一般財団法人材料科学技術振興財団　MST List of Products and Services

We will open the Chitose Sales Office, the first in the Hokkaido area as MST. Based in the Chitose Sales Office, we aim to further improve our services for customers in the Hokkaido area. We will also achieve satisfactory quality and delivery times through close collaboration with our Tokyo headquarters (lab). Please look forward to it! Opening date: Thursday, April 11, 2024 Address: Room 160, Chitose Arcadia Plaza, 1-3-1 Kashiwadai Minami, Chitose City, Hokkaido *Please send samples to the headquarters located in Setagaya, Tokyo. Headquarters address: 1-18-6 Kitami, Setagaya, Tokyo Phone number: 090-4001-1578 (Contact: Yanagimachi)

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Measurement method: LC/MS Product field: Food and pharmaceuticals Analysis purpose: Composition evaluation and identification

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Among physiological active compounds, there are many that act by targeting proteins. Therefore, obtaining structural insights into the interactions between small molecules and proteins is very important for drug development. This document presents a case study analyzing the interactions between L-tryptophan and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in solution using NMR and molecular dynamics calculations.

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Ceramics are inorganic compound materials widely used in everyday items and electronic components. They possess characteristics such as heat resistance and chemical resistance, and evaluating the surface condition is important for utilizing the functions of ceramics. This document introduces a case where the cause of decreased hydrophobicity in Zr oxide ceramic materials with hydrophobic surface treatment was evaluated using TOF-SIMS. Measurement method: TOF-SIMS Product field: Manufacturing equipment and components Analysis purpose: Composition evaluation and identification For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Ceramics are inorganic compound materials widely used in everyday items and electronic components. Their surface condition significantly affects the properties and performance of materials such as everyday items and electronic components. Therefore, it is important to properly evaluate the surface condition when assessing the functionality of ceramics. This document introduces a case study evaluating the cleaning components that contribute to the wettability of ceramic surfaces made of zirconium oxide, using TOF-SIMS to assess surface distribution and depth distribution. Measurement method: TOF-SIMS Product field: Manufacturing equipment and components Analysis purpose: Qualitative and distribution evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Ceramics are inorganic compound materials widely used in everyday goods and electronic components. For evaluating the discoloration of ceramics caused by impurities and adherents, TOF-SIMS analysis, which allows for imaging analysis of trace components regardless of organic or inorganic substances at the focus area, is effective. This document presents a case study where the discoloration of aluminum oxide ceramics was analyzed using TOF-SIMS, demonstrating the cause of discoloration through ion images and line profiles. Measurement method: TOF-SIMS Product field: Manufacturing equipment and components Analysis purpose: Composition distribution evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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GaN-based high electron mobility transistors, known as GaN HEMTs (High Electron Mobility Transistors), utilize an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure to achieve a two-dimensional electron gas layer (2DEG), resulting in high electron mobility. They are used in applications such as fast chargers, leveraging these characteristics. This document presents the disassembly and evaluation of normally-off GaN HEMT devices. We will introduce a case study that employs a combination of analytical methods to gather comprehensive insights about the samples. Measurement methods: SIMS, TEM, SCM, SMM. Product field: Power devices. Analysis objectives: Trace concentration measurement, shape evaluation, film thickness evaluation, structural evaluation, product investigation. For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Aromatic azo compounds with reduction activity are attracting attention as low-environmental-impact next-generation organic active materials that can replace the currently dominant metal active materials in alkaline ion batteries and redox flow batteries. Evaluating battery performance is useful through the examination of the electronic structure and redox properties of materials using simulations in addition to experiments. This document presents examples of quantum chemical calculations of the reduction potential of azobenzene and its carboxylic acid derivative salts, as well as molecular orbital calculations. In this way, the electrochemical properties of materials can be estimated through simulations. Measurement methods: Computational science, AI, data analysis Product field: Secondary batteries Analysis purpose: Evaluation of chemical bonding states "For more details, please download the document or contact us."

