Three-Dimensional Atom Probe (3DAP) from Oxford Nanoscience has been announced as the winner of the product category of the annual Nano 50 Awards, presented by Nanotech Briefs magazine
These awards recognise the top 50 technologies, products, and innovators that have significantly impacted, or are expected to impact, the state of the art in nanotechnology.
Nano 50 nominations were judged by a panel of nanotechnology and Mems experts.
The 3DAP technique offers a unique approach to materials characterisation at the atomic scale.
Atoms are evaporated from a small volume of the sample, chemically analysed by mass spectrometry and their original position in the sample structure detected.
The instrument then uses proprietary software to construct an atom map of the sample volume analysed, showing both the position and chemical identity of the atoms in the structure.
Oxford Nanoscience managing director Richard Davies said: "We are delighted to have won this award.
"3DAP is making a significant impact on research and development into the structure of materials used in applications as diverse as magnetic recording heads, aircraft and nuclear power reactors.
"The key to the product's success has been its outstanding mass resolution which allows small concentrations of elements to be identified even in the presence of other elements that have similar mass peaks.
"The product continues to develop and mature," he continued, "and indeed since the original submission to the Nano 50 awards we have been able to announce major improvements to the ion optics of the instrument.
"These have enhanced sensitivity, reduced sample analysis times and allowed a larger volume of sample to be analysed with no compromise to the mass resolution.
"Another major development has been the announcement of the Laser 3DAP, which uses a laser source to evaporate the sample.
"This extends the use of the instrument beyond conducting materials to semiconductor materials, opening up a huge new market to us".
"The winners of the Nano 50 awards are the best of the best - the innovative people and technologies that will continue to move nanotechnology to key mainstream markets," said Linda Bell, publisher of Nanotech Briefs.
The award will be collected by Joe Steltzer, CEO of Polaron, the parent company of Oxford Nanoscience, at a presentation ceremony during the Nasa Tech Briefs Nano 2005 conference in Boston, USA, 10-11 November 2005.
