image observation and element analysis, and touch-panel, automatic, and recipe functions enable intuitive operation. JEOL USA Inc, 11 Dearborn Rd, Peabody, MA 01960, www.jeolusa.com

PANalytical has developed Aeris, an x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) benchtop instrument that provides fast, precise phase information about the materials analyzed. Requiring only a single-phase power outlet and neither cooling water nor compressed air, Aeris offers ease of use and economical operation. According to the company, because the instrument incorporates technologies found on PANalytical’s high-end systems, its performance can exceed that of typical benchtop x-ray diffractometers. PANalytical claims that Aeris is the first fully automatable benchtop XRD system and can easily be incorporated into industrial production control. Editions of Aeris are tailored to the specific needs of materials analysis in the cement, mining, and metals industries. The research edition is designed for quick XRD scans in any laboratory and is accessible for students. With its novel 2D option, it is suitable for teaching XRD. PANalytical BV, Lelyweg 1, 7602 EA Almelo, the Netherlands, www.panalytical.com

Spectro Analytical Instruments has unveiled the latest version of its Spectroblue inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Improvements include software that meets new US Environmental Protection Agency requirements and a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor generator that delivers up to 1700 W of power. According to the company, it brings a high level of performance to laboratory analysis in industrial and environmental applications. Benefits include a faster warm-up time and excellent matrix compatibility: High power gives the instrument agility when dealing with rapidly changing plasma loads. Highly diluted samples can be detected and analyzed. The new generator saves users time and expense because none of its parts are subject to wear. The instrument uses state-of-the-art UV-Plus gas purification technology, and the company’s OPI-Air interface avoids costly, complicated external water cooling. Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH, Boschstr 10, 47533 Kleve, Germany, www.spectro.com

MKS Instruments has announced Easy Analytics, part of its Umetrics Suite of Data Analytics Solutions. Designed for simplicity of use and clarity of results, Easy Analytics imports, organizes, and analyzes process and quality data. The software allows users to import data to standardized or customized reports of quality and process status with one click, which minimizes the risk of errors and facilitates process status communication. A toolbox containing Western Electric Rules and capability analysis is also being released. It enables excellent data visualization and deviation quantification, so process engineers and development scientists can identify unexpected trends in data. Easy Analytics can be directly connected to the company’s SIMCA multivariate data analysis software to more deeply analyze identified issues. MKS Instruments Inc, 100 Highpower Rd, Rochester, NY 14623, www.mksinst.com

The CaliPile sensor family from Excelitas Technologies represents intelligent IR sensors capable of multiple sensing applications. Each sensor includes a highly sensitive thermopile detector and onboard electronics that allow it to perform in three distinct function modes: motion sensing, presence detection, and temperature measurement. Selectable frequency filters and levels let users set the product into one of the three operation modes, and each mode can be set into individual-use cases to achieve custom operation. Because the internal circuit combines data storage with calibration data and digital filters, the individual functions can be enabled from a single unit. The compact, flexible CaliPile series offers various form factors to meet a wide range of integration requirements. Applications include short-range presence detection with no additional lens requirements, noncontact temperature measurement, and overheating protection. Excelitas Technologies Corporation, 200 West St, Waltham, MA 02451, www.excelitas.com

Hamamatsu has released the latest series of its multipixel photon counter (MPPC), a type of silicon photomultiplier. By generating large gain within the device, which is composed of a dense matrix of thousands of microcells, the MPPC can detect very low levels of light, down to single photons. The microcells cumulatively produce an analog signal proportional to the number of incident photons. The S13361 series uses a through-hole electrode called through-silicon via, which allows wiring on the photosensitive area to be eliminated. The result is an enlarged photosensitive area that has little dead space and enables efficient coupling with scintillators and the like, so the device is suitable for use as a positron emission tomography detector. The MPPC features low cross talk, low afterpulsing, and low-voltage operation. Single-channel detectors and multichannel arrays are available. Hamamatsu Corporation, 360 Foothill Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, www.hamamatsu.com