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Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), the main component of the electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries, is known to undergo hydrolysis upon reaction with moisture, generating fluoride ions. This document presents a case where the concentration of fluoride ions produced by the atmospheric exposure of the electrolyte (1M LiPF6, EC:EMC = 3:7 v/v) was evaluated using 19F-NMR, which allows for absolute quantification without the use of standard compounds. Measurement method: NMR Product field: Secondary batteries and electronic components Analysis purpose: Failure analysis, defect analysis, degradation investigation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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In electronic devices that use a lot of semiconductors, each component is mounted by soldering. If defects occur in the solder joints, it can lead to malfunctions in the electronic devices. Therefore, evaluating the wettability of solder is important for assessing the reliability of components. In this study, we artificially degraded the samples to examine how the wettability of the solder changes. After the constant temperature and humidity test, it was found that the wettability of the electrode surface changed. Measurement methods: Constant temperature and humidity test, solder wettability test Product fields: Power devices, LSI/memory, electronic components Analysis purpose: Degradation investigation, reliability evaluation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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Antimicrobial coatings and coated everyday items aimed at infection prevention, mold prevention, and odor control have become widely popular. Among them, silver ions (Ag) are known to exhibit antibacterial and sterilizing effects against bacteria and viruses, while being almost harmless to the human body, making them widely used as inorganic antimicrobial agents. We will introduce a case study that focused on the presence of Ag as an antimicrobial component on the sample surface and evaluated the presence and durability of the antimicrobial coating film.

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Eugenol is used in fragrances, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals such as anesthetics. Its structural isomer, isoeugenol, is used in the industrial production of vanillin and as a fragrance formulation agent. This document presents a case study where quantum chemical calculations were used to simulate the Raman spectra of eugenol and isoeugenol. By comparing simulation results like those in this study with experimental data, structural information can be obtained, allowing for the identification of structural isomers. Additionally, the stability of the structure and its electronic states can also be discussed.

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【Analysis Examples】 - Batteries/Semiconductors: Solution NMR of electrolytes and multinuclear/solid NMR measurements under non-exposure to the atmosphere - Resins/Polymers: Analysis of the composition and degradation of resin components and polymers is possible - Food/Environment: Quantification of components in food and supplements and analysis of degradation status - Pharmaceuticals/Bio: Measurement of the presence and strength of interactions between drugs and receptors is possible

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Impurities contained in semiconductor materials can affect product quality, leading to issues such as leakage current and early device failure. Therefore, understanding the amount of impurities in the materials is crucial for improving product quality. This document presents a case study on SiC substrates, which are gaining attention as power device materials, analyzing impurities adhered to the substrate surface using ICP-MS and impurities within the substrate using GDMS. Measurement methods: ICP-MS, GDMS Product fields: Power devices, manufacturing equipment, components Analysis purpose: Trace concentration evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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This method is a gene analysis technique that utilizes mass spectrometry with MALDI-TOF-MS, allowing for the analysis of multiple SNP sites in a single measurement. Up to 40 SNPs can be measured simultaneously across 190 samples. The overall analysis follows the flow outlined below. Primers designed to amplify the target SNP regions without overlapping mass peaks, along with primers designed to extend only one base at each SNP site, are used to create mass differences in the DNA fragments, from which the bases are determined based on the detected mass peaks.

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NMN (β-nicotinamide mononucleotide) is known to be involved in the function of sirtuin genes, which are also referred to as longevity genes, and has garnered attention in recent years. This document focuses on NMN, monitoring the changes in 1H-NMR spectra due to heating treatment in water, and presents an analysis of the decomposition and changes of NMN caused by heat. Measurement method: NMR Product fields: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Food Analysis objectives: Composition evaluation, Identification, Impurity evaluation, Deterioration investigation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Carrier lifetime refers to the time it takes for minority carriers among the excess carriers generated during the operation of electronic devices to decay to 1/e. Proper control of this is important for managing the electrical characteristics of the device. On the other hand, luminescence lifetime indicates the time until the luminescence intensity from the sample reaches 1/e, and it can be calculated from the luminescence decay curve. Since some minority carriers emit light during recombination, it is possible to indirectly evaluate the carrier lifetime from luminescence lifetime measurements. This document presents a case study on the evaluation of carrier lifetime for 4H-SiC epitaxial substrates. Measurement method: Fluorescence lifetime measurement Product fields: Power devices, LSI/memory, electronic components Analysis purposes: Failure analysis, defect analysis, product investigation, carrier lifetime, process evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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In this method, the differences in the mass of bases are analyzed using MALDI-TOF-MS to determine the DNA base sequence. This allows for the detection of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), INDELs (insertions/deletions), CNVs (copy number variations), and more. It is characterized by the ability to analyze a large number of samples and detect a wide range of genes at once. - Multiplex PCR and MALDI-TOF-MS enable simultaneous analysis of up to 40 mutation sites. - Mass spectrometry specialized for the detection of bases (A/T/G/C) is possible. - A variety of analytical tools are available that have been pre-designed to detect target genes based on specific purposes. - Custom designs for analytical tools are also possible.

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LDI (Laser Desorption Ionization) is a method that uses only the energy of ultraviolet lasers to sublime and ionize molecules. On the other hand, MALDI (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) is a method that sublimates and ionizes molecules by exposing a sample mixed with a matrix to ultraviolet lasers.

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Both TOF-SIMS and MALDI-MS are techniques capable of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), each with different strengths in terms of components, mass, and spatial resolution. TOF-SIMS excels in low-mass components and allows for imaging with high surface resolution. On the other hand, MALDI-MS specializes in high-mass components and has a wide variety of lipids that can be imaged. Here, we will introduce examples of measurements taken with TOF-SIMS and MALDI-MS, using the results of imaging mass spectrometry of lipids in mouse testes as an example.

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Generally, the field size and resolution of X-ray CT are in a trade-off relationship, where increasing the resolution results in a smaller field size. Therefore, X-ray CT has a imaging method called "stitching," which allows multiple CT images to be vertically connected. With the stitching imaging method, it is possible to observe a wide field size even under high-resolution conditions.

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The combustion ion chromatography (IC) method allows for the investigation of the content of halogens (F, Cl, Br) and sulfur contained in solid materials such as plastics and resins, as well as in liquid materials like organic solvents. As shown in Figure 1, gases generated by combusting and decomposing the sample in a combustion furnace are collected in an absorbent solution. By measuring this absorbent solution using ion chromatography, it is possible to determine the content of halogens and sulfur in solid samples that are insoluble in water.

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NMN, a type of niacin derivative, is known to be involved in the function of sirtuin genes, often referred to as longevity genes, and has gained attention in recent years. This document presents a case where the NMN content of commercially available capsules was quantitatively analyzed using NMR without the use of standard samples. Measurement method: NMR Product fields: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Food Analysis purpose: Impurity evaluation, Product investigation, Safety testing For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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This explains the measurement of total light transmittance and total light reflectance.

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Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) are capacitors that have a laminated structure consisting of internal electrodes (metal) / dielectric layers (insulator) / internal electrodes (metal). One of the issues with MLCCs is the insulation degradation (lower resistance) of the dielectric layer under high electric fields and high temperatures, which can lead to short circuits between the electrodes. Visualizing the low-resistance conductive paths formed within the dielectric layer is an important clue to understanding the insulation degradation phenomenon. This document presents a case where the insulation degradation of dielectric materials due to temperature changes was visualized by combining SSRM measurement (high electric field) and heating mechanisms (high temperature). Measurement method: SSRM (Scanning Spreading Resistance Microscopy) Product fields: Dielectric materials, capacitors, MLCC Analysis objectives: Resistance value distribution, current distribution, insulation degradation evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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We have launched a new service using Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (GDMS) starting from May 15 (Monday). - Simultaneous analysis of over 70 elements, from major components to trace components at the ppb level, is possible. - Detection of C, N, and O at the ppm level, which was previously difficult. - Depth direction analysis is possible from nm to several tens of µm.

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3D fluorescence spectra contain three types of information: excitation wavelength, fluorescence wavelength, and fluorescence intensity, and are also referred to as fluorescence fingerprints. Fluorometers are highly sensitive, and 3D fluorescence spectra have the characteristic of containing a large amount of information, making them promising for applications in the analysis of food, cosmetics, daily necessities, and environmental wastewater. By using multivariate analysis for the analysis of 3D fluorescence spectra, it is possible to compress and reduce the dimensions of the data and visualize the features. This document presents an example of an analysis conducted on olive oil. Measurement method: Fluorometer, computational science, AI, data analysis Product fields: Biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, daily necessities, food, environment Analysis purpose: Product investigation, safety evaluation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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The frequency of mask usage has increased to prevent infections caused by viruses. However, there is a lack of structural data that serves as a basis for their usage methods and resistance. This document presents the results of observing the fibers on the surface of masks before and after alcohol disinfection using SEM. After alcohol disinfection, it was found that the shape of the fibers changed, and the characteristic convex shapes observed before disinfection decreased. Measurement method: SEM Product field: Daily necessities, virus prevention-related products Analysis purpose: Shape evaluation, structural evaluation, degradation investigation, reliability assessment, product investigation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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The positive electrode active material of lithium-ion secondary batteries, LiCoO2, undergoes changes in crystal interlayer spacing and other characteristics due to lithium intercalation during charge and discharge. It is also known that overcharging and long-term cycling tests can significantly alter the composition and crystal structure, leading to a decline in charge and discharge characteristics. In this presentation, we will introduce cases where these changes were evaluated using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, by conducting in situ (operando) XRD measurements, it is also possible to evaluate the crystal structure at various states of charge (SOC). Measurement methods: XRD, Raman, SEM Product field: Secondary batteries Analysis purposes: Composition evaluation and identification, composition distribution evaluation, shape evaluation, structural evaluation, product investigation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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In improving the characteristics of lithium-ion secondary batteries, electronic conductivity is an important factor, and conductive additives are required to have high electronic conductivity and high dispersibility. The mainstream conductive additive, carbon, can be broadly categorized into two types: crystalline and amorphous, and is used either as a single agent or as a composite material. This document introduces a case where the type of carbon used as a conductive additive in the positive electrode is identified based on its crystallinity, and the dispersion state is evaluated by visualizing the in-plane distribution. Measurement methods: Raman, SEM Product field: Secondary batteries Analysis objectives: Composition distribution evaluation, structural evaluation, product investigation For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Organic EL displays are advancing towards practical use by leveraging advantages such as high brightness, high-resolution color, and thinness due to their self-emission principle. In the emission layer, guest molecules are doped into host molecules to enhance the emission efficiency. In this study, we identified the emission layer materials for red pixels in organic EL display elements. Additionally, we conducted thickness evaluation of the emission layer using a newly developed step gauge and quantified the guest materials within the emission layer. This allows for qualitative and quantitative analysis of guest molecules in the emission layer, as well as evaluation of the thickness of the emission layer. Measurement methods: TOF-SIMS, TEM, XPS Product field: Displays Analysis purpose: Composition evaluation, identification, thickness evaluation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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TOF-SIMS (Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) is a method that can sensitively evaluate organic and inorganic substances on the very surface, and it can be used as an analytical tool for various quality control processes of products. For example, it can be used for regular checks of surface contaminants during product storage, investigating the causes when defects such as peeling or discoloration occur in products, and analyzing changes in key components before and after altering manufacturing conditions. This document presents an example of comparing the surfaces of silicon wafers stored under different environments, focusing on the representative contaminant polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Measurement method: TOF-SIMS Product fields: Electronic components, manufacturing equipment, parts, and others (general electronics) Analysis purposes: Surface analysis, evaluation of chemical bonding states, failure analysis, defect analysis, and others (contamination assessment, quality control) For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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Pigment Red 254 (p-Cl DPP) is a type of DPP (diketopyrrolopyrrole) pigment that exhibits a vivid red color. DPP pigments are used as red pigments with excellent weather resistance, and due to their ease of mass production and low cost, they are also expected to be utilized as organic EL materials. This document presents a case study of UV-Vis spectrum simulation based on quantum chemical calculations targeting Pigment Red 254 in solution. By referring to the simulation results, the spectral shape of the measured data can be interpreted. Measurement method: Computational science and data analysis, UV-Vis Product fields: Lighting, displays, cosmetics, daily necessities Analysis purpose: Evaluation of chemical bonding states For more details, please download the document or contact us.

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We provide suitable analysis menus for essential components of EVs, including onboard batteries and devices.

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Polymers can change shape depending on environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and solvents, and by varying the environmental conditions during evaluation, we can deepen our understanding of their physical properties. In this study, we conducted heating and cooling experiments using polycaprolactone (PCL), which is known for its biodegradability. PCL has a melting point of approximately 60°C, and we continuously observed through video how it changes from a crystalline state to an amorphous state upon heating, and how it recrystallizes upon cooling. Measurement method: AFM Product fields: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Daily Goods, Food Analysis purpose: Shape evaluation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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When overhauling mechanical parts such as pumps and engines, there are cases where parts are cleaned and reused. If the cleaning does not sufficiently remove dirt, there is a risk of malfunctions occurring in the assembled machinery. To investigate the presence of dirt or to analyze the components that are attached, thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) is effective. By heating the sample at a high temperature (up to 350°C), the attached organic substances can be volatilized and measured using GC/MS. This method is useful for identifying the attached components, comparing the amount of attachment before and after cleaning, and assessing the degree of cleaning based on different cleaning methods. Measurement method: GC/MS Product field: Manufacturing equipment and parts Analysis purpose: Composition evaluation and identification For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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The response speed, driving voltage, and reliability characteristics of liquid crystal panels are attributed to the molecular structure of the liquid crystals. Therefore, analyzing the details of the molecular structure is essential for controlling the display characteristics of liquid crystal panels. Here, we introduce a case where the liquid components in commercially available panels were extracted and structurally estimated using GC/TOFMS. Approximately 10 components, including liquid crystal materials that exhibit negative dielectric anisotropy, were estimated from precise mass information. Measurement method: GC/MS Product fields: Displays, televisions, projectors Analysis objectives: Market research, molecular structure evaluation, degradation investigation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) is an analytical method that can obtain various information about molecular structure, intermolecular interactions, and molecular mobility, targeting various compounds including organic substances. This document presents examples of measurements conducted with a super low-temperature probe, which achieved higher sensitivity compared to a general-purpose room temperature probe.

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Rietveld analysis is a method for analyzing measurement data from XRD (X-ray diffraction) and neutron diffraction. In addition to identifying lattice constants and space groups using existing methods, it is possible to obtain more detailed crystallographic information, such as atomic arrangements within the unit cell, if there is a crystal structure model (candidate) for the sample.

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This is a thermal analysis method for measuring thermal properties (glass transition, softening temperature, melting temperature, expansion tendency) at localized areas of the sample surface. A probe in contact with the sample surface is heated, causing the temperature of the sample surface to change. In the diagram, 1. the sample expansion begins during heating, 2. the deflection changes until the transition temperature is reached, and 3. the probe's intrusion into the altered sample after the transition temperature is indicated. It is also possible to monitor the deflection during temperature changes and obtain mapping data of the transition temperature for each measurement point.

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Quantum chemical calculations can provide molecular insights (such as molecular structure, charge distribution, molecular orbitals, and mechanisms of chemical reactions) that serve as guidelines for the development and design of materials, as well as simulate various response spectra like UV-Vis and NMR with high accuracy. The results obtained can help overcome various challenges faced in research and development in fields such as functional materials and drug discovery. This document introduces the analysis targets, the physical property information obtained, and case studies that can be understood from quantum chemical calculations.

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Alkali metals such as Li, Na, and K are key elements that cause various failures in semiconductors. These are referred to as mobile ions that can move within the film during measurement, making it difficult to obtain an accurate distribution. In this study, by conducting depth-direction analysis using a GCIB (Ar cluster) with a sputter ion source in TOF-SIMS, it was found that the movement of alkali metals can be suppressed even at room temperature compared to oxygen sputter guns. This measurement allows for qualitative and quantitative analysis of impurities within SiO2 films. Measurement method: TOF-SIMS Product fields: LSI, memory, electronic components Analysis purpose: Trace concentration evaluation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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One of the processes that occurs when light is irradiated onto a material and the excited electrons return to the ground state is called photoluminescence. Among these, the method of instantaneously exciting a material using a pulsed laser and measuring the decay time of the emitted light is referred to as time-resolved photoluminescence, and by analyzing the obtained spectrum, the fluorescence lifetime can be calculated. By measuring the fluorescence lifetime of a material, the emission transient phenomena can be understood more dynamically. For this reason, fluorescence lifetime measurement is one of the effective means in the physical property research of organic materials such as organic EL materials, solar cells, photocatalysts, and biochemistry. This device enables the measurement of time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra on nanosecond and microsecond scales, as well as fluorescence lifetime measurement, by combining a picosecond laser with a spectrometer and a streak camera.

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By scanning the electron beam probe and measuring the electron diffraction patterns at each point, high spatial resolution crystal information can be obtained. This method allows for the acquisition of information on smaller crystal grains than the EBSD method in SEM. It is also referred to as ACOM (Automated Crystal Orientation Mapping) - TEM method. - Crystal grain size analysis is possible - Orientation measurement of the measurement area is possible - Observation of twin grain boundaries (corresponding grain boundaries) is possible - Extraction of specific crystal orientations is possible - Measurement of the rotation angle of adjacent crystal grains is possible - Evaluation of crystal grains larger than a few nanometers is possible

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To determine impurity concentrations using SIMS analysis, it is necessary to use a standard sample with the same composition as the analysis sample. By preparing various Al compositions of AlGaN standard samples for AlGaN used in ultraviolet LEDs and power devices, MST can achieve more accurate quantification of impurities. We will introduce a case where, after disassembling a commercially available deep ultraviolet LED, SIMS analysis was conducted to determine the concentration of the dopant Mg and the distribution of the main component Al composition. Measurement method: SIMS Product fields: Lighting, power devices, optical devices Analysis purposes: Trace concentration evaluation, impurity evaluation, distribution evaluation, product investigation For more details, please download the materials or contact us.

